Originally Posted by
Joseph Burkeson
In regards to SoP... Don't exceed the standard unless there is a reason to do so and you are an expert in the field area you are reporting on.
Home inspector folk lore perpetuated by those seeking to do the least.
Develop your inspection technique around the SoP and trust that it sufficient to accurately report the condition of the building. Many hundreds of years of experience by top minds have honed the inspection standards into what we have today, deviation is usually not necessary or recommended.
The SoP is like the outcome of any committee - it is the lowest bar which got the majority vote, the higher bars got fewer votes, thus were not accepted into the SoP.
Same applies to the building codes and any consensus document. you have to have a consensus to pass it to the next level, thus, the lowest bar acceptable to the majority gets adopted.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with doing as much as you want. That is what will set you apart from your competition. Learn enough to know what you are doing, and don't worry about being an "expert" in it, and be able to recognize and understand what you are looking at and why you make your decisions as you do on it.
None of us have to be an "expert" on paint to know when it is flaking off and needs attention, thus needs to be written up.