Do inspectors provide cost estimates for corrective work?
Generally, they do not. It is not the job of inspectors to provide cost estimates for work which will be performed by other qualified individuals or companies. Some inspectors who have enough experience may choose to verbally discuss “ballpark” cost ranges for certain work with which they are familiar, but even general contractors use professional estimating guides and obtain competitive bids before providing the costs associated with specific work. When buyers ask inspectors to provide costs, they are asking inspectors to place a value on another individual’s or company’s labor and materials. In some instances, additional and unanticipated costs may arise from previously hidden conditions which are discovered in the course of performing corrective work.
