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Shawn Chesney Home Inspections

Code of Ethics

SCHI Code of Ethics v2.0 — Effective October 6, 2026
Shawn Chesney Home Inspections
Shawn Chesney, C.M.I. — Certified Master Inspector

Preamble

A home inspection is an act of trust. Clients make some of the largest financial decisions of their lives based on what the inspector reports — and what the inspector chooses not to compromise on. This Code of Ethics sets out the duties that Shawn Chesney Home Inspections (“SCHI”) owes to the public, to its clients, and to the profession. It is written for Canada, governed by Canadian law, and enforced by SCHI itself: a violation of this Code is a violation of the trust the business is built on.

SCHI’s inspections are performed substantially in accordance with CSA A770-16 (R2021), Home Inspection, the National Standard of Canada for home inspection.

1. Duty to the Public

1.1 Honesty and Good Faith

SCHI shall be fair, honest, impartial, and act in good faith in all dealings with the public. SCHI shall be truthful regarding its services, qualifications, and experience, and shall not misrepresent its credentials, certifications, or the scope of its inspections.

1.2 Compliance with Law

SCHI shall comply with all applicable federal, provincial, and municipal laws and regulations in every jurisdiction where it conducts business, including consumer protection legislation, privacy legislation, and occupational health and safety requirements.

1.3 Non-Discrimination

SCHI shall not discriminate in any business activity on the basis of race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, family status, disability, or any other ground protected under the Canadian Human Rights Act or applicable provincial human rights legislation.

1.4 Public Safety

SCHI shall not engage in any practice that could endanger the public or bring discredit to the home inspection profession. Where the inspector observes a condition that poses an immediate safety hazard, the inspector will report it promptly and plainly.

1.5 No Conflicts of Interest

SCHI shall not have any undisclosed conflict of interest with the client. SCHI shall disclose, in writing and before the inspection, any relationship, interest, or circumstance that could reasonably be seen to compromise the inspector’s objectivity.

1.6 No Referral Compensation

SCHI shall not accept or offer any commission, rebate, kickback, gift, or other benefit — disclosed or undisclosed — from or to real estate agents, brokers, brokerages, lenders, contractors, or any third party with a financial interest in the transaction, in exchange for referrals or for inclusion on any list of preferred or affiliated inspectors. SCHI’s client list is earned by the quality of its inspections, not purchased.

1.7 Confidentiality

SCHI shall not release any information about the inspection or the client to any third party unless:

Inspection reports are prepared for the named client only and shall not be shared, sold, or distributed without the client’s written consent, except as required by law.

1.8 Primacy of the Client’s Interest

SCHI shall always act in the best interests of the client, unless doing so would violate a law or this Code of Ethics. The inspector works for the client — not the agent, not the seller, not the lender.

1.9 Written Agreement

SCHI shall use a written Pre-Inspection Agreement for every inspection, specifying the services to be performed, the limitations of those services, the inspection fee, and the terms of liability. No inspection shall proceed without a signed agreement.

2. Duty to the Client

2.1 Competence

SCHI shall undertake only inspections it is competent to perform. The inspector shall maintain the knowledge, skills, and equipment necessary to perform inspections in accordance with CSA A770-16 and SCHI’s Standards of Practice.

2.2 Diligence

SCHI shall perform every inspection with the diligence, care, and thoroughness that a reasonable client would expect from a Certified Master Inspector. Every accessible area will be examined; every limitation will be reported honestly rather than glossed over.

2.3 Plain Language

Reports shall be written in clear, plain language that a non-technical client can understand. Findings shall distinguish between observed defects, safety concerns, recommended improvements, and general information. Limitations shall be stated plainly — never buried.

2.4 No Repairs on Inspected Properties

SCHI shall not perform, or offer to perform, for a fee, any repairs or associated services on a property for which SCHI has prepared a home inspection report, for a period of 12 months following the inspection. This prohibition does not apply to components or systems outside the scope of the inspection. This rule exists so that no client ever has to wonder whether a reported defect was reported honestly or manufactured for profit.

2.5 No Contingent Fees

Inspection fees shall not be contingent on the findings of the inspection, the closing of the transaction, or any predetermined conclusion. The fee is for the inspection itself — the same thorough inspection regardless of outcome.

3. Duty to Continue Education

3.1 Ongoing Learning

The inspector shall complete continuing education substantially in accordance with the requirements of the inspector’s certifying body, and shall stay current with CSA A770-16, the Ontario Building Code as it relates to inspection practice, and developments in building science, materials, and methods relevant to residential inspection in the Canadian climate.

3.2 Re-examination

The inspector shall maintain current certification and shall re-qualify as required by the certifying body.

4. Duty to the Profession

4.1 Advancing the Industry

SCHI shall strive to improve the home inspection profession in Canada by sharing knowledge and experience for the benefit of fellow inspectors and the public. This does not prevent SCHI from protecting its proprietary methods, materials, and business information as permitted by law.

4.2 Professional Conduct

SCHI shall not engage in any act or practice that could reasonably be deemed damaging to the home inspection profession, to fellow inspectors, or to the public’s trust in the profession. Disparagement of competitors — by name or by implication — has no place in SCHI’s business.

4.3 Truthful Advertising

All advertising, marketing, and public representations by SCHI shall be truthful and shall not mislead. Claims about services, qualifications, and experience shall be verifiable.

5. Enforcement

This Code is self-enforced by SCHI as a condition of its own professional standard. A client or member of the public who believes SCHI has violated this Code is invited to contact SCHI directly at schesney@schi.ca or 905-228-6544. Every concern will be reviewed and answered. Where a violation is confirmed, SCHI will take corrective action — because a code of ethics that is not enforced is not a code at all.

Shawn Chesney Home Inspections · Shawn Chesney, C.M.I. — Certified Master Inspector
905-228-6544 · schesney@schi.ca · schi.ca