In this subchapter:

Terms Used In Wisconsin Statutes 440.97

  • Following: when used by way of reference to any statute section, means the section next following that in which the reference is made. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Person: includes all partnerships, associations and bodies politic or corporate. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Property: includes real and personal property. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • real property: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments and all rights thereto and interests therein. See Wisconsin Statutes 990.01
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
   (1)   “Client” means a person who contracts with a home inspector for a home inspection.
   (2)   “Compensation” means direct or indirect payment, including the expectation of payment whether or not actually received.
   (2m)   “Defect” means a condition of any component of an improvement that a home inspector determines, on the basis of the home inspector’s judgment on the day of an inspection, would significantly impair the health or safety of occupants of a property or that, if not repaired, removed, or replaced, would significantly shorten or adversely affect the expected normal life of the component of the improvement.
   (3)   “Dwelling unit” means a structure or that part of a structure that is used or intended to be used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one person or by 2 or more persons who are maintaining a common household, to the exclusion of all others.
   (4)   “Home inspection” means the process by which a home inspector examines the observable systems and components of improvements to residential real property that are readily accessible.
   (5)   “Home inspection report” means a written opinion of a home inspector concerning all of the following:
      (a)    The condition of the improvements to residential real property that contains not more than 4 dwelling units.
      (b)    The condition of mechanical and structural components of the improvements specified in par. (a).
   (6)   “Home inspector” means an individual who, for compensation, conducts a home inspection.
   (7)   “Technically exhaustive” means the extensive use of measurements, instruments, testing, calculations and other means to develop scientific or engineering findings, conclusions or recommendations.