No. And for 2 reasons:
1st – Their knowledge is specific and specialized. If you hire the right home inspector, you’re hiring an experienced professional who knows a house inside and out. They’ll not only study the mechanical and structural systems, but also to check to make sure they’re working together and identify areas that need to be monitored, repaired, or replaced.
Think of a home inspector as your family doctor. A person doesn’t go straight to a brain surgeon when they have a headache; it’s just too expensive and too specialized. You visit your family doctor who will diagnose the problem and then, if necessary, send you to the specialist. That’s how the professional engineer and all other specialists (HVAC, foundation, electrician, roofing, plumbing, etc.) fit into the scope of the inspection process. Occasionally, a home inspector may identify the need for a more detailed analysis of one or more of the home’s systems or structures and in these cases, the appropriate professional will be recommended.
2nd – You need someone to professionally and objectively communicate their findings. The importance of this skill cannot be overemphasized. This is what really distinguishes the abilities of a professional home inspector from a professional engineer. As a basic necessity, a home inspector is continually educated and experienced in not only verbal communication, but in written communication. By trade, a professional engineer doesn’t have the need to be careful with the wording of their findings while a professional home inspector fully understands their role in the sales process and is equipped with both the communication skills and home inspection reporting tools to deliver a timely, thorough, careful, and appropriate ‘big picture’ analysis of the home.
As a matter of fact, hiring a professional engineer on your own can be a disappointing experience. In many states a licensed engineer can perform a home inspection without being certified. The term ‘professional engineer’ or ‘PE’ does not mean the individual has training or experience conducting home inspections. Therefore, hiring a professional engineer to complete a home inspection will likely cost you more money and not deliver the results you are looking for (or deserve).
