TREC SoP Compliance
1nspecT was built TREC-first. The Texas Real Estate Commission’s Standards of Practice (SoP) for residential property inspections — the rules that define what a Texas inspector must inspect, how to rate it, what language to use, and what the report must contain — drives every default in the platform. This article documents how TREC compliance manifests across surfaces. For non-TREC inspection standards supported on the platform, see the “Other Standards” section near the end.What “TREC SoP” means
The Texas Real Estate Commission Standards of Practice (TREC SoP, sometimes called “TREC 7-6” after the form designation) is the rulebook for Texas residential property inspectors. It specifies:- Scope — what systems an inspector must inspect
- Section structure — Structural Systems / Electrical / Plumbing / HVAC / Roofing / Optional Systems
- Rating definitions — the four ratings (I / NI / NP / D) and what each means
- Required disclosures — limitations of liability, scope statements
- Photo requirements — what must be photographed when deficient
- Report form — the report’s structure mirrors the SoP categories
How TREC manifests in 1nspecT
Templates
- Initialize TREC Template on Template Builder — creates a fully TREC-compliant schema in one click. All required sections, subsections, and informational fields pre-configured.
- Inspection Standard field on the template — set to
TREC(Texas) for AI calibration.
Rating scale
The default rating scale is TREC Standard (I / NI / NP / D):
A subsection can carry both
I AND D ratings simultaneously — TREC explicitly permits this for cases like “I inspected the panel and noticed a deficiency in one breaker.” The mobile Capture Screen and Ratings Screen accept multi-ratings on the same subsection.
Section structure
The TREC template ships with these top-level sections:- Structural Systems (Foundations · Grading & Drainage · Roof Covering · Roof Structures & Attic · Walls · Ceilings & Floors · Doors · Windows · Stairways · Fireplaces & Chimneys · Porches & Decks · Other)
- Electrical Systems (Service Entrance · Branch Circuits · Fixtures & Switches & Receptacles · Smoke Alarms · Other)
- Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (Heating Equipment · Cooling Equipment · Ducts & Vents · Other)
- Plumbing System (Plumbing Supply · Drains & Waste · Water Heating Equipment · Hydro-Massage Therapy · Other)
- Appliances (Dishwasher · Food Waste Disposer · Range Hood · Ranges · Oven · Microwave · Mechanical Exhaust Vents & Bathroom Heaters · Garage Door Operators · Dryer Exhaust Systems · Other)
- Optional Systems (Lawn Sprinkler · Swimming Pool · Spa · Outbuildings · Private Water Wells · Private Sewage Disposal · Other)
AI calibration
When the template’s Inspection Standard is set to TREC, the AI tools tune their output to TREC-appropriate language:Reporting
The TREC template’s Visual Page Designer defaults produce a report that:- Has the TREC-required header on every page
- Shows I / NI / NP / D rating boxes in the format TREC expects
- Includes the standard TREC scope statement
- Includes the standard TREC limitations of liability
What the AI does NOT do for TREC
A few things the AI deliberately leaves to the inspector:- No specific code citations. The AI does not cite GFCI / AFCI requirements, clearance distances, or load calculations — those depend on permit date, local amendments, and AHJ interpretation. Inspectors add code references manually if their report style requires.
- No build-date assumptions. The AI doesn’t assert “this was required when built” — that requires knowledge the inspector has, not the AI.
- No prescriptive repair specifications. Narratives recommend “evaluation by a licensed [trade],” not specific repairs.
Other Standards supported
Templates can be authored against other inspection standards too. Set the Inspection Standard field on the template:
Each standard’s selection changes AI language tuning. Section structure and rating scale default to the standard’s conventions where applicable, but operators can override.
“Other SoPs coming” — additional state-mandated standards (California, Florida, Massachusetts) and international SoPs are on the roadmap. Until they have first-class support, use the CUSTOM standard and configure the schema manually.
Multi-state / multi-license operators
If your business operates across states or holds multiple licenses, configure one template per standard:- TREC Residential template — for Texas jobs
- ASHI National template — for non-Texas jobs
- Commercial template (CCPIA ComSOP) — for commercial work
The TREC license number
Inspector licenses appear on the report header and the signature page. Configure per inspector in the User profile. For Texas inspectors: TREC requires the license number on every report. The$InspectorLicense token in templates and contracts resolves to this value.
If your company has a master license number distinct from individual inspectors’ licenses, there’s a $CompanyLicense field — useful for firms where one license covers the office.
Compliance checklist
For a TREC-compliant 1nspecT setup:- Tenant has Inspector License Numbers entered per inspector
- TREC template is initialized and Published
- Template’s Inspection Standard is set to
TREC - Cover Designer cover includes the required scope statement
- Visual Page Designer page footer shows license number on every page
- Communications workflow includes a report-delivery email referencing TREC reporting timelines
- Contract bundle includes a TREC-conformant Pre-Inspection Agreement
Related articles
- Build Your First Template — TREC template walkthrough
- Templates Overview — standards picker
- AI Features Guide — calibration details
- Glossary — TREC, SoP, REI 7-6, SPO definitions
- Mobile Capture Screen → Rating buttons — I/NI/NP/D mechanics