A home inspector performs a general, standards-limited visual survey of a property — typically for a real estate transaction — and reports on the apparent condition of accessible systems. A forensic construction expert, such as Först Consulting Group, investigates the specific cause, origin, and responsibility of a construction defect or dispute and produces litigation-ready documentation defensible under cross-examination. The forensic process applies a defined breach-of-standard test against named authorities — for example the International Residential Code (IRC), manufacturer installation instructions, NAHB Residential Construction Performance Guidelines, and applicable state and county requirements — rather than a general “pass/fail” checklist. Home inspectors generally do not testify to causation, quantify cost-to-cure, or serve as expert witnesses; a forensic construction expert does all three.