TOPIC: Contract or agreement?

Well, the Illinois Home Inspector License Act, Section 1410.200 Standards of Practice, says in 1410.200 d)....

d)         Home inspectors or home inspector entities shall enter into a written agreement with the client or duly authorized representative prior to the home inspection that includes at a minimum:

     1)         The purpose of the inspection;

     (etc.)

The italics are mine, but you can see it here if you want.... ilga.gov/commission/jcar/admincode/068/068014100C02000R.html

The last thing I want is for ambiguity to be my downfall (which would be par for the curse), so I guess I'll check with my attorney friend.

"Official Definition" ?  You use Google for an official definition?  Bwahahaha.  At least use Black's Law Dictionary.

A Home Inspection Arangement?
A Home Inspection Covenant?
A Home Inspection Understanding?

Synonyms are not EXACTLY the same.  Similar or close, but not exactly the same.

My state also uses the term Preinspection Agreement although it is under the section titled, "Contracts".  And their definition is:  a written contract signed by the client that outlines the standards and work to be performed by the home inspector.

If it is a contract, I call it a contract.  Everyone should check with their own attorney.

I look at it this way.  A contract is always a contract.  An agreement is not always a contract.

Google........  sheesh... :

Google uses the Oxford American College Dictionary. Just type "define:someword" into the search bar.

I like your method the best though, just call it a darn contract!

syn?o?nym
ˈsinəˌnim/Submit
noun
1.
a word or phrase that means exactly or nearly the same as another word or phrase in the same language, for example shut is a synonym of close.
synonyms: alternate, substitute, alternative, equivalent, euphemism More