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Why Have a Home Inspection?
Buying a home is the largest investment most of us will ever make. Options must be weighed; budgets must be balanced; decisions must be made – stress becomes a factor. A good home inspection gives you the clarity of knowledge and an outside perspective that helps you make your decisions.
What Does a Home Inspector Do?
As a trained home inspector, who is certified by the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors, I follow a Standard of Practice and a Code of Ethics. I do a hands-on examination of the roof, the structure, the exterior and interior, as well as the mechanicals – the plumbing, heating and electrical systems. I then compile and give you a report that itemizes and explains the home – its qualities and deficiencies. A summary will list any safety problems, and any major or costly defects. Smaller problems will be noted in the body of the report. (For a Sample Report, please see the Download Page.)
What Does the Client Do?
A home inspection works best if you, the client, accompany me through the process. I will inspect the home’s systems and explain how they work. Every home will have some problems or needed improvements. These will be pointed out, along with necessary maintenance tips. Please bring along any questions you have. The inspection will take about three hours. Many clients prefer to arrive near the end for a summary and walkthrough. You will receive a written report to refer to and I’m happy to answer any future questions over the phone. I include photos in all my reports that work as visual aids if you cannot attend.
I will not share the report with any other party; nor do I accept any form of compensation from anyone other than you. I have no ties, financial or otherwise, to any realty companies, contractors or repair firms. My job is not to give a financial appraisal - in one sense I consider the house to be my client – I'm there to help tell you its story.
Is Everything Looked At?
There are limitations to a home inspection. In essence - I am a General Practitioner giving the home a checkup. Safety permitting, I go onto roofs, and into attics and crawlspaces; but I don’t move furniture, lift rugs or open up walls. As an example, I will check the safety and operation of a furnace in a number of ways, but can’t run the battery of tests that a furnace technician might. It is not my intention to nitpick or find every little problem, but in three hours, I can find the visible major problems and safety issues as well as a number of minor items.
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