A home inspection can relieve your worries or confirm your worst fears. It can even provide you with information for further negotiations on the price of the property.
Home inspections began as a consumer service in the early 1970's in direct response to the growing demand by home buyers to learn about the condition of a house prior to purchase. It is a unique discipline, distinct from construction, engineering or municipal building inspection and requires special training.
Home inspections began as a consumer service in the early 1970's in direct response to the growing demand by home buyers to learn about the condition of a house prior to purchase. It is a unique discipline, distinct from construction, engineering or municipal building inspection and requires special training.
Protect Your Investment
Purchasing a home is the single most expensive purchase most of us will make in our lifetime. Smart buyers start this process with their eyes wide open. When you walk through a house you have a multitude of concerns that may include everything from whether the rooms are large enough for your furniture, to the location of neighbourhood schools, to the amount of wear and tear on the carpets. You are considering whether this home will be right for your family and if the price fits into your budget. It is an emotional procedure and is often stressful. You need an objective, unbiased and professional opinion on the condition of the property to provide you with additional information.
What to Expect
This is a 6 point, brief explanation to help clarify what exactly is involved in a home inspection.
1) The average home inspection will take between 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. It is highly recommended to follow the home inspector during the inspection, as this is an invaluable educational experience to learn about the various aspects and systems of the house.
2) The InterNACHI Standards of Practice require home inspectors to inspect and/or describe: the structural system, the exterior, the roof system, the plumbing system, the electrical system, the heating and air conditioning systems, the interior, the insulation and ventilation systems, as well as, fireplaces.
3) Home Inspectors are (if properly qualified) trained in defect recognition. A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual observation of the condition of the property on the day of the inspection, and can include such tools as moisture meters, video scopes, gas meters, electrical instruments, infrared cameras, and temperature sensors.
4) Home Inspectors are not tradespeople. If your home inspector offers to fix any problems you encounter during the home inspection, this is a major conflict of interest.
5) Home Inspectors are generalists. Just like going to a family doctor (General Practitioner), properly trained home inspectors are trained in all areas of building construction. They can determine if it is necessary to consult a specific specialist in one of the many building trades.
6) Think of a home inspector as a detective, searching through the house for subtle clues that are used to build an overall impression of the house. This impression enables the buyer to have a much greater understanding of what they are buying, before they own it; helping to prevent unforeseen expenses.
1) The average home inspection will take between 2.5 to 3 hours to complete. It is highly recommended to follow the home inspector during the inspection, as this is an invaluable educational experience to learn about the various aspects and systems of the house.
2) The InterNACHI Standards of Practice require home inspectors to inspect and/or describe: the structural system, the exterior, the roof system, the plumbing system, the electrical system, the heating and air conditioning systems, the interior, the insulation and ventilation systems, as well as, fireplaces.
3) Home Inspectors are (if properly qualified) trained in defect recognition. A home inspection is a non-invasive, visual observation of the condition of the property on the day of the inspection, and can include such tools as moisture meters, video scopes, gas meters, electrical instruments, infrared cameras, and temperature sensors.
4) Home Inspectors are not tradespeople. If your home inspector offers to fix any problems you encounter during the home inspection, this is a major conflict of interest.
5) Home Inspectors are generalists. Just like going to a family doctor (General Practitioner), properly trained home inspectors are trained in all areas of building construction. They can determine if it is necessary to consult a specific specialist in one of the many building trades.
6) Think of a home inspector as a detective, searching through the house for subtle clues that are used to build an overall impression of the house. This impression enables the buyer to have a much greater understanding of what they are buying, before they own it; helping to prevent unforeseen expenses.