When it comes to buying a home, repair or renovation costs can be a major factor. It's important to remember that a home inspector should not provide you with estimates of repair or renovation costs, either during the inspection or in the report. To ensure that any deficiencies are not overlooked, it's essential to choose an unbiased party. Your real estate agent should be able to recommend a home inspector who can attend your home inspection to answer questions, translate anything that might be confusing, and make sure that all aspects are covered.
When hiring a home inspector, look at their qualifications, history, qualifications and training, certification, experience, references and references. The Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) maintains rules and codes for its members, so choosing an inspector who is a member of the CAHPI can provide greater safety. One of the most common things found during a home inspection is an inadequate electrical system. This can cause dangerous home fires if left unrepaired. A home inspector provides a holistic overview of all aspects of your home to determine what aspects might need improvement or require further attention or repairs.
A comprehensive home inspection report can help you make more informed decisions about your purchase or the possible repairs you may need to make. At Home Inspection Services Canada, we are up to date with building, electrical and plumbing codes and are trained to identify any incomplete items that fall within the builder's contractual obligations. We also understand the importance of having insurance for your home and can help you make sure that all aspects are covered. However, a home inspector can evade their liability by adding an exclusion of liability clause to the home inspection contract. I have heard of several cases where people sued the home inspector in court because of errors found in the home inspection report. All Canadian residential home inspectors receive the same strict training program, regardless of their location, that meets government standards for all authorized jurisdictions.
If the home inspector expresses doubts about the integrity of the roof or foundation, they may also want to perform a specialized inspection to check the condition of the roof or the severity of fundamental problems to determine what type of renovations it will need. You may want to ask the home inspector if the CSA A770 standard for home inspections will apply during the inspection. The best way to do this is to make sure you're working with a qualified inspector; check with the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors or, in Ontario specifically, the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors. Usually, the home inspector who performs the home inspection is responsible for any and all “patent” defects that were not detected during the home inspection. The home inspection report will be limited to describing the conditions of the areas of the home that the inspector can see or have access to during the inspection.
