What is a home inspection?  A home inspection a 3rd party educated outlook at the home and it does not provide a warranty or guarantee anything, nor is there a pass or fail.

As a realtor, I always recommend buyers have a home inspection done on the property they’re looking at. Knowing the state of the home and any issues it might have allows buyers to make fully-informed decisions while they consider buying. While all home inspectors are trained to examine and make note of your property in great detail, there are several key considerations we use when we recommend a home inspector.

 

  

The first consideration is Knowledge.

Home inspection remains unregulated in Canada, which is why having some certification is so important. Since home inspectors look at so many aspects of the home, from plumbing, HVAC, electrical, structural, health, and safety to name a few, having certification shows the home inspector has the knowledge of each aspect of the home and ability to identify and document them. A couple of great certifications to look for in your home inspector are the Ontario Association of Certified Home Inspectors, International Association of Certified Indoor Air Consultants, and Pro-Lab for environmental testing.

 

The next consideration is Experience.

Make sure to seek out home inspection companies that have real experience. If their website gives a decent number of examples of their work and lists any brokerages they’ve worked with, while having great customer reviews, then your chances of having a good experience with them increases. Remember that while home inspectors don’t have x-ray vision to see through your floors or walls, experience in dealing with a wide variety of properties and issues means they can catch more of them.

 

Our third consideration is Professionalism

Your home inspection company needs to be insured for both general liability and professional liability. If the home inspector damages anything, general liability insurance will cover the damage. If any errors or omissions happen, professional liability insurance will cover the issues related to the inspection. You’ll be protected in both cases.

 

While it's up to you to choose the best home inspection company for you, we hope you make use of these criteria for a more informed choice. If you need recommendations, call me at (519) 331-3746, and remember to Put Sean on Your Lawn!