Chris Steele

email: chris@hcis.ca

240 Wilfred Crescent

Arnprior, Ontario

K7S 2W9

613 720 7202

Q. What is a home inspection?

A. A home inspection is an unbiased, top to bottom, visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a home. A standard home inspection will include an evaluation of the condition of the home's structural system, roof, electrical system, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, plumbing system, and more.

Q. Who needs a home inspection?

A. Anyone who is selling or purchasing a home should hire a home inspector to examine the condition of the property. Whether you're buying a pre-owned or new home, an inspection will advise you the on condition of the property before you move in, that way there are no costly surprises.

If you purchased a new home and it will likely have a warranty from the builder, so it's a good idea to have a pre-delivery home inspection. It's a rare case that even a new home doesn't have some problems that were overlooked by the builder. Those repairs or corrections easily exceed the cost of an inspection. It is also a good idea to have an anniversary inspection before the warrantee expires. If you catch them prior to warranty expiration, your warranty should cover them.

Someone selling their home can benefit by knowing the condition of their home before they place it on the market. Then, any repairs required can be made prior to listing. A pre-listing inspection can also be used as a comparison to what the buyer's inspector finds.

Q. Why Would a Seller Want to Have a Home Inspection?

A. It's not immediately obvious to many sellers why a Pre-Listing Home Inspection would be beneficial. One of the most compelling reasons is the comfort factor it gives potential buyers.

A Pre-Listing Inspection Strengthens Your Position as a Seller.

• By having an inspection before selling, you're prepared for items that may show up during the buyer's inspection. You can prevent extended negotiations if the repairs are made ahead of time. Fewer contingencies in the sales contract will undoubtedly make the closing much smoother.
• By documenting the pre-listing condition of the home, you gain a legal advantage in the event you are sued for not disclosing problems with your home.
• You'll be able to negotiate from a much stronger position if you have an inspection report to compare against your buyer's report. In many cases, if your report is provided by a Certified Inspector, the buyer will see no need to retain their own inspector. And of course, if we pre-inspect your home, we'll always be available to answer questions the prospective buyer may have.

Q. Does a newly constructed home need an Inspection?

A. Absolutely. A professional inspection or a pre-delivery inspection of a new home is important. We can spot potential problems early, while they are still easy to correct. It’s especially valuable to arrange an inspection before the interior walls are finished. We may find problem areas where the builder has taken shortcuts or not done quality work.

Q. What is an anniversary inspection?

A. It is an inspection of your new home at least 30 days prior to the first anniversary of your new purchase. This is strongly recommended by The Tarion Warranty Program and many builders also request that you provide them with a list of deficiencies prior to the one-year anniversary.

Don't fall into the trap that many homeowners do by thinking that they can save a few dollars and detect all the deficiencies themselves. Only too often, do we hear cases where they missed something and it has not been covered by either the builder or Tarion because it did not appear in the one year report.

Q. How long does an inspection take?

A. Anywhere from two to four hours depending on the condition and size of the property.

Q. When do I call in the home inspector?

A. A home inspector is typically called right after the contract or purchase agreement has been signed, and is often available within a few days. However, before you sign, be sure that there is an inspection clause in the contract, making your purchase obligation contingent upon the findings of a professional home inspection. This clause should specify the terms to which both the buyer and seller are obligated.

Q. Should I be present for the home inspection?

A. Yes, we prefer if you are present during the entire inspection. There are always issues discovered during the inspection that can best be explained in person. Regardless if you present we will include any concerns we have in the report, but your presence during the inspection always makes it easier for you to understand important information about the property.

Q. What type of report do I receive?

A. After the inspection is completed we will sit down with you and review the pictures and everything that was discovered during the inspection in detail. Armed with this knowledge you will be able to make a confident decision. The report will be completed electronically and you'll receive your report late that day via email. The entire inspection will be summarized in great detail in the report complete with digital pictures.

Q. Should my Realtor receive a copy of your report?

A. Yes. Your realtor can assist you in determining if any items in the report are significant enough to warrant re-negotiation with the seller. Having your realtor review the report also insures that you both are "on the same page" at the closing.

Q. Are you available to answer questions about the property or report after I close and move into the home?

A. Yes, our commitment to you does not end after the inspection, we will be happy to assist you any way we can to clarify the information in the report. Even after you've settled into your new home we're always available to you for as long as you own the home to offer unbiased advice and recommendations.

Q. Why can’t I do the inspection myself?

A. Chances are that even if you are very familiar with home construction, you still don’t have the knowledge, training and experience of a professional Home Inspector. We're not only familiar with all the systems of a home-and how they work and need to be maintained-but we also know what to look for to determine if they're about to fail. Also consider this-when you are involved in buying or selling a house, it’s impossible for you to remain completely unemotional about the house, and this may cloud your judgment. Your professional inspector will provide an objective, unbiased view of the property.

Q. Will you fix the problems you find during the Inspection?

A. No. The code of ethics of The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI) prohibits its members from soliciting repair work on properties they inspect. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest on the part of the inspector. Our purpose is to provide an unbiased, objective report on the condition of the home.

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