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Inspector Homes |
professional home inspection and consulting |
Questions and Answers |
Inspector Homes canada 2831 34th St SW Calgary AB p 403-464-6637 f 403 249 4615 info@inspectorhomes.ca |
What do you look at during the Home Inspection? A home inspection is a visual evaluation of the major systems in the house including structure, roof, exterior and grading, heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, interior, insulation and ventilation. As long as it's safe and accessible I'll walk on roofs, enter attics and crawl spaces, remove access panels and operate equipment. I'll look at every room in the house using the Standards of Practice of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) and the Canadian Association of Home Property Inspectors (CAHPI). See the sample home inspection report to get a better idea of what's included in the inspection. |
How long does the Inspection take? I will be at the property for approximately 3 hours although older or larger homes may take significantly longer. |
When do I get my report? Typically your Custom Report will be delivered to your email in-box by 10am the following day. You will receive a confidential user name and password to sign into my site and access your report. Unlike the pdf documents that many other inspectors deliver, an Inspector Homes report is accessible from anywhere you have internet access. Your report is secure and only accessible to you unless you specifically designate viewing permission to others (your Realtor, for example). Once you have signed in you can view and print your report or save a copy to your computer. You can also forward the report to anyone you choose such as a Bank, Insurer, Contractor or relative. |
How much does the inspection cost? "The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap price is forgotten." I am not the cheapest Home Inspector in Calgary and I am proud of that. The cost of a home inspection is usually a small fraction of the cost to repair the problems discovered - truly the deal of a lifetime! The fee for a newer single family home up to 1500 square feet starts at $385. Fees for townhomes and apartment-style condominiums are lower. Fees are higher for older or larger homes because they take longer to inspect. For an exact quote on your property fill out the information form and I will contact you with the final price. |
Why are some of your competitors cheaper? You've searched for a quality property and you only have one chance for a quality inspection. You don't want a cheap inspection - you want the best inspection possible from Inspector Homes. Saving a few dollars by using a bargain-basement inspector could cost you thousands of dollars in repairs in the long run. Demand a quality inspection, not a cheap inspection. It's difficult to compare the quality of a professional service; that's why I have sample inspection reports right here for your review. If you're still thinking of going with a cheap inspector compare the content of their report with mine. For more information, see what sets Inspector Homes apart. |
Can I be there for the Inspection? YES! I encourage all of my clients to be at the inspection. Being present can be a valuable time to learn about your home and ask questions. Be wary of an inspector who doesn't want you there for the inspection. |
My Realtor referred your company to me, how do I know that you're not working with the Realtor to make sure I buy the house? I promise to objectively evaluate the condition of your home and present these findings to you without prejudice regardless of who your Realtor is or what company they are affiliated with. There are home inspection companies in Calgary who advertise their "Realtor Alliances" on their web sites. But ask this, if they have developed strategic alliances with Real Estate companies, are they really going to give an objective evaluation of your home? Allow me to relate a personal experience. I introduced myself to a Realtor at a social function and handed him my business card. His first question to me was, "Are you a deal-maker or a deal-breaker?" My response was, "I objectively evaluate the homes I inspect with my client's best interest in mind. If you're looking for someone to make sure you get your commission I don't want your referrals." And with that, I took my card back! There are many Realtors who will include Inspector Homes in their list of recommended Home Inspectors. When your Realtor refers Inspector Homes, you can rest assured that it is because they know I will provide an unbiased, impartial and objective inspection of the property, and that my only concern is you; a satisfied client. |
What if my house doesn't "Pass" the inspection? There are no pass or fail grades in home inspection. My inspection of your property will provide you with an objective overview of the condition of the home. It is likely that I will find problems that weren't expected, but that's why you hired me, isn't it? Every client has a different comfort and expectation level in respect of the condition of their property. All homes have some issues which need to be addressed - some are minor maintenance issues and some can be larger, more expensive repairs. My goal is to provide you with the information you need to make an informed decision. For further reading please visit the Inspection Expectations page. |
My house is only a few years old, why should I have a Home Inspection? The age of a home is often not an indicator of the condition of the home. I my inspection experience I have seen 50 year old homes with few deficiencies and new or nearly new homes with extensive lists of concerns. Many factors such as the builder's attention to detail, quality of components and home-owner maintenance influence the condition of a property. |
You used to be a contractor, can I hire you do perform or manage the repairs on my house? No! It would be a blatant conflict of interest for me to tell you of problems in your home and then offer to repair them for you. I will not provide referrals for repair or service contractors for the same reason. BEWARE - there are inspectors out there who will hand you your report with one hand and a quote for the repairs with the other hand! Home Inspectors should be objective and unbiased and should not perform any work in your home or refer you to a specific contractor for the repairs. View my Code of Ethics |
Will you tell me how much repairs to the house will cost? Repair costs can vary widely, particularly in the busy Calgary market. In some cases a handyman service can be employed to repair a number of small items around the home. Other times repairs may involve several professional trades. I have compiled a list of common repair and improvement costs along with the life cycles of common home components. Your report will not contain the cost to repair all of the deficiencies in your home. I recommend that you obtain a minimum of three quotations from reputable contractors for any work you are going to complete on your home. Read my articles on Hiring a Contractor. |
Will your inspection find every defect? When you consider the thousands of items that make up a house, and the visual nature of a three-hour home inspection, it is unrealistic to think that every problem will be found. There is no way to ensure that any and all problems are discovered. Even if you were to hire a team of qualified professionals (roofer, electrician, plumber, structural engineer, heating technician, etc) to dismantle and inspect every system and component in the house, and then put everything back together the possibility of undiscovered problems would still exist. This type of inspection would take days to complete and cost thousands of dollars, not to mention the disruption to the Vendor. |
Will the report tell me if my house meets "Code"? No. Building codes are continually being revised and it is unrealistic to evaluate your home to current building codes. In some instances of personal safety I may use the current building codes as a benchmark for what is considered "safe". An example of this would be the egress size of basement bedroom windows or the safe design of handrails. |
My Brother-in-Law is a Contractor. Can't I just have him look at the house? Yes, you could, but I wouldn't advise it. Many people have friends or family in the trades but a tradesperson usually only holds professional experience in one area. An electrician may be able to do an excellent evaluation of your electrical system but this doesn't qualify him to inspect the roof or structure. As a professional home inspector with years of experience and training in construction and inspection I am qualified to inspect all of the major systems and components that make up your house. |
What if I find a problem after I move into the house? That is entirely possible. Some problems may not have been discovered during the inspection while others may develop after you move in. Home inspections rarely uncover every single problem in the home. However, if you believe your home inspector missed a major issue that should have been readily visible at the time of the inspection; you should call and meet the inspector to clarify the situation. Misunderstandings are often resolved in this manner. |
Does your inspection come with a Guarantee or Warranty? The scope of a professional home inspection is limited to a visual inspection of accessible items in a limited amount of time. If you were to spend thousands of dollars to have a technically exhaustive inspection of every system and component of your home by a team of qualified professionals you may receive some form of limited guarantee. The purpose of a home inspection is to enlighten you about the condition of the home you are considering buying, thereby minimizing your risk. That is what you are paying for. It is unreasonable to assume that for a small fee you can transfer all the risk of your home purchase over to your home inspector. That is not the purpose of a home inspection. Although a home inspection can reduce your risk, it cannot eliminate it and as such the inspector will not assume any risk associated with the home's condition, adequacy, suitability, deficiency, performance or lack of. Some home inspection companies do offer their clients a warranty. Here is a portion of the "Exclusions" from the policy one of the industry's most popular warranty companies (the document can be viewed here): "What is Excluded under this Limited Mechanical and Structural Warranty? ...items listed as defective...itmes not visible at the inspection...cosmetic repairs...water damage of any form...climate control and hot water systems 11 years of age or older...mold in any form...removal and repair or replacement of walls, floors, roof or concrete to repair components (pipes, wiring, etc.)...Mechanical coverage limited to a maximum of $500.00...Structural coverage limited to $2000.00..." With this list of exclusions, what are they covering? How easy is it going to be to file and collect on a claim? Home Inspection warranties are a marketing tool used by inspection companies. Period. |
The house looks like it's in good shape. Why should I have it inspected? With Calgary's recently hot Real Estate market there are many homes for sale that have been recently updated or renovated. A new coat of paint and a hardwood floor can make a house show beautifully, but an Inspector Homes inspection looks beyond the aesthetics. I am trained and experienced to look for evidence of deficiencies that are not visible to the untrained eye. The new kitchen and bathroom look great but was the plumbing or electrical system upgraded to meet the demands of a modern kitchen? Does the workmanship to the systems appear to have been done in a professional manner or by a homeowner without adequate knowledge? |
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