Are Home Inspectors in Ontario really worth the extra money ?
The main job of thehome inspector , is to ensure that when you decide to purchase a house, you are not swindled by secret problems in your home; the goal you are trying to achieve, is protecting your investment. This goal is the most important thing that the home inspector is supposed to do. They are to provide you with a professional opinion of the houses that you would like inspected; with this opinion, you want them to have appropriate knowledge and a qualification to do so.
Home inspectors would like you to believe that they have the knowledge about everything, when it comes to the proper construction of a home; this statement seems like a given, as if it should go without saying. Well, I am here to comment on the home inspectors in Ontario, because that is where I live. It would be unfair for me to comment on the home inspectors in any other part of Canada.
In British Columbia and Alberta home inspectors have a licensing requirement, but in Ontario, home inspectors do not require a license, professional certification, or the requirement to belong to any professional association.
This is a scary situation that homeowners are placed in; in reality anyone can be a home inspector. It is important to note that many home inspectors do belong to professional association, with varying requirements. Some associations require the completion of college-level courses in conjunction with practical experience, while others require the completion of an online assessment.
Resultantly, we have a confusion about what tells us who is a good home inspector. As with any profession, there are the people who are top notch at their profession and there are those who are not very good, licensed or unlicensed.
Before you hire a home inspector, what should you do?
Ask a few questions to the home inspector. These questionsapply to those who live anywhere, not just in Ontario.
1) How long has this person been a home inspector? Do they have any qualifications? If so, what are they?
If you have an inspector who is new to the field, do not expect this person to be unable to perform as well or better than a veteran inspector. First determine what qualifications they have attained; is there specific training they have received or have they taken classes, related to this field? Aside from these qualifications, ensure that they have some hands on experience; if they do not have this hands on experience, they may have difficulty inspecting your home properly.
2) How much does the inspector charge for a home inspection?
This is often the first question that would pop into a homeowners mind, but it should be the last. The cost of the home inspection will vary based on many factors, including: location, size, and type of property.
There are some companies which offer inspection at a fraction of the cost, of the industry standard. There are also some home inspectors who will offer a “walk through” for a low price; in this situation they will assess specific areas that you have concerns about, but will not complete a thorough inspection.
Typically, the client will not receive a written record of this inspection. By not receiving a written record, you have put yourself in a risky situation. The inspector has not inspected the entire home, so the inspector could have looked over some major problems. It is likely that in this situation, you have not signed a contract; if a problem arises, there is no substantial record of this transaction, which will put you in a difficult situation
With, what seems, is never-ending costs associated with the purchase of a home, consumers have a right to pay attention to their money, and ensure they are receiving quality service. Don’t let this fee deter you from having a home inspection, ensure that you are choosing a quality home inspector, rather than an inexpensive one. Don’t let paying a cheap price, cost you more in the long term.
3) How long will it take the home inspector to inspect your home?
The cost has many determining factors but so does the length of the inspection. The length of the inspection will depend on the size and the type of residence. On average, a single family home, should take approximately three hours to complete. If it takes the home inspector less than this time period, the inspection may not have been completed correctly. Both yourself and your real estate agent, should attend this inspection, to ensure you obtain the correct information.
This inspection makes no guarantees or warranties, but it can provide you with a peace of mind about the condition of the home, which you intend to purchase. As with many other services, referrals are often the best way to hire a home inspector; the person who refers you to the home inspector should have had experience with them, so that they can vouch for their quality, ability, and knowledge.
My recommendation for you, is this: If you really intend to purchase a house, bring in a home inspector and also bring in a tradesperson to inspect specific details.
The following are the main areas, you should bring trades people in for:
1) HVAC
2) Plumbing
3) Roofing
4) Electrician
5) Foundation
I say, skip those super-expensive home inspectors. Support a home inspector, who offers quality service and is trustworthy. If you have used a home inspector, in the past, and they provided a great service, employ them again.
Just remember, a home inspector only provides opinions and ensure that you read the contract prior to signing it.
The main job of the
Home inspectors would like you to believe that they have the knowledge about everything, when it comes to the proper construction of a home; this statement seems like a given, as if it should go without saying. Well, I am here to comment on the home inspectors in Ontario, because that is where I live. It would be unfair for me to comment on the home inspectors in any other part of Canada.
In British Columbia and Alberta home inspectors have a licensing requirement, but in Ontario, home inspectors do not require a license, professional certification, or the requirement to belong to any professional association.
This is a scary situation that homeowners are placed in; in reality anyone can be a home inspector. It is important to note that many home inspectors do belong to professional association, with varying requirements. Some associations require the completion of college-level courses in conjunction with practical experience, while others require the completion of an online assessment.
Resultantly, we have a confusion about what tells us who is a good home inspector. As with any profession, there are the people who are top notch at their profession and there are those who are not very good, licensed or unlicensed.
Before you hire a home inspector, what should you do?
Ask a few questions to the home inspector. These questions
1) How long has this person been a home inspector? Do they have any qualifications? If so, what are they?
If you have an inspector who is new to the field, do not expect this person to be unable to perform as well or better than a veteran inspector. First determine what qualifications they have attained; is there specific training they have received or have they taken classes, related to this field? Aside from these qualifications, ensure that they have some hands on experience; if they do not have this hands on experience, they may have difficulty inspecting your home properly.
2) How much does the inspector charge for a home inspection?
This is often the first question that would pop into a homeowners mind, but it should be the last. The cost of the home inspection will vary based on many factors, including: location, size, and type of property.
There are some companies which offer inspection at a fraction of the cost, of the industry standard. There are also some home inspectors who will offer a “walk through” for a low price; in this situation they will assess specific areas that you have concerns about, but will not complete a thorough inspection.
Typically, the client will not receive a written record of this inspection. By not receiving a written record, you have put yourself in a risky situation. The inspector has not inspected the entire home, so the inspector could have looked over some major problems. It is likely that in this situation, you have not signed a contract; if a problem arises, there is no substantial record of this transaction, which will put you in a difficult situation
With, what seems, is never-ending costs associated with the purchase of a home, consumers have a right to pay attention to their money, and ensure they are receiving quality service. Don’t let this fee deter you from having a home inspection, ensure that you are choosing a quality home inspector, rather than an inexpensive one. Don’t let paying a cheap price, cost you more in the long term.
3) How long will it take the home inspector to inspect your home?
The cost has many determining factors but so does the length of the inspection. The length of the inspection will depend on the size and the type of residence. On average, a single family home, should take approximately three hours to complete. If it takes the home inspector less than this time period, the inspection may not have been completed correctly. Both yourself and your real estate agent, should attend this inspection, to ensure you obtain the correct information.
This inspection makes no guarantees or warranties, but it can provide you with a peace of mind about the condition of the home, which you intend to purchase. As with many other services, referrals are often the best way to hire a home inspector; the person who refers you to the home inspector should have had experience with them, so that they can vouch for their quality, ability, and knowledge.
My recommendation for you, is this: If you really intend to purchase a house, bring in a home inspector and also bring in a tradesperson to inspect specific details.
The following are the main areas, you should bring trades people in for:
1) HVAC
2) Plumbing
3) Roofing
4) Electrician
5) Foundation
I say, skip those super-expensive home inspectors. Support a home inspector, who offers quality service and is trustworthy. If you have used a home inspector, in the past, and they provided a great service, employ them again.
Just remember, a home inspector only provides opinions and ensure that you read the contract prior to signing it.
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