Residential
What is a Home Inspection?
Whether you are single, a couple, a family or corporation, You have spent alot of time in looking for a piece of property that you have decided to now make an offer to purchase.
Here is where it is more important then ever that the inspector you hire will work for you on your behalf. Real estate agents should have given you three or four names to call, some will hand you the yellow pages, others will just tell you to call their inspector. In any case you want the inspector that is going to have your best interests. Agents are responsible to have your interests, but they also have an invested interest in the property you are looking at…… Their commission, and this will make some down play issues that could cause serious if not costly expenses later on in your home ownership.
Having an inspector that ONLY wants you to get the information for the inspection so YOU can then make an honest unbiased decision of the property that you are looking to buy.
An inspection is a glimpse of the property on that day, we are trained to look for items and issues that most buyers miss, that’s why you hire us. I firmly believe that there is a line somewhere between the purchase price and the renovation cost that can not be passed, when this happens the buyer could find themselves in a position that the new property will overwhelm them and this leads to foreclosure.
As we are conducting the inspection with our clients, if and when issues arise we can inform you of possible expense’s and aid you in the potential total renovation and repair costs. This is where you truly get to make an informed and unbiased decision, remember whether you purchase this house or continue to look for a better suited home we are their to help.
A home inspection should be conducted by a certified home inspector. The home inspection process is an analysis based on a visual and technical inspection of the major components and systems of a home. The home inspection is intended to identify components and systems that may be unsafe, near the end of their lifespan, or are not performing as they should be.
Home Inspection Components
The following are systems and components that we inspect during the home inspection.
- Foundation and support structure.
- Roof, vents, flashing’s, and trim.
- Gutters and downspouts.
- Skylight, chimney and other roof penetrations.
- Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings.
- Eaves, soffit and fascia.
- Windows and doors.
- Steps and stairs.
- Grading and drainage.
- Driveways and walkways.
- Heating systems.
- Central air conditioning system.
- Electrical service line and meter box.
- Main disconnect and service amperage.
- Electrical panels, breakers and fuses.
- Grounding and bonding.
- GFCI and AFCI.
- Main water shut off valves.
- Water heating system.
- Interior plumbing fixtures and faucets.
- Drainage sump pumps with accessible floats.
- Basement, foundation and crawlspace.
- Water penetration and foundation movement.
- Fireplace damper door and hearth.
- Insulation and ventilation.
- Garages and carports
- Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers.
- Safety controls.
- And much more.
…are trained and InterNACHI certified in all residential systems and their functionality;
…must have sufficient knowledge and capability to recognize probable failure in any aspect of a home;
…are able to describe any system and the materials involved, and recognize typical defects and implications, including safety concerns;
…can differentiate between inadequate and adequate installations and repair techniques;
…adhere to the standards of practice and code of ethics of an association that promotes professional Home Inspectors.
No Home is Perfect
Not even new buildings are without imperfection, but don’t let that discourage you from buying your dream home. All it means is that when you find that perfect home, you should hire a professional home inspector to determine if any defects or safety issues do occur in the home.
We are happy to serve our clients in the following areas, Picton, Belleville, Trenton, Napanee, Kingston, Brighton, Coburg, Foxboro, Sterling, Ontario East and Central.
If you require services outside of our listed area contact us as we will travel any where in Ontario, mileage fees may occur.