Tag: home inspector Toronto

Home Inspector
Certified Home Inspector in Toronto

Does Home Inspection Guarantees That Nothing Will Go Wrong with the Home?

This is one of the common questions asked by our clients. According to them, the home inspection process ensures everything is perfectly fine and they are safe for their entire lives. They just need a confirmation from us.

Even though we are working with a team of certified home inspectors in Toronto, we cannot guarantee that 1 to 2 hours of inspection will keep things safe forever. We cannot say firmly that the house you are buying or living in will be the same always.

In this post, we will discuss what happens during the home inspection and things you should do.

A home inspection is a matter of a day or sometimes, just for a few hours. The trained and certified home inspectors look for defects, damaged components or systems, and other items that are not functioning properly or broken on the date of the inspection. Once the inspection day or time is over, the home inspector is not blamed for any defects or damages.

For example, if you buy or move to your house after a month or two and find the sink broken, which isn’t mentioned in the home inspection report, then you will have to face the consequences. It’s because the sink was perfectly fine during the inspection so the home inspector has not included it in the report. 

You just need to remember that “Home Inspectors Cannot Predict Future”.

Certified Home Inspector Toronto

                                 Certified Home Inspector Toronto

But this does not mean you will skip the home inspection process before buying a new house. If you do so, the possibility of safe and secured investment will reduce drastically. It will be like a blind deal where you know nothing about your property.

Though home inspection does not guarantee future safety, you should take a few steps to turn things in your favor. You should make sure that the transaction is currently safe.

What should you do to alleviate the overwhelming task of being a new homeowner?

Allow adequate time for the home inspection– Quality matters during the home inspection. So, you shouldn’t rush and ask the inspector to complete the work in minimum time. For every square foot, a certified home inspector requires a specific time. And you should allow him with that. It’s good to ask the approximate time before starting the inspection.

Ask the home inspector questions about the home– When the inspection is on the verge of completion, you should ask as many questions as possible. The home inspectors are always ready for questions. You should ask how things work in the house, how to maintain the items, how to maintain in and around the house, if there any update or upgrades required to increase the efficiency of the home, etc. If you don’t ask, the home inspector will leave the site after completing the process, thinking you are not interested to know anything. It will create a huge confusion in your mind.

Understand what is going to be on the home inspection report– After the inspection is complete, you should ask the home inspector about the report. Usually, home inspectors don’t discuss the findings with the clients during inspection; they prefer post-inspection review. You should inquire about the major defects and things that you can expect in the inspection report. It’s because home inspectors get to know the majority of the items that will be listed in the report during the inspection.

Read the home inspection report fully– Once you get the home inspection report, you should read it carefully. You should read in detail and shouldn’t skim it. People usually read the summary and think they know everything. Sometimes, the important facts are listed in their respective section of the report. Knowing the report thoroughly will be helpful for you during an emergency.

A home inspection is important for the right purchase. With this, you will get to know a lot about your home before purchase. You shouldn’t skip the process thinking that it does not provide any guarantee.

Certified Home Inspector in Toronto
Certified home inspector toronto

What are the Most Common Issues that can fail a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is a visual examination of a property or house to evaluate its current condition. It is done by a Certified Home Inspector who gives a detailed report on various parameters to determine whether a home is safe for living or not. A home inspection covers the examination of a property from roof to foundation to find potential issues that can cause trouble in the future. It is very important for a property to pass the inspection to ensure the buyers that no serious issues have been detected.

A typical home inspection process covers the examination of the following:

  • Building structure
  • Plumbing and electrical connections
  • Heating and cooling equipment
  • Roof, basement, and walls
  • Pest and insect problems
  • Security issues

A home inspector simply provides the information in the report based on his finding. He doesn’t advise the clients to make a decision based on his report. A client can use the information provided by the inspector to decide whether or not to buy the house.

The most common issues that can fail a Home Inspection are those that impose health and safety concerns. A buyer shouldn’t ignore these areas of an inspection report before making the final decision:

Structural issues

Certified Home Inspector in Toronto

                              Certified Home Inspector in Toronto

The structural elements of a home include roof, foundation, walls, framing, slabs, and crawl spaces. A home inspector looks for potential issues such as poor construction, structural damage, and poor drainage that can cause troubles to the people living there. A stable foundation and construction are essential for safety and one should worry about it.

Moisture and water damage

Any water damage or moisture problem in the basement and attic can lead to mold or mildew formation. It can cause health issues to the people living in the home. Water damage in the basement can cause structural integrity issues due to spalling in concrete, brick, or stone.

Electrical and plumbing issues

Plumbing and electrical system is the backbone of any home and no one can survive without them. While a plumbing issue can lead to water damage or moisture problem, a faulty electrical system can be very hazardous. Faulty electrical and plumbing equipment and network can cause costly maintenance issues in the future.   

Pests and termites

Pest and termite infection can create serious issues in any home. A certified home inspector looks for potential pest issues and how long they have been active. Termites, carpenter ants, and powder post beetles in any home can damage walls, floors, and wooden structures to a large extent.

These are the most common issues that can pass or fail a home inspection. Passing a home inspection test means there is no potential damage or issues have been discovered in the home and you can live with your family happily and safely. If you are looking for a Certified Home Inspector in Toronto to conduct a property inspection before making a purchasing decision, Contact us at JJ Home Inspections for the most trusted and reliable evaluation of the property on various fronts.

licensed home inspector
Licensed home inspector Toronto

Can I perform Home Inspection Myself or Should I Hire the Expert?

Inspection of the property is a critical element of the home buying and selling process. They can bring peace of mind to buyers; educate investors about their new asset, and inform real estate professionals of how to proceed with negotiations. Homes can be inspected for several reasons, and while it’s unlikely you will need every type of inspection, it can be beneficial to understand the options available.

Now, if you are considering performing an inspection on your own, here are reasons you should not do it by yourself and should hire a Licensed Home Inspector in Toronto.

You don’t have experience

Comprehensive home inspections require knowledge across multiple engineering disciplines such as civil, electrical and plumbing, to name a few. If you are not trained in all of those disciplines, you better leave this job to a professional.

You don’t have the right equipment

In order to better judge the quality of the home, you need to use several tools and equipment. These include, but are not limited to, clamp meters, moisture meters, fault detectors, IR thermometers, thermal cameras and many more.

Unless you possess these tools and know to properly use them, leave home inspection in the hands of the expert.

You may miss issues

Licensed home inspector Toronto

        Licensed home inspector Toronto

This is probably the most essential reason that you should not inspect the property on your own. The motive of inspecting the house is to find problems so that you can have them fixed before you move in. Since the chances of you missing issues are relatively higher, the consequences are quite costly in the long run.

Any money you saved by inspecting on your own will be offset by the time and money that you might need to spend in the near future if an issue that you failed to catch becomes crucial.

You don’t have the time

Usually, it takes home inspectors 6 hours to inspect a 1200 square feet home. A person who isn’t professional will take multiple days for the same inspection. You probably won’t want to spend 2-3 days inspecting the property, and even after doing it, you might not get the desired results.

Your inspection report may be scrappy

Generally, home inspectors use apps to perform the inspection and churn out well-formatted reports with annotations, pictures, text etc. that your potential client can easily understand. Since you have to compile the report manually, the look and feel of the report may not be professional enough and might lead to a client not taking you or your report seriously.

The Bottom Line

These are the top 5 reasons that you shouldn’t conduct a home inspection yourself but instead, hire a licensed Home Inspector in Toronto. Even if you looking to save money and time, better get the expert to inspect your home.

Home Inspector
Home Inspector

Things to Focus on when Hiring a Home Inspector

Home inspections have now become a crucial part of the home-buying process. Today, many real estate agents recommend including a home inspection clause. That means you’ll be paying for the inspection to know what you’re getting for your money.

If you think about it, purchasing property might be the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy. So, it better to look for a Certified Home Inspector in Toronto. A home inspector serves to mitigate the risk of hidden costs and offer peace of mind.

However, hiring a Certified Home Inspector should not be taken lightly. Appointing the right person for the job requires extensive research and dedication. It is vital to know what to look for when hiring someone to inspect your house.

Here are some of the essential things to focus on when looking for a professional home inspector.

Experience

The home inspection is a field where experience matters a lot. What matter is, how many inspections they have done, and how long they have been in the business. Consider someone who has been in the field for at least several years. They are more likely to have seen a variety of home types and home-related issues.

Ability to provide reports

Make sure the home inspector you consider can furnish high quality, easily-readable, and thorough inspection reports. The reports should be easy for you to comprehend.

A well-detailed report usually consists of:

  • Areas needed to be fixed.
  • Clear pictures of the areas
  • A range of cost for any recommended repairs or updates

An experienced inspector might prepare a long report, but they should include a summary of the areas and what’s needed to be done.

Great Personality

Attitude and personality are vital characteristics of a home inspector. After selecting a home, you will work with them, so you want to find an inspector who has a positive attitude, and shows a willingness to assist you.

A certified home inspector has a calm and confident demeanor and knows that the process of home shopping can be stressful, so they clearly explain each and every step of the inspection process to you. 

References

When looking for a home inspector, references have been a valuable tool. Contact those homeowners that have lived in their house for a long period, as some issues overlooked by an inspection can surface years later.

For reviews and referrals, you can also check out the company’s website or review ratings given by the clients.

Diligence

These days, diligence seems to be a lost quality. A home inspector should be diligent and truthful in all aspects of their work. Choose someone who works with a sense of urgency, detail-oriented, professional, with great communication skills.

Now you know that a home inspector plays a crucial role in the process of buying a home. It’s always advisable to hire a professional, reliable, and Certified Home Inspector in Toronto to do the work for you. There are so many other factors and qualities to focus, but these are some of it which you should never avoid.