Home Inspections

A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. Home inspections are usually conducted by a home inspector who has the training and certifications to perform such inspections. The home inspector prepares and delivers to the client a written report of findings…

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The client then uses the knowledge gained to make informed decisions about their pending real estate purchase. The home inspector describes the condition of the home at the time of inspection but does not guarantee future condition, efficiency, or life expectancy of systems or components. A professional home inspection is an examination of the current condition of a house. It is not an inspection to verify compliance with appropriate codes; building inspection is a term often used for building code compliance inspections in Canada.

Roger Frost is a Certified Building Code Official whose training allows him to identify and explain Building Code Deficiencies. This Certification also holds Roger Frost to a higher level of accountability due to a higher level of education and training. All Home Inspections come with a 100% Money Back Guarantee which is valid for 30 days after you take possession of your home.

Home owners and buyers would greatly benefit from read a detailed article called Protecting Your Attic

Home Inspections

Older Century Homes are very popular and typically generate a lot of interest when they come on the market.  Behind that alluring country charm can reside a myriad of issues and expensive repairs. Some items that are fairly common to Century Homes are Asbestos, Knob & Tube Wiring, Structural Issues and Crumbling Foundations.

 

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Any home that is over 100 years old will have had many renovations over the years.  The quality of those renovations will dictate the work and money required to bring the home up to today’s standards.

Most renovations should have a Building Permit taken out which ensures all work on electrical, plumbing and structure will have been inspected at the completion of project by the Building Department. This is the type of home you want to invest in, safe in the knowledge that all work was professionally done.  This is not always the case!

Many Century Home have had basements that have been excavated and expanded after the original construction without proper structural support.  Older heating ducts will possibly still have asbestos insulation attached throughout the house.  Knob & Tube wiring or older two-wire may still be use in certain parts of the home and galvanized plumbing still is in use.

Home Inspections

Certified Commercial Building Inspector with Expertise in Commercial, Industrial, Institutional & Apartment Building inspections. All our inspections are based on the following Inspection Standards: National Association of Commercial Building Inspectors (NACBI) Code of Ethics Standards of Practice ASTM E2018 – 08 Standard Guide for Property Condition Assessments: Baseline Property Condition Assessment Process.

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No two inspections are the same and we tailor our inspections to meet our clients expectations and requirements.

Commercial Infrared Scans and Commercial Property Inspections by industry experts. Combining infrared thermal technology, along with our proven inspection techniques, allows us to provide our clients an accurate understanding of their future building’s defects.

Items covered include Structural Frame, Building Envelope, Roofing, Plumbing, Heating, Air Conditioning & Ventilation Systems, Electrical, Life Safety & Fire Protection, Interior Elements, , Storm Water Drainage, and Utilities.

If you are purchasing a commercial, multi-family, or industrial property and want to protect your investment, call 888-818-8608 for a Free Consultation.

Types of Home Inspections – Click Images to Read More

Pre-Delivery Inspection

 Buying a Brand New Home is many Home Owners dream.  Unfortunately in Ontario there is not much protection for new home buyers.  Tarion Warranty does cover a lot of expensive items such as foundations, roofing, exterior cladding…the list goes on and on.

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Tarion’s manual covers the Construction Performance Standards for any product you can find on a home, and you would be surprised when you read the details how much wiggle room there is for quality control over the proper installation of products.  Your foundation wall for instance can have a multitude of cracks as long as they are not over 6mm in width and no water is penetrating crack.  If auto manufactures used the same quality standards as Tarion no one would buy a car from them.

Attending a Tarion PDI Inspection with a Builder Representative can be very stressful.  This is not surprising as you have 2 Professionals with opposing goals in mind.   I must clarify that most Builder Representatives are honest and quite amicable during the inspection, but that is not always the case.

Tarion Warranty Claims

If your builder fails to resolve your claim, or does not feel that the item is warranted, that is when Tarion can help. We can assess your claim and, if warrantable, ensure that the issue is resolved. However, to be eligible for Tarion’s assistance, you must report your warranty claim within the relevant warranty time frame.

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Tarion’s MyHome online portal is an easy-to-use and convenient way to manage your warranty claims. MyHome notifies you of important warranty timelines, lets you submit warranty claims to both your builder and Tarion simultaneously, and allows you to request Tarion’s assistance if you need it. If you are not able to submit your warranty claim through MyHome, please contact us for further assistance.

Tarion currently is not accountable to any government agency. Canadians for Properly Built Homes has been lobbying the Provincial Government for years to have them fall under the supervision of the Ontario Ombudsman but Tarion has so far not been reined by either of the last two Provincial Government. Tarion has it own Ombudsman, who is appointed by Tarion and has an office in their building, good luck getting any results there.

Your builder is responsible for resolving your claim items that are warranted regardless of whether you ask for Tarion’s help. There are other possible ways to get your warranty claims resolved, such as through the civil court system, or through private arbitration or mediation. The alternative resolution methods available to you may depend on what you and your builder agree to. Some alternative methods for resolving your warranty claim are listed at the bottom of this page.

If you choose to resolve your claim through alternative methods, you should ensure that you have complied with warranty timing requirements. We also recommend that you seek legal advice.

Pre-Listing Inspections

Pre-listing inspections provides openness and portrays transparency which establishes trust, a positive factor that can help push the sale prices higher and stimulate more offers. If the house is perceived to be in better condition than originally thought, the price offered by prospective purchaser will definitely reflect this.

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When you get a home inspection before listing your home, you can remove a lot of stress surrounding the sale. It is normal to worry that your home may have some hidden feficiencies  that you are not aware of. With a Home Inspection,  you will know of any problems that exist and have the opportunity to address them.  With an inspection after the listing, you will have to meet the requirements of the sales agreement. This means making sure all of the issues are taken care of before the closing takes place. The home inspection will be one less reason why your sale fails.

A Pre-listing inspection discloses problems in advance, allowing the seller to either correct them or present them as is, assuring that the first accepted offer can move quickly and smoothly to closing without delays and might encourage buyers to waive their inspection contingency.  This is especially helpful in a sellers market when many people will waive their Home Inspection clause in an effort to secure purchase.  Many pudent buyers will shy away from this but with a Pre-Lising Inspection available, may decide to enter into making an offer.

Why Do You Need a Pre-Listing Inspection?

Ontario is in the middle of a red hot real estate market, home buyers are facing significant pressure in the current real estate environment.  This extreme pressure places buyers in a difficult position – should they play this competitive game? Should they offer more than asking? Do they have time for a buyer’s home inspection, or should they waive the inspection clause.