We live in very creative economic times to be sure, and coupled with the explosion in technology that leaves most of us breathless at times, we find a lot of new and blossoming businesses designed to assist us in making a wise buying decision on our new home.
One of these to be sure, is the “Home Inspection” service that offers to closely inspect all the key elements of a home, either old or new, and provide the prospective purchaser with a detailed report of the condition of the home.
Finding problems doesn’t necessarily kill the sale, but it does provide facts that can either influence the amount of the offer, or at least give the prospective new owner a clear picture of what lies ahead. On the other hand, if after a careful and thorough inspection the report shows that the building is safe, up to code and in good repair, the decision to buy can be much easier, and after the sale, one generally will sleep better knowing they didn’t buy a lemon.
Unfortunately, until very recently, there were little if any guidelines, restrictions or certification for those starting up a Home Inspection business. Most certainly were providing a helpful service, but some were printing business cards, buying a clip-board and a flashlight and presenting themselves as “experts” in the industry. Thankfully, there has been much improvement and with a little effort, a real estate shopper can find many reputable and honest Home Inspection firms.
In a future article, we will provide helpful suggestions on what to look for in a good Home Inspection technician. In the meantime, what follows will give you a list of some of the key areas you might want to look at as closely as you can at when you go through your next Open House. This does not mean that we are suggesting you show up with hammers, pry bars and screwdrivers. Leave that to the experts who you will commission to do the fine combing later.
For now, here’s a short list of what you might want to bring with you…
- Good quality purse or pocket sized flashlight
- Small digital camera
- List of items you want to inspect or at least ask about during your initial tour
- Small notebook and pen
Now for the checklist. Many websites can help you here. For example, on the website for Canada Mortgage and Housing, they include a “Home Inspection Checklist”. While many of the included items might be out of your area of expertise, simply asking about them when first looking at the property, giving indication that you will be having a professional look more closely if you are interested in proceeding further, will keep everyone honest.
Here’s the Canada Mortgage and Housing checklist. (For more information, including a “fill-able” form, visit their website.
- Foundation
- Exterior doors
- Windows
- Roof
- Exterior walls
- Attic (including insulation)
- Plumbing system
- Electrical system
- Heating/Air conditioning system
- Ceilings
- Walls
- Floors and flooring
- Interior doors
- Kitchen cabinets
- Insulation in walls
- Ventilation
- Septic tank or sewer connection
- Well and water pump or water lines
- Other buildings such as detached garage
- Lot: drainage away from building, slopes, natural vegetation
- Driveway
- Common areas (for condominiums/stratas)
- Overall opinion of structural integrity of the building(s)
