15 Questions to Ask
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15 Questions That You Should Ask When Shopping for a Home Inspector
1: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
Home inspectors come and go. Stewart Henry has been involved in buying and selling real estate and inspecting homes since 1998. We are a local firm that will be there for you before, during and after your inspection.
2: WHAT ARE YOUR INSPECTORS’ QUALIFICATIONS?
The industry is still essentially unregulated in most provinces. Anyone can call themselves a home inspector with no qualifications whatsoever. I received his my Inspection training from Georgian College in Barrie through industry leader, Carson Dunlop and Associates. I continue to upgrade my knowledge and training on a continual basis through industry Continuing Education courses, seminars and workshops. In the last 3 years alone, I have completed 580 accredited hours of Home Inspection Continuing Education. That’s 193.33 hours per year; 16.11 hours each month; 3.72 hours each week. I will continue to take as much Continuing Education as I can to ensure that I am able to offer you the most informed, up to date skills and knowledge!
3: CAN I FOLLOW ALONG AT THE INSPECTION?
If a firm doesn’t want you go to the inspection, don’t use them. I strongly encourage you to attend your inspection and follow along closely as we inspect the home for you. This is a valuable learning experience for most home buyers. It is the perfect opportunity to ask me specific questions about the condition of the home. Also, where defects are identified, we can discuss these with you so that you understand what repairs are required, when and at roughly what cost. We take pride in providing Not just an inspection, an Education!
4: ARE YOU A MEMBERS OF ANY INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS?
Henry’s Home Inspections is a recognized member of The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI), and the National Foundation of Certified Inspectors in Canada (NFCI), and adheres to the rigourous continuing education and service quality standards imposed by those organizations.
5: DO YOU DO REPAIRS OR RECOMMEND CONTRACTORS?
No. Home Inspectors are essentially a consultant specializing in home inspections. We consider it a conflict of interest for a home inspector to recommend or refer a contractor to perform repairs. We are here to provide you with an unbiased opinion on the condition of the home. We do not accept referral fees from anyone. (Although we’re always happy if our clients refer us to their friends!!)
6: HOW MUCH DOES AN INSPECTION COST?
Our typical fee for an inspection is $400 plus tax. However, some factors will affect the fee. If you are comparing home inspection firms, the fee charged should not be the sole deciding factor, unless of course the level of service offered is identical.
I suspect the house you are buying is not the cheapest house, but rather a house that you feel represents good value, and I urge you to choose your home inspector the same way.
7: HOW LONG DOES AN INSPECTION TAKE?
A typical home inspection will take approximately 3 hours. Some older and/or larger homes can take longer. As a courtesy to the vendor, they should be informed of the time involved when the inspection is arranged.
8: DO YOU PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT?
Yes. In addition to the verbal report which you will receive during the inspection, I also prepare a comprehensive written report that our clients have found to be essential in assisting them in their decision to purchase. It is also a valuable reference during your ownership of the property. Your report will discuss the components of the home, their general condition and it will discuss the general repairs that are noted to be required. It will also include helpful illustrations and actual photographs of the home. The report will be available to you online within 24 hours of the inspection, and by email.
9: CAN WE CONTACT YOU WITH QUESTIONS AFTER THE INSPECTION?
Absolutely! We will be glad to answer any questions you might have after the inspection or even after you move into your new home. We are also happy to offer you periodic inspections after you have moved in to help you make sure that your home stays in tip-top condition!
10: WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT?
Henry’s Home Inspections will inspect the major systems of the house. These include the Roof, Exterior, Structure, Electrical, Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Insulation and Interior. Our goal is to identify any existing major problems that would affect a typical purchasers buying decision.
It is my goal to add significantly to your knowledge of the home, but I still cannot tell you everything about the house. All home inspections are entirely visual. No destructive testing is performed. The inspection and report will put you in a much better position to make your decision.
Please review the Inspections page for a list of what is included in a full home inspection.
11: CAN YOU PROVIDE ME WITH ANY REFERENCES?
Certainly. We can provide you with comments we have received from other clients.
12: DO YOU DO TERMITE INSPECTIONS?
We inspect the accessible structural components of the house for visible damage, but would suggest hiring a certified pest control specialist if you are concerned about termites.
13 DO YOU LOOK FOR UFFI?
UFFI, or Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation, is a form of spray-foam insulation that has been prohibited in Canada since 1980 because it may release formaldehyde gas into indoor air. Your realtor may have discussed UFFI with you, as it has been a standard practice for Ontario realtors to include a clause in the Agreement of Purchase and Sale whereby the Vendor warrants that the home does not contain any UFFI.
Unfortunately, even purchasing a new home is no guarantee that UFFI may not be present. In February 2009, Health Canada posted an advisory on their web site warning consumers that a limited number of new homes in Ontario had been insulated with this banned product between September 2007 and February 2009.
The only way to absolutely guarantee that UFFI is not present somewhere in the house is to remove all of the interior finishes. Obviously, this is not possible. Looking for application holes, or drilling the odd hole is not enough. If, during the course of our standard inspection, we should see evidence of a UFFI installation or uncover a material we suspect to be UFFI, we will inform you.
If you are interested, we can send you our very well researched article on UFFI. Please be wary of companies who offer to guarantee that no UFFI is present in a home.
14: DO YOU DO RADON INSPECTIONS?
No, this is beyond the scope of a typical home inspection as it involves laboratory work. We would be happy to refer you to a specialist, if you desire.
15: DO YOU CARRY INSURANCE?
Yes. As required by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors and by the Canadian Association of Professional Home Inspectors, we carry Errors and Omissions Insurance.
To book an inspection, call (705) 812-2457 or click “Have me call you” below!
