Not all Ottawa home inspectors are created equal

Home Inspection Ottawa

Taking the Guesswork out of choosing a

Reputable Building Inspector in Ottawa

Not all inspectors are created equal

So you have found the home of your dreams, the financing is taken care of and you’re wondering what the next step might be? The first step is to locate a quality home inspector. You can find many different listings by typing in “home inspection Ottawa” or “home inspectors Ottawa” into the search engines. However, not all inspectors are created equal. You want an inspector who is a member of the OAHI(Ontario Association of Home Inspectors) and has achieved the highest level possible with a level or “Registered Home Inspector”. This insures you're getting an inspector with expertise and experience which is not the case with the lower levels of affiliation.

The next step after you have selected an inspector, is the inspection itself. You want to be present during the inspection so that you can ask questions and make sure that you feel he has covered all the bases. You want to make sure that the inspection is thorough. By going through the inspection with him or her, it gives you an opportunity see what he’s looking at and raise any concerns that you might have. Understandably, you won’t be climbing into tight crawl spaces with him, but you will be there to insure that he does.

One of the most expensive things to repair or replace in a home is the roof. Watch the inspector on the as he looks at it to be sure that he covers the entire roof and doesn’t just “spot” check it. Things can be missed that could cause problems later.

Heating and air conditioning units are a huge expense. Most of these units are at the end of their optimum performance levels at around 10-15 years. Ask the inspector about the overall condition of the unit and how long he thinks it will be before it will need to be replaced. The last thing you need is to be in the middle of a cold Canadian winter with a furnace that isn’t working. You will be spending enough money just buying the house and you don’t need that added expense right out of the gate.

The electrical system is another area that needs special attention. With power surges and lightning strikes, there could be hidden damage to outlets or the main panel itself. There could simply be a problem with the way everything was installed. Either way, these are potential fire hazards and need to be addressed.

Structural integrity should also be determined during the home inspection. This would appear obvious, but there are horror stories about people that have a house crumbling down around them two years after they bought it, and it passed a home inspection. If you see obvious signs during the inspection, don’t hesitate to ask the inspector about it. It should be included in his final report, but if you mention it during the inspection, he can better explain what it means to the integrity of the house and you will know specifically what the report is speaking to.

Other than the appliances, the rest of the inspection will probably address less expensive cosmetic issues. By walking through the process with your inspector, not only will you learn a lot about home inspections in general, but you will be learning about all of the ins and outs of your new home.