Home Inspection FAQ

What is a Building Inspection?

What does a full home inspection include?

Can I do it myself?

Is a home inspection expensive?

Do home inspectors check for code compliance?

Does a home inspection constitute a warranty or guarantee?

Will further inspection be required?

Should I call an inspector on each house I'm interested in?

Should I be present during the inspection?




What is a Building Inspection?

A building inspection is a visual observation of the home's structure, exterior, roof, attic, garage, basement/crawlspace, plumbing system, electrical system, heat; air conditioning systems, and interior. A building inspector will evaluate the accessible and visual components of the home or building and report on any items that are significantly deficient or near the end of their service lives.
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What does a full home inspection include?

A home inspection should address all of the following:

• Exterior: Siding, trim, entry doors, garage doors, windows, and chimneys.
• Structure: Framing of sub-floors, stairs, walls, ceilings, and roofs.
• Roofing: Roof coverings, flashings, skylights, gutters, downspouts, eaves, and soffits
• Plumbing: Water pressure, piping, fixtures, faucets, drains, vents, and water heaters./li>
• Electrical: Service conductors, main and sub-panels, breakers and fuses, grounding, switches, receptacles, fixtures, fans, smoke detectors, GFI function, etc.
• Heating: Furnace or boiler, ducts, radiators, registers, woodstoves, and central air conditioning.
• Insulation: Attic, ceiling, wall and floor insulation, and vapour barriers.
• Ventilation: Attic, crawlspace, kitchen, bath and laundry ventilation.
• Interior: Walls, floors, ceilings, doors, woodwork, cabinets, bathroom finish, fireplaces, etc.

A good inspector will point out positive as well as negative findings to the client and also provide useful information on upkeep and maintenance.
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Can I do it myself?

Even the most experienced homeowner lacks the knowledge, training, and experience of a professional home inspector. There are many hundreds of possible defects in a home, and scores of established methods are required to detect them. The homeowner usually does not own specialized inspection equipment such as moisture meters and electrical circuit analyzers.
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Is a home inspection expensive?

No. Visual inspections are quite reasonable. (Destructive inspections, another type of inspection, is almost never performed, mostly because of the high cost.) Sellers are often willing to pay for repairs, or to renegotiate the purchase price, on the basis of the findings of a professional home inspector. This can save the buyer much more than the cost of the inspection.
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Do home inspectors check for code compliance?

No. Building codes are constantly being revised, and are very different from what they were even ten years ago. No house built thirty years ago would pass present-day building codes. This does not mean that older homes are necessarily unsafe. The purpose of a home inspection is to determine the condition and safety of a home, as it is at the present time, not whether it meets past or present codes.
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Does a home inspection constitute a warranty or guarantee?

No. A home inspection is a professional opinion. Home warranty companies offer service contracts that insure the performance of the various components of a house. The buyer can purchase a home warranty directly from one of these companies, or a seller can purchase one for the buyer as part of the real estate transaction.
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Will further inspection be required?

Maybe. A home inspector is a generalist. The inspector's knowledge and experience are very broad and includes the ability to recognize hundreds of conditions. The inspector does not hold a license in plumbing, electrical, heating, soils engineering, hazardous materials testing, or other specialty areas. Like a general-practice physician, a home inspector will sometimes suggest further evaluation by a specialist. It is up to the buyer whether or not to follow this suggestion. If the seller agrees to make repairs at the buyer's request, the home inspector can, if the buyer wishes, return to inspect these repairs after they've been completed.
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Should I call an inspector on each house I'm interested in?

No. You should call an inspector after you've made an offer to purchase with one of the conditions being that the property be inspected by a qualified home inspector. Be sure to include a clear legal clause in the offer making the sale contingent on a home inspection satisfactory to you as the buyer. Since negotiations between buyers and sellers are often very hectic with tight deadlines, you might want to speak to and decide on a home inspector in advance of making your purchase offer.
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Should I be present during the inspection?

Absolutely! One main purpose of the inspection is to familiarize you with your new home. A quality home inspection should include a personalized walk-through as well as a written report.
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