Lynne Cooper – Home Inspections
A Home Inspection is a crucial part of any real estate purchase. It is a non-invasive visual inspection of the structure and components of a house or other structure to reveal items that may be improperly functioning, need replacing or that may be hazardous.
Having a home inspected by a certified Home Inspector will help to alleviate much of the worry of the unknown and hidden costs that can take you by surprise during ownership. A Home Inspection is recommended for all purchases involving structures whether it is a re-sale property, or a deficiency inspection on new construction. To help protect your investment, it is always a good idea to engage the services of a trained professional to assist you.
As a REALTOR®, it is one of my fiduciary obligations to advise my clients to obtain expert advice on matters of importance including home inspections.
I recently spoke with *Nick Thomas, Certified Home Inspector, (CHI) with A Buyers Choice Home Inspections Ltd. to gain his perspective on the home inspection role as it pertains to the home sale process and to review what you should be looking for in a home inspector. Nick was happy to provide me with his professional perspective on home inspections and shared some of his valuable information and insight.
Some questions you should ask when interviewing for a Home Inspector are – What is the Inspectors background, education and training? Does the Inspector have Errors and Omissions and Liability insurance? How long has he or she been in the business? Can they provide referrals for work that needs to be completed? Will the Home Inspector provide you with a detailed, written report following the inspection? Is he or she certified?
Home Inspection is a relatively new process therefore there is very little in the way of government licensing and regulations that exist in other fields such as plumbing and electrical. Therefore a certification and association is very important. There are different associations around; however, two of the main ones are the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors and Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors. Regardless of whom the Home Inspector is certified through, it is recommended that you visit the website information for the company and conduct some research on the company’s credentials.
Most home inspections will take between 1.5 – 2.5 hours. Home Inspectors often like to start their inspection a half hour prior to the client’s arrival, this way he can have the lot, exterior surface of the home, and the roof inspected to avoid taking up any more of your time than necessary. A reputable Home Inspector will encourage clients not only to be present when examining the interior of the home, but also to be active in the inspection. Ask questions. This will limit any confusion with the report between the client and inspector.
A quality Home Inspector will complete a thorough examination of the home, inside and out, paying special attention to the properties drainage, as well as looking for any structural, water damage and erosion related issues at the exterior of the home. Additionally, he or she will examine the internal workings of the home looking at the electrical, insulation, ventilation, safety features, plumbing and heating systems, and many other aspects of the home. The Inspector will then provide you with a written report commenting on the inspection. The report should identify any areas of the home that require immediate attention, areas and situations to watch for in the future, as well as recommendations and tips to help you maintain the home.
Home Inspectors are not only hired by Buyers. A Pre-Sale Inspection is an excellent idea. A Pre-Sale Inspection can facilitate a faster sale for more money. This also allows the seller to address any issues they are not aware of prior to buyers seeing these issues and leaving with a bad first impression. It gives the seller a chance to get competitive quotes from contractors to rectify problems, and protects the seller from over inflated buyer estimates.
It is important to remember that no house is perfect. There will always be some areas of a structure that could benefit from some form of maintenance or upgrade. Once the Home Inspector provides you with your report, he or she should then help you understand if there are any red flag areas requiring immediate attention. Armed with a more complete knowledge of the home, you will then be able to make informed decisions as to the property’s value.
Value of service is a personal choice and can vary with each individual, therefore, a REALTOR® should always recommend three experts for a client to choose from should they require a professional opinion on a specific housing matter.
*If you have any questions or comments specific to the home inspection process, you can direct them to Nick Thomas, (CHI) at nick.thomas@abuyerschoice.com
**LYNNE COOPER has been a REALTOR® since 2002 . Lynne has called the Fall River Area home since 1967 and works for A&H GMAC in the Sobeys Plaza, Fall River, Nova Scotia.
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