La Home Inspection            Serving Toronto & GTA

Home Inspection – The purpose and procedure

What is a home inspection?

 Home inspection is a non destructive test, of the building structure and the main exterior and interior systems. The inspection is a visual examination using electronic equipment in order to revile some hidden problems that might not be discovered visually. It is important to emphasize that home inspection is different than building code inspection, appraisal and that the home inspection report is not a guarantee of any kind nor an insurance policy on the condition of the inspected asset. 

In a basic home inspection, the inspector inspects the main component of the property, which are accessible and exposed, including the attic, roof, external walls, internal partitions, floors, ceilings, doors, windows, unconcealed plumbing, the function of electric fixtures and sanitary fixtures, exterior of the house, basement, heating system and air conditioning system.

The main goal of the home inspection is not to revile and report every minor and negligible problem nor latent or invisible defect that cannot be reviled visually or with acceptable electronic equipment. Most of the minor and cosmetic defects are ignored and therefore not mentioned in the home inspection report.

Timing of the Home Inspection

 The majority of the home inspections are performed for potential homebuyer, immediately after the purchase offer has been accepted by the seller.  Usually there is a period of few days between the day the offer had been accepted and the final purchase and sale agreement is sighed. Most of the purchase offers include a clause, which allows the buyer to withdraw the offer upon the findings of a professional home inspection.

The present of the buyer in the inspection

 It is not crucial, however highly recommended, that the buyer is attend at the inspection. This allows the inspector to explain the buyer verbally some of the major findings or about future maintaining of the property, which might not be very clear to read in the written report. The home inspection reports would be easier to read buy the buyer who present in the inspection. In addition, the buyer might have some issues and questions he or she wants to raise before the inspector while the inspection is done.

Access

A safe assess and sufficient light have to be provided and therefore the inspection has to be performed in the daylight.

The report

The buyer gets a written report, which details the findings and concludes the property condition. The report includes repairs that are required, warnings about risks of concealed damages and whether further investigation is recommended.