You’ve listed your home, you’ve lined up potential buyers, you’re ready to close the deal, but you still have one major step to take before closing the deal; a home inspection. A proper walkthrough with a Calgary home inspector can be a make-or-break moment when trying to convince a buyer to sign on the dotted line. To ensure the inspection process is hassle-free, painless for the inspector, and won’t turn up any unexpected surprises, we break down below how to prepare for a home inspection.

Why Prepare For A Home Inspector?

One might assume that it’s not a big deal to simply call an inspector and have them arrive at your home to inspect it as is, with no need to prepare the house and property because Calgary home inspectors have seen it all before, and they know where to look and what to look for; it’s their job right? However, home sellers need to be aware that buyers will often accompany home inspectors during the inspection, and what they see could influence their decision to buy or buy at your asking price.

Calgary Home Inspector Preparations

Cleaning

As you might expect, the most important step to take when preparing for a Calgary home inspector is to do a thorough clean of the house in the days leading up to the home inspection. A dirty home can make it difficult for an inspector to find what they are looking for, and it can leave a bad impression on potential buyers by making it seem that the house and property haven’t been properly maintained over the years.

Prep Steps

Once you’ve made sure that your house is squeaky clean, there are a few more things you need to take care of before you leave and the inspector arrives. First, you need to have a plan to leave your home for at least 3 hours while the inspection is taking place; this might be a good time to run some errands or give that new restaurant down the street a try. More prep steps include:

Leave all interior doors unlocked
Ensure all pilot lights are lit
Remove pets (or place them in their crate)

If your attic hatch is located in a closet, you should remove items and clothing from the closet because the insulation will sometimes fall from the hatch during the inspection.

Obstructed Areas

Most Calgary home inspectors know their way around a house, but you can make their life much easier by clearing any obstructions to areas in the home that you know they will be inspecting. Remove any items or furniture that may be blocking access to your:

Attic Hatch
Electrical Panel
Furnace
Main Water Line
Hot Water Tank
Air Exchanger

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Buying a new home can be one of the most rewarding moments of your life. Stepping into a newly purchased home inspires feelings of comfort, safety, and reliability, especially when you’ve hired a company to perform a complete home inspection. A home inspection offers incredible peace of mind, but not every homebuyer chooses to make the investment. Here are some pros and cons of that decision.

Home Inspections In Calgary

The Seller

Waiving a home inspection is mostly beneficial to the seller of the home. By waiving the home inspection, the seller is offered the luxury of selling to a buyer who is willing to take on a home exactly as it is. Meaning that the seller will have one less speed bump to worry about, negating the risk of inspectors uncovering unexpected problems that could cost the seller both time and money.

The Buyer

If a buyer decides to waive a home inspection in Calgary, they choose to expose themselves to a significant amount of risk. Calgary home inspectors are a crucial part of identifying both current and potential issues with a home. Houses can carry a considerable amount of hidden risk that anyone buying a home should be aware of.

Some of the items covered during an inspection are:

What (if any) structural work is necessary to ensure safety?
How long before the roof will need replacement?
How long before the furnace/air conditioner will need replacement?
Is the electrical panel properly wired? Any special safety concerns?
Are the insulation levels adequate?
Is the fireplace safe?
Basement leakage

Why Waive A Home Inspection?

There are really only two reasons why a buyer would waive the contingency for a home inspection in Calgary. These reasons are a) to speed up the buying process and close the deal as fast as possible or b) to increase the likelihood that the seller will accept their offer.

Since home inspections may reveal unexpected issues that could delay the purchase of a home, waiving the home inspection makes the process easier. Still, it can result in significant headaches down the road, both financially and emotionally. Sellers generally like to find a buyer as quickly as possible; this means they might be more willing to accept an offer from a buyer who is willing to waive the home inspection, especially in a competitive housing market.

Imagine you’ve found your dream home. Everything is perfect and exactly as you’ve always imagined. But because of competing offers, you’re forced to waive the home inspection to close the deal quickly. It might seem worth it at first, but six months down the road, you may rethink your decision when you have to replace the electrical or hire an exterminator.

Home inspections in Calgary are a great way for prospective buyers to gain confidence and comfort in a potential home. These inspections involve professionals checking various factors, determining their quality and preparing a comprehensive report of their findings. But, can a property really be bad enough to fail?

Not necessarily. Home inspection in Calgary is about providing an unbiased, objective look at a home. So, while a home might have multiple infractions, it is ultimately up to the prospective buyer to make their own decision whether or not to purchase. Most issues can be repaired or remediated, including the following major concerns.

Serious Concerns for Calgary Home inspections

Excess Moisture in the Basement/ Attic

Flooding is an example of excess moisture in the basement, but it is also on the extreme side of the spectrum. It is far more likely that a home inspector will find either sweating in the ceiling or improperly sealed areas in the basement. Additionally, they may find the presence of mould, which, depending on the type, can be a serious health concern.

Structural Concerns

Older homes will struggle with structural problems much more often than newer builds. Modern building standards have removed a lot of the risk and guesswork involved with building, but these problems can still crop up. Load-bearing beams, sinking or damaged foundations, and rotting wood are all examples of structural issues that may need to be addressed.

Radon

Radon is a deadly gas that seeps out of the Earth’s crust and can become trapped inside our homes. The only way to test for Radon is with specialized equipment, which is usually part of a home inspection in Calgary. Too high a concentration will require action to fix.

Outdated Wiring

Again, this problem is often specific to older homes, but outdated wiring may need to be corrected prior to a house sale. This is usually only when there is not enough power to safely operate modern appliances and technology.

Air Circulation Concerns

HVAC problems are a major concern for house inspection in Calgary. Stale air can cause many health-related problems, so it is important to ensure all equipment is functioning properly.

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Buying or selling a home can mean a lot of considerations. Whether it is finding a great home for your family or ensuring a great deal on your long-term home, you may have to consider a large set of data.

This includes considerations for the safety of the property. Of course, foundational and structural components should be checked in accordance with Calgary home inspection requirements. But, as we’ve discussed in the past, other concerns also exist, such as the presence of Radon.

Today we look at what Radon is, how to test for it, and most importantly, what causes Radon to actually enter our homes.

What is Radon?

Radon is an invisible gas that forms in the Earth’s crust. It rises from the ground and can get trapped in structures, such as homes and commercial buildings. It is also responsible for causing some forms of lung cancer, especially with excessive exposure.

The danger of radon gas - concept image with periodic table of the elements and magnifying lens

How to Test for Radon

Testing for Radon is a relatively simple procedure that can be done in conjunction with a Calgary home inspection. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon, “Radon testing is easy.” You can test the levels yourself with the right equipment or the professional services of a home inspector.

What Causes Radon to Enter Our Homes

Radon is a naturally-occurring gas that rises into the atmosphere from the Earth’s crust. If it becomes trapped during this process, such as by a ceiling or building interior, it will sit and become “stale” air. This may be harmful to our lung health due to the radiation it gives off, but it could also cause us to have trouble breathing in high concentrations.

The world of a Calgary home inspector involves many different decisions and actions. Whether or not to include a minor fault is a key consideration, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the average workday, a home inspector will find themselves making judgement calls, tough choices and more.

Therefore, in establishing what Calgary home inspectors can do, it is equally important to determine what they cannot do. Below we look at some of the activities that home inspectors will not do and why.

Activities that Calgary Home Inspectors DON’T Do

Issue a Passing or Failing Mark

Perhaps the biggest misconception about home inspectors is that their job is to allow the sale or occupancy of a house. This is not the case. Instead, home inspectors are trained to identify potential problems in the construction of the house, record them and submit their findings for review.

Telling people that they should or shouldn’t buy a house is not part of a home inspector’s responsibility. This prevents potential conflicts of interest and protects home inspectors from opening themselves up to potential liability. Additionally, it prevents purchasers from making decisions based on incomplete information or opinions.

Perform Destructive Testing

During an inspection, there are several methods of determining the acceptability or rejectability of a particular area. Take corrosion, for example. A metallic support with visual rust typically indicates some amount of corrosion or degradation in the material. It does not determine the exact amount of corrosion, however. This would require physical inspection and testing.

Home inspectors do not participate in this level of destructive testing. They are there to perform visual assessments and referrals to specialized services when required. Performing destructive testing could lead to rework or repair that do not involve a home inspector’s services.

Determine a Home’s Value

Home inspectors in Calgary and other areas are not required to determine a home’s value. Nor should they, in many circumstances. The reason for not performing this activity is similar to the previous examples.

It is simply not the responsibility or duty of the home inspector to provide their opinion on this information. Realtors and real estate agents work in the housing industry to offer this information, along with municipal governments and other relevant professionals.

You’ve chosen a home, made the offer to purchase, and now comes the home inspection; a vital cog in the process of you owning a home.

Without undertaking a home inspection in Calgary, you run the risk of problems arising, leading to expensive repairs or replacements, that can significantly devalue your home, or cost you more than expected.

But having a qualified Calgary home inspector can ensure that you all defects are caught and dealt with sooner rather than later.

What a Calgary Home Inspector Must Have

Make sure you look for a Calgary home inspector that has the following attributes:

Has experience in the industry and knowledge when inspecting homes
Highly qualified with certifications from major associations
Knowledge of building codes
Referrals (from people you know), ratings (from online) and references (from the inspector themselves)

Once you have hired a professional, schedule a time that works for all parties. At the inspection, your professional will look at the following in the home:

Attic (to check proper ventilation)
Basement (to inspect if there is a solid foundation and no water damage)
Bathrooms & Kitchens (ensure that there are issues with plumbing, and for the kitchen, if the appliances are functioning)
Ceilings (look for uneven levels, stains or cracks)
Electrical systems (ensuring that you have up-to-code circuit breakers, functional outlets and smoke detectors)
Exterior surfaces (to check for damage to siding or stucco)
HVAC (inspecting the condition of the air conditioner and furnace)
Plumbing (to look for damaged or leaking pipes and proper hot water temperature)
Roof (to check for damaged or loose shingles and functional gutters)
Windows & Doors (to check for damage, proper alignment and ventilation)

Overall, the entire process will take between two to three hours to complete.

What Happens if the Inspection Fails?

After the review, the inspector will provide you with a report on all the defects within your property. If there is significant damage and the home inspection is classified as a failure, it’s best if you reconsider purchasing the home unless some concessions are made, saving you on expensive costs and labour.

You can make an agreement where if the seller completes the repairs, you purchase the home. Or, you can also consider renegotiating the purchase price to cover repair costs. Speak with your real estate agent about the process going forward.

It seems like there is always another risk to humans on the horizon. As we regulate personal transportation emissions, we discover trapped greenhouse gases in our soil. We switch to paper or plastic-less parcels and find straws as the seventh most common item on beaches. It feels like our very existence is at constant risk.

But what else is new? Humans have always had to fight, band together and innovate to grow and fend off our wildest predators and most dangerous environments. Comparatively speaking, standing a couple of extra feet away from the microwave (when in use) seems less invasive than keeping a well-lit fire to stave off wolves at the light’s edge. Still, though, caution must be observed.

Calgary home inspection is just one of the ways our society maintains its diligence and ensures our dwellings are safe for residency. However, only so much can be done at a home inspection, and living in the house will present different challenges as time goes on. One of these challenges is Radon, and we look at this dangerous gas in detail below.

The Basics of Radon

What is Radon?

Radon is “a radioactive gas that occurs naturally when the uranium in soil and rock breaks down. It is invisible, odourless and tasteless.” This information comes from the Government of Canada, who further explains that the process of diffusion removes the danger of Radon from our natural environment. Inside our homes, though, this gas may cause long-term problems to our health.

In particular, the government publication continues to state that Radon exposure is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. It gets into our home through fractured bedrock, groundwater evaporation and small openings in the structure of our buildings. So, how do we protect against this unseen danger?

How Calgary Home Inspection Identifies Radon

While every Canadian home will have some amount of Radon present at all times, the most effective way to ensure it is not hazardous is to test the area. The Canadian Government sets out a guideline for amounts not exceeding 200 Becquerels per cubic metre (200 Bq/m3), which can be tested with either a do-it-yourself kit or with the help of a radon measurement professional.

For more information on Calgary home inspections or to learn where you can meet a radon measurement professional, contact us today! We look forward to hearing from you.

Are you buying a new home or planning to sell yours? Well, a home inspection in Calgary is a must. Having an expert take a look through all the parts of a home can guarantee if it’s’ worthwhile investment or if you have to make necessary repairs before selling.

But what do home inspectors check when working?

The answer is: a lot. So we’ve narrowed it down to a few key sections that they check while inspecting your home.

What do Calgary Home Inspectors Check?

A typical home inspector checklist consists of the following:

The Soil

Home inspectors always check your grounds and soils, which might seem like a strange choice. But it’s important to know if there are any current or future water issues such as faulty grading or downspouts, that can cause foundation problems later on.

The Foundation

Home inspections always consist of a foundation check of the home. They will look at current or potential issues that can arise from the foundation, such as if the homes are aligned and if the frames are holding firm.

The Roof

Roofs are pivotal for protecting the home while providing adequate cover when needed. As such, the Calgary home inspector will look at everything related to the roof, such as shingles, flashing, soffit and fascia, loose gutters; and defects in chimneys and skylights and so forth. They will also inspect the attic and see if there are any ventilation issues.

The Exterior of the Home

The likes of siding damages and cracks, windows and doors are always inspected from the outside in. This way, the home inspector can determine if there are any issues with ventilation, as well as ensure that the siding is not rotting or decaying quickly.

The Interior of the Home

When it comes to the inside of your home, Calgary home inspectors will be looking out for leaning walls, faulty framing, stained ceilings (which means a potential leak somewhere) and adequate insulation. All these factors are going to impact your everyday living and will cost you down the line if not repaired sooner or later.

Plumbing Systems

Inspectors will evaluate pipes, drains, water heaters, and water pressure and temperature throughout your home, particularly in wet areas (bathrooms, kitchens, laundry). They will look for water damage and to see how your system is holding up.

Electrical Systems

One wrong electrical connection can result in a fire, so it makes sense that the inspector will check your electricity. They will conduct tests and overlook outlets, visible wiring, electrical panels, light switches and the HVAC systems to ensure they work correctly.

This is a basic outline of what Calgary home inspectors will look when checking up on your property. Remember, that the checklist might be altered depending on the size, outlay and additional accessories that are part of your home.

A home inspection in Calgary is intended to provide you with information about the condition of a home’s systems. Depending on the report provider by the inspector, it can determine whether it is advisable for you to purchase the house or not.

While homeowners wish inspections could be quick so they can get results faster, in most cases, home inspectors take their time to ensure that the information is accurate. To understand why it takes as long as it does, it is important to know what is included in the evaluation.

What is Included in a Calgary Home Inspection?

A Calgary home inspector will conduct a visual inspection by looking at the home’s various systems and components, both indoors and outdoors.

For indoor systems, the inspector will check the electrical circuits, HVAC (heating, air conditioning, ventilation) systems, plumbing and insulation systems to see if they are functional. They will also inspect the flooring, ceiling and walls, windows and doors to see if they are safe and secure. Depending on if your home has it or not, they will look at the chimney.

For outdoor systems, the inspector will look to see if there is no damage to siding, no loose or damaged stucco, no peeling paint, if the soffit, fascia and gutters are secure, and particularly if the roof has any damage, such as if there are any damaged or loose shingles, cracks or leaks.

Finally, the Calgary home inspector will look at the attic (to ensure proper ventilation), the basement and foundations of the house to guarantee that no extensive work is required.

Can The Calgary Home Inspector Give Advice?

Typically, a home inspection does not include any quotes for repairs or appraisals. It is about providing a breakdown of the property’s value and whether it is a safe and secure property. The home inspector will not offer warranties or guarantees about the house’s condition or how well it works.

Home inspectors might provide you with information on the repairs and a range of costs involved based on experience if you ask for it. However, if there are problems beyond the inspection scope, the home inspector may recommend further evaluation.

Upon completion of the inspection, the home inspector will provide you with a written report detailing the condition of every primary system of your home.

How Long Does a Calgary Home Inspection Take?

An average-sized home that provides easy access to systems takes two hours or more to complete. Larger, and particularly older homes, take longer due to the property’s difficulties and the age of certain systems.

The report itself is usually done during the inspection with touch-ups and a final assessment being done afterwards. Reports are sent to you the same day as the inspection or generally within 24 hours.

There are many parts to a Calgary home inspection, but knowing which ones are the most essential will help you become better informed. Please inspect the list below to glean this knowledge:

Essential Components for Calgary Home Inspection

1. Foundation

The foundation of your home is one of the essential components of a home inspection. Ensuring cracks and crevices have not grown, or substantial portions of debris are not present, is a part of the inspection process.

2. Roof Drainage Systems

Another component of home inspections is the inspection of roof drainage systems. Here it is essential to look for kinks or pieces that have broken off. Improving these sections before the examination will yield better results.

3. Water Heating Equipment

Water heating equipment is another part of regular inspections. Ensuring the right system, tank or tankless, is installed, and there is sufficient power/ storage for the needs of the home are part of the inspection. Additionally, inspectors must check the adequacy of combustion air components.

4. Overcurrent Protection Devices

Overcurrent protection devices will have a part in your home inspection as well. These devices prevent power surges and are an essential safety component for all homes. Along with these devices, the power supply will also receive an inspection.

5. Vent Systems, Flues, Chimneys

Another essential component of your home inspection is the vent systems, flues, and any chimneys present. Ensuring there is no substantial build-up of burnt material or smoke is necessary, as is the verification of structural integrity.

6. Central Cooling Systems

Central cooling systems are also a necessary component of inspection during your home inspection. This would include air conditioners, for instance. However, electric air cleaning and sanitizing devices are not part of this type of review.

7. Walls, Ceilings, Floors

Walls, ceilings, and floors are part of the standard home inspection, especially for the interior. For these items, though, paints, wallpapers, and finishes are not included in the inspection.

Get the Most Value for Your Home Inspection

When it is time for your Calgary home inspection, there are many choices you have to make. However, the easiest option is the company you choose to work with, and that makes the rest of the options even easier!