A home inspection is designed to make sure that your home is in good working order and that all systems are up to code. Most people contact a Calgary home inspector when buying a new home. However, you can also get an inspection for your own peace of mind. In fact, you may benefit from a home inspection this winter. Here are three simple reasons why a winter home inspection could be the right choice.

A Home Inspection Can Check Your HVAC System

One great reason to hire a Calgary home inspector in winter is your HVAC system. In the winter, people rely heavily on their furnace. The furnace supplies critical heat throughout the home, keeping you comfortable during the colder months. However, constant usage can lead to problems. You want to make sure your furnace and HVAC system are in prime condition for the winter demand. A home inspector can test the system to make sure that nothing needs to be addressed. Moreover, a faulty HVAC system can actually be dangerous. Getting an inspection will keep you safe.

A Home Inspection Can Gauge Your Air Loss

A Calgary home inspector can also look at the insulation in your home. Some techniques gauge how effectively your home retains heat. The inspection can identify weak spots where lots of air is escaping. With this knowledge, it is possible to make simple fixes. These simple fixes can make your home more secure, which can help with heat retention. This will keep your home warmer in the winter while also controlling the cost of your monthly energy bills until the spring thaw finally hits. With these considerations, winter is the perfect time for a home inspection.

A Home Inspection Can Keep You Safe

Finally, a home inspection can keep you safe. In the winter, most people spend more time indoors. This makes sense. With the cold and the snow, it is not as fun to get out and about. However, do you know if your home is safe? Have you checked to make sure that there are no leaks? Do you know if you have radon in your basement? Many of these problems are hard for normal homeowners to detect, but they can have serious consequences for your health. Therefore, make sure your home is safe this winter. Hire a home inspector now.

Integra Inspections is a Home Inspection Company in Calgary that provides unbeatable service for home inspections. With over 15 years of experience and the latest technologies such as thermal imaging, you can count on Integra Home Inspections to get you the facts and have you ready for your next home!

Need a home inspection done for your Calgary home? The logical choice is to hire a professional Calgary home inspector for your job. However, you might be thinking about doing your own home inspection to save money. This is definitely a possibility, but here is an idea of what can happen if you do your own home inspection.

You’ll Initially Save Money

It’s always a smart idea to start the inspection process yourself. You want to walk through your entire home to look at potential problems like mold, water damage, flooring damage, and roof damage. This will give you an idea of what issues you can expect to face.

Hire Inspectors When Necessary

If you are dealing with serious issues like damage to your foundation, serious water damage, or confusing electrical problems, this is when you want to hire Calgary home inspection services. In most cases, you won’t have the expertise to know what steps to take to deal with the problem. You want to get a strong assessment so that you can react accordingly rather than assuming it can get fixed with a general contractor.

Consult with Contractors for Specific Problems

If the problem is very specific such as damage to your roof or gutter, you can simply talk to a contractor that specializes in that field. Many contractors are more than happy to offer free consultations and quotes. They’ll give you a lot of great advice on how to deal with specific problems and what you can expect to spend on repairs.

What Can Possibly Go Wrong If You Do It All Yourself?

If you’re planning to purchase a property or sell your property, this is when you want to hire a professional Calgary home inspector. Even if things look okay after your own general inspection, there can be many important things you may have missed. Assuming that you got everything right can lead to problems later on down the line.

For example, potential buyers may spot problems and try to negotiate down the price of your property when these problems can be easily resolved. Buyers may also feel like you’re trying to keep something from them if they identified a problem you weren’t aware of. It also makes sense to do your own inspection for your own peace of mind if you’re looking to purchase a property.

In general, it’s easy to see to identify general problems like old furnaces, electrical systems that don’t work, roofing damage, and plumbing issues. Self-inspections can help reduce unnecessary costs. But you will often need a professional if you plan on selling or buying a home.

Finding the right house is a process. You look at a number of options and choose the one that’s best for you, but it doesn’t stop there. Due to the potential for unseen problems, it’s important to schedule a home inspection to make sure the home really is the best option for you, which means hiring a home inspector.

But you shouldn’t hire anyone. You have to hire the best one for the job. Here is how you can do it:

Prepare for the inspection by asking your Calgary home inspector these questions.

How Long Have You Been a Home Inspector in Calgary?

Experience is key when it comes to inspecting homes. Not only should inspectors have experience examining homes, but they should also be familiar with local conditions which can affect the life expectancy of building components. Get the most out of your inspection by working with a Calgary home inspector who has operating in the area for a number of years and is fully licensed and certified.

What Will You Inspect?

A home inspection should include a full view of the property, from foundation to roof. Specific requirements vary by area, but at a minimum your home inspector should check the following:

Structural elements
The electrical and plumbing systems
Exterior elements
The heating and cooling system

What Won’t You Inspect?

Follow up the above question by finding out what is not covered during home inspections. Understanding what won’t be checked gives you the opportunity to learn about common issues that you can check out yourself. Sometimes you may want to schedule a specialized inspection to cover certain areas that aren’t included under a regular home inspection.

What Problems are Red Flags?

Many of the issues marked by a Calgary home inspector aren’t deal breakers, but find out what sort of things you should be concerned about. If any of these problem areas show up during your inspection, ask the home inspector for more information.

You expect a home inspection to go without a hitch, and often they do. But all homes have problems. How do you determine whether the results of an inspection reveal minor issues or major problems? Here are some possible deal breakers that a Calgary townhouse inspection might uncover.

3 Deal Breakers During Your Calgary Townhouse Inspection

1) Foundation Problems

Occasionally, problems with the foundation are minor and just need a simple fix. Most of the time though, these are big problems that require major repairs. If a home inspection reveals foundation problems, it’s usually best to walk away.

2) Faulty Electrical Uncovered

Old wiring is a safety issue and a potential deal breaker if discovered during a Calgary home inspection. Aluminum wiring in particular is concerning because it’s less safe than copper wiring.

3) Mould Found

Most mould isn’t a big problem and is relatively easy to remove. Some, however, are deadly. If a home inspection documents mould without identifying it, have a specialist assess whether it’s dangerous.

A Calgary home inspection reveals a lot of information about a townhouse. If any of the above show up during your inspection, consider walking away from the house. On the other hand, these don’t necessarily need to break the deal. You may negotiate an agreement where the seller completes the necessary repairs or get a price reduction to perform the repairs once you own the property.

Condos are a great option for buyers looking for more amenities with less maintenance. As a condo buyer, however, you must be just as careful as detached home buyer. This includes completing a professional inspection before finalizing the sale.

Here Are Five Reasons To Get A Condo Inspection In Calgary

1. A Condo Inspection Looks Beyond the Facade
Buyers may feel like a condo inspection is a waste of money if the unit appears to be in good condition. However, even new construction can harbour costly problems that aren’t visible. You might find problems within the condo, such as asbestos or other dangers. A Calgary home inspector is trained to spot these issues.

2. Save Money With An Inspection
Of course, you’ll have to pay for a condo inspection, but it can actually help you save money. With an inspection, you’ll avoid the unpleasant situation of buying a condo only to discover it needs to be completely rewired or needs other major repairs after you move in.

3. A Home Inspector Helps You Negotiate
The information you obtain from a Calgary home inspector can help you negotiate a lower price for a condo. You get valuable bargaining power from a condo inspection.

4. Stipulate Seller’s Repairs
You may also be able to include seller’s repairs clauses in the contract. The seller should make the necessary repairs or take the price for the repairs off the total. A Calgary home inspector helps you determine exactly what repairs need to be done and what they’ll cost.

5. Know What You’re Buying
Buying a condo is a big purchase, one that you should research thoroughly. Information for buying homes and getting an inspection is vital. A Calgary condo inspection is part of the research process and provides valuable information about exactly what you are buying.

If you’re thinking about buying a condo, get a condo inspection before completing the sale.

Contact us: (403) 703-4474 | [email protected] | www.integra-inspections.com

Integra Inspections is pleased to announce it has formed a partnership with Habitat For Humanity Southern Alberta. We are proud to have established this partnership going forward in a bid to help Habitat For Humanity Southern Alberta with all their housing projects with our Calgary home inspection services.

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Getting an inside view of a home is a significant benefit of a home inspection, but sometimes it feels like the inspector is speaking a different language. Ask your Calgary home inspector these five questions to help you understand the findings of a home inspection and get the most out of the service.

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