What to expect from a Calgary home inspection

Buying a house is an overwhelming process; you are choosing your new home for a long period of time, and you are also making a huge investment, so it only makes sense that you feel nervous about such a big decision and want to feel sure before making the final choice. You can be more self-assured about purchasing a home by getting it inspected for any hazardous risks or security issues that you’ll want to know about beforehand.

Find out why a Calgary home inspection is a must-have service for any potential home you are looking at.

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a process of evaluating your potential house, including any structural and mechanical components, including the windows, roof, floors, and any important structural element. The main purpose is to uncover any major problems with the house that may be unknown to the seller and could either make or break the deal or allow negotiating a better price. Calgary home inspection is an investment because think the disaster it would become if you thought you found your dream property only to find out that it has major foundation problems that will cost you a lot of money. Home inspectors are independent workers, their job is to provide you with a detailed report on the house findings so that you can make the best choice regarding the purchase.

Hiring a reliable home inspector requires some research to ensure you find a professional with your best interest in mind, ask friends or family for recommendations and find out about their certifications and training before selecting one.

What Happens During an Inspection?

Home inspectors take several hours to perform a complete inspection, they will take pictures of everything, take some notes or even use modern equipment such as drones or mould machines to detect major issues. The main purpose of an inspector will be to identify any problems in the house, including the structural ones that may represent a large expense for the buyer, suggest ways to fix the problems and provide a detailed report.

The main elements they will look at are the structural systems such as the foundation and drainage and the attic to find out the insulation and any signs of water damage, check the roof for damaged or loose shingles and the gutters, and A Calgary home inspection also includes the HAVC system, windows, electrical systems, and exterior areas. Remember that there are some things your home inspection does not cover, such as swimming pools, conditions behind walls, and septic systems; you will need to get a specialized inspection for that.

The Detailed inspection report

This report contains a summary of all the findings, including pictures, notes, and the estimated cost to repair things. They will also indicate the lifespan of the equipment and structural elements, such as the roof and windows. It also includes recommendations on things you should replace. Depending on the report’s findings, you can negotiate a better price or ask the seller to perform the repairs before buying the property, or maybe it will give you the extra confidence you need to make a choice and get the house of your dreams.

Integra Inspection Services is the leading provider of home inspection services throughout Calgary. Our commitment to our clients is evident by our honest and thorough Calgary home inspections. Our service is available for residential buildings, including homes, townhouses, and condos. Whether you are a buyer, seller, or a realtor, we conduct complete home inspections to determine if your property has any structural flaws and to prevent future costly repairs. Our Calgary home inspections include infrared thermal imagine on every inspection for an accurate, detailed inspection. For all of your home inspection or commercial property assessment needs, we can help. Schedule your inspection with Integra Inspection Services.

Why Home Inspections Matter: Where does radon come from?

Radon can enter a home in any place it can find an opening where the house is in contact with the ground, which is concerning to many homeowners in Calgary. Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive noble gas that is found in the soil. In our previous blogs, we’ve discussed what can cause radon in a house and what a safe radon level is. Home inspections are a great way to find out your radon levels, but some may still be wondering where radon actually comes from.

In this article, we’ll be exploring where radon comes from and the best way to mediate this harmful gas.

What is radon?

To recap quickly, radon is an invisible gas that forms in the crust of the earth. It rises from the ground and can get trapped in structures like your home or commercial buildings. Exposure to high levels of radon is the number one cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. Radon can get trapped in your home through cracks in the foundation walls or floor slabs, construction joints, gaps around service pipes, support posts, window easements, floor drains, sumps or cavities inside the wall.

Where does radon gas come from?

Radon is constantly being generated by the radium in rocks, soil and water. Materials that are made from these rocks and soil, which can include some building materials, can contain radon too. Now the important part to keep in mind when it comes to radon in your home is that the concentration of radon is dependent on the type of soil your home is built on. Things such as cracks, opening and other penetrations in your home’s foundation will allow a pathway for radon to enter your home. The ventilation and air flow patterns in your home will be an important factor that affects how much radon can be pulled into different areas within your home.

Radon can also be dissolved into ground water and can be introduced into the air through aeration of well water during its use in things such as washing machines, showers, and other appliances like this. But generally, this aeration component is relatively small when compared to the amount of radon that can enter the home from the soil.

In Conclusion

No matter the age, type of construction or where your home is located, all homes in Canada do have radon in them. The only way to be sure of radon level in your home is to have it tested. The best way to prevent and help mediate the hazardous effects of radon is to get your home inspected.

Your Ultimate Final Walk Through Checkout Checklist

What is a final walk through?

Although a final walk through isn’t a home inspection, they’re just as important. A final walk through gives home buyers a final chance to inspect the house before the official closing. The purpose of a walk through is to ensure that the property is in the exact same condition in which you agreed to purchase it. This includes all agreed on repairs and any other conditions you had agreed to.

Most often final walk throughs are completed by the home buyers and their real estate agent, together they will walk through the house room by room. But you can also bring along another person in the form of a home inspector to ensure the home you’re closing on is in a good condition and if any extra repair may be necessary. Home inspectors can help you identify other potential issues you may not be aware of since they have a checklist made for home inspections. The last walk through is extremely important and is the last chance to ensure the property is in a good condition and that the seller has complied with all agreements for the sale.

Final Walkthrough: A Checklist Of What To Look For

Look to ensure all agreed repairs have been completed
Make sure the seller’s belongings are no longer present and they completely moved out
Double check all lock, windows and doors
Look over all appliances

These are the basic 4 steps you need to take when doing your final walk through, this will ensure that the seller has met all the conditions and expectations you initially set. If something isn’t completed or to your satisfaction, you have every right to voice your concerns to the seller before closing on the home.

It’s important to voice any concerns you have before you move into the home, once the sale has been closed and you move in it will most likely be too late to bring up any issues you may have found. It can seem overwhelming so it’s important to prepare a through checklist of things to look for beforehand

During your final walk through, take time and bring a list of what repairs you agreed on and check them off as you walk through the house room by room. While in each room make sure to check the sealing on the windows to ensure they close and unlock/lock easily, and that there are no holes or issues If you notice something seems a little “wonky” jot it down on your list so you remember to bring it up later on. Ensure that all the doors close tightly and that they lock securely as well.

Final walk throughs deserve a thorough inspection

Finally, it’s important to remember that this is a major purchase and your final walk through deserves plenty of diligence on your part. Walking through the home with both your real estate agent and a home inspector can help guarantee that your new home won’t come with any extra unwelcome surprises.

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.

Contact Us Today for More Information

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!

Home inspections are incredibly commonplace these days and are required by law in many provinces. The reasoning here is that whether people are trying to sell or buy a home, other parties need to know what they’re getting into. For instance, if you went out and purchased a home that didn’t undergo a Calgary townhouse inspection, you could be dealing with rotted floors, a basement prime for flooding, and all sorts of other damages.

Inspections are also vital for banks and other mortgage lenders. If they’re going to put money up, or if they’re expected to make money, they need to know a home’s true value through appraisal, and no appraisal can be conducted properly without a home inspection. So here are some of the most common issues found during a house inspection.

Bad wiring found during your Calgary townhouse inspection

This is a big one. Many homes end up having wiring issues that fall short of inspection code. It could be because of today’s newer appliances and energy ratings being too much of a load for the home’s old style of circuit breaker. Maybe mice have chewed through some of the wiring. There are all sorts of reasons here why the home’s wiring might fail inspection. It’s certainly one of the most common problems in inspection assays.

Draining Systems/Plumbing

A lot of times when a Calgary townhouse inspection takes place, water and moisture are found around the home, causing the soil to be a wet mess. There would also be a lot of water buildup in the basement. These issues can also extend to the plumbing, with septic systems that are backed up, or leaking supply pipes, and much more. All of these areas will be checked during a house inspection, as any of these issues could become major.

Roof Damage found during your Calgary townhouse inspection

Another common problem in home inspection is a bad roof. This could be dry-rotted plywood, shingles that are falling off, or even holes and leaks in the roof. Though it could also be issues with the home’s gutters; maybe they’re falling apart or not draining properly. The roof is out there in constant face of the elements. It’s very common for roof issues to be found.

There are a lot of different problems a Calgary townhouse inspection could face that might cause it to fail. Going with inspection experts is a great way to find and fix all of these common issues.

In response to the COVID-19 outbreak and to help protect the health of everyone involved, including our inspectors, our clients, the homeowner and our real estate partners, here’s what we’re doing to help limit the spread of COVID-19.

We are asking you, our clients, to stay home if possible. This is different from our standard approach in which we encourage our clients to fully participate in the inspection.

After the inspection report is sent to you, we will do a full review of the report over the phone, and we are available for questions at any time, as always. If you insist on attending, if possible, we ask that you limit your attendance to just yourself. Please don’t bring the kids, parents, contractors, and others.

During the inspection, we will wash our hands frequently using our own hand soap and towel. We will also bring sanitizer wipes to disinfect items that we have touched during the inspection, such as faucets. If hand washing is not possible, we will also have hand sanitizer with us. We also have latex gloves and will use those if deemed necessary, but everything we’ve researched suggests that hand washing is the best course of action.

If requested by anyone present at the inspection, we will wear a face mask.

None of our inspectors will attend an inspection if they show signs of a fever or a cough or any other symptoms of illness.

By taking these steps, we want to make sure people can continue to receive the benefits of a home inspection while respecting the current reality of COVID-19.

Do you need your home inspected? Making sure you know the condition of a property is important whether you’re selling or buying. But since the process is new to most people, they’are unaware of how much they should be paying for a home inspector. Here are some things that come into play when figuring out the pricing.

How Large is the Home?

The cost of home inspection in Calgary will primarily depend on the size of your home. This makes a lot of sense since the home inspector will have a lot more to inspect when working with a bigger home. Obviously, if your home is on the smaller side, it will be on the lower end of the price spectrum.

How Big of a Job is the Inspection?

Regardless of the size of the home, you have to consider how big the job is. For example, if it is difficult to inspect various parts of your home, it’ll take a lot more time to get a thorough inspection. Older homes tend to be harder to inspect due to parts of the home breaking down. It’s safe to generally think that you’re going to be spending $80 to $100 an hour for the inspection.

What Special Services Will You Need?

Aside from a basic inspection, you may need other services. This includes air mold testing, swimming pools, radon testing, sewer inspections, and more. This can increase the price of inspection by a couple of hundred dollars. Most homeowners may not need to opt for these special services, so it’s best to stick to the $100 an hour figure if you need a basic inspection.

The Average Cost of Home Inspection Is…

The average cost of a home inspection in Calgary is anywhere from $375 to $550 for an average home. That isn’t that big of a range, so it’s safe to say that you’ll probably end up spending somewhere in the $400 area. Some inspectors will offer different packages as well, so you want to look around for some great deals.

That’s a general overview of how much you’ll be paying for a home inspection. Hopefully, this will help you secure fair pricing for your upcoming inspection.

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.

3Buying a new home is exciting and a big investment. Although a home inspection is not required for a new home, it’s always a good idea to have one done. A licensed home inspector is on your side and can notice things the builder may not point out. Here are four top reasons to get a Calgary home inspection on a new home build. Continue reading “Are Home Inspection Services Required for a New Home Build?”

The purchase of a home is a huge investment that anyone will ever make. Buying a home doesn’t just end in signing the contract and closing. You should know everything about your home before you move in. Whether you buy an old home or a new property, you should know exactly what to expect. A home inspection can be the best way to know better about the property you are buying.

Continue reading “How Technology and a Trained Professional Ensure a Full Home Inspection”