Can I do it myself?
Even the most experienced home owner lacks the knowledge and expertise of a professional home inspector, who will typically have inspected hundreds of homes during his career. An inspector is equally familiar with all the elements of home construction and with the proper installation, maintenance and interrelationships of those elements. Above all, most buyers find it very difficult to remain completely objective and unemotional about the house they really want. This may lead to a poor assessment of the target home.
What will it cost?
The cost of the inspection should not be a factor in the decision whether or not to engage a home inspector, BUT the quality of the inspection should be. You could save many times the cost of the inspection if the inspector makes you aware of significant problems he reveals in the course of his inspection. Generally, the cost is 1/4 of one percent on a $100,000 purchase – a small price to pay to be a better informed buyer.
Can a house “fail” an inspection?
A home inspector will not “pass” or “fail” a house. He will simply describe its condition and indicate which items would be in need of immediate or near future repair or replacement.
How do I find a home inspector?
It is very important that you are totally comfortable with the inspector you choose. Make sure you select a qualified and recognized Home Inspector, a professional who has the necessary experience and background. An ideal inspector need not be an engineer or architect, but will have been in the building industry most of his life, have acquired a working knowledge of all subjects related to residential construction work, have good communications skills and enjoy dealing with the public. If he is a member of the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors®, you can be sure that he is experienced, impartial and professional.
What is CAHI®?
The Canadian Association of Home Inspectors (CAHI) was formed in 1982. One of the major goals of the Canadian Association of Home Inspectors is to enhance the technical and professional performance through education. It is also devoted to promoting the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics, as the broadly accepted requirements for home inspections. The Standards of Practice provide inspection guidelines and the Code of Ethics stresses the home inspector’s responsibilities to act in a fair, impartial, and professional manner.
Membership in CAHI requires a proven technical background in construction and building science. In order to for full membership to be granted, the prospective inspector will be required to pass a series of exams, be approve by the board of examiners and complete 250 paid inspections that meet CAHI standards.