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Showing an Apartment

What We Look at

What is a home inspection?

A home inspection is a professional consulting service that determines the present condition of the home’s major systems, based on a visual inspection of accessible features. It focuses on the performance of the home, rather than cosmetic, code or design issues. Inspections are often performed during a real estate transaction but may be done anytime.

A home inspection is:

  • An in-field evaluation and professional opinion of the performance of the readily accessible installed systems in a home at one point in time

  • Primarily a visual examination

  • Intended to identify components that are significantly deficient, unsafe or near the end of their life

  • Documented in a written report


A home inspection is not:

  • An insurance policy, guarantee or warranty on the home

  • An invasive or destructive exercise

  • Intended to identify concealed defects

  • A code or design review

  • Intended to predict future performance or life expectancy

  • An environmental review or energy audit


Components included:

  • Roof

  • Structure

  • Exterior

  • Electrical system

  • Heating and Air Conditioning system

  • Plumbing system

  • Insulation and Air/Vapour Barriers

  • Interior

  • Mechanical and Natural Ventilation systems


What’s excluded:

  • Cosmetics

  • Code, bylaw and building regulation issues

  • Outbuildings

  • Swimming pools and spas

  • Specialty systems including telephone, cable TV, alarm systems

What's a Home Inspection: Buying Process
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