When a few of us Old-timers started to introduce home inspections to the public in the seventies - everyone operated by his/her own standards of practice. We all used a simple and straightforward disclaimer to outline the limitations of our services.
My expertise consisted of common sense and thirty years of construction experience in Europe and Canada. Always calling a "spade a spade" kept me virtually out of trouble and courtrooms. Having been in this business for about 35 years - I only had to defend myself in two frivolous Small Claims Court actions. Both claims were dismissed without any costs to me. I never used my EO insurance underwriter for assistance, because insurance companies very seldom fight - but simply try to settle the dispute within the amount of the deductible.
In my view there are two major problems which have contributed to he messes in the Canadian home inspection industry. Number one is the fact that the majority of home inspectors are depending on referrals from the manipulative real estate profession to generate a meagre living in comparison to their exposure to risk. The developed dependency is unacceptable because it might affect the impartiality of individuals who are desperate to maintain their main source of income.
But more problematic is the fact that clever home inspectors who have turned franchise operators or training course providers are trying to convince gullible wanna-bees that they can become rich by simply purchasing a 7-day training course or franchise. These mislead and ill-advised individuals are simply not sufficiently trained to carry out home inspections satisfactorily - and therefore only exposing themselves to complaints and lawsuits.
None of the numerous Canadian organizations has managed to stop the chaos in the industry. It is therefore not surprising that more and more provincial governments are contemplating regulating home inspectors as they see fit.
RUDOLF REUSSE - Home Inspector since 1976 - **Retired **