http://www.sse.gov.on.ca/mcs/en/Pages/home_inspection.aspx
Notice at the end it brings attention to Registered Home Inspectors but no mention of Certified.
They have been informed of removing this from the website.
Home Inspections
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A quality home inspection will help you make an informed decision before buying a new place to live. It will help you understand a home’s condition. And if you are selling your home, an inspection can help you determine its value.
- What is a home inspection?
- Hiring a home inspector
- Consultation: Home inspector qualifications
- Frequently asked questions
What is a home inspection?
Most home inspection services consist of an on-site, in-person, detailed examination of the condition of a home. It is not a pass or fail test, but an assessment of the condition of the structure.
Home inspections help home buyers make important decisions. For example, after getting the results of a home inspection, a buyer may decide to:
- Ask the seller to make certain repairs
- Accept a defect and deal with its consequences
- Ask for a price adjustment
- Not buy the home.
Also, some sellers choose to have an inspection done before selling their home so they have a current inspection report to show prospective buyers. While this information can be helpful, you should have your own home inspection done prior to signing on the dotted line.
As a buyer, it is important to make sure that you are at the home, during the inspection. This is your chance to ask questions and see any issues first hand.
A home inspector will typically examine a property’s:
- Foundation
- Doors and windows
- Roof (where accessible and safe to do so)
- Exterior walls Attics
- Plumbing and electrical systems (where visible)
- Heating and air conditioning systems
- Ceilings, walls and floors
- Insulation (where visible)
- Ventilation systems
- Drainage away from buildings, slopes and natural vegetation
- Overall assessment of structural integrity of the building(s)
- Common areas (in the case of a condominium, or co-operative).
Home inspectors complete a report that outlines the property’s condition, as observed at the time of inspection. This report is provided to the client. It will normally show:
- The condition of every major system and component of the home
- Areas of a home that need repair, or may need repair in the near future
- If something is not working properly, is unsafe, or needs to be changed
- Any evidence of past problems.
**Hiring a home inspector **
You will need to do your homework to find a reliable, experienced, and knowledgeable home inspector.
Look for a home inspector who:
- Provides inspection reports (ask to see a copy of the one they use)
- Will provide references
- Has experience with the type of home you’re considering (e.g. condo, house, heritage era, or a cottage)
- Holds an accreditation that shows training and experience
- Provides you with a written contract.
Get more than one quote and be sure to check references before you hire an inspector.
Also, ask inspectors you’re thinking of hiring about their training and experience. At this time, Ontario does not have mandatory requirements for home inspectors. However, there are many training programs and courses that home inspectors can take to gain knowledge and understanding of home design, construction, operation, maintenance, and common defects.
Ontario is currently consulting with home inspector associations, consumers and other interested groups on qualifications for home inspectors.
Some real estate professionals have lists of home inspectors they’ve worked with before.
You should also keep in mind that:
- Home inspectors cannot see or find everything in a home. They provide an overall perspective of the home’s condition at the time of inspection. For example, they may not find mould.
- A home inspection does not provide warranties or guarantees about the condition of the house or how well it works.
Home inspection fees usually range between $350 to $600 and may be higher, depending on the size and condition of the home.
- The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation also has more tips on hiring a home inspector.
- If you have a complaint about a home inspector or home inspection, go to our Filing a Complaint page.
**Consultation: Home inspector qualifications **
Ontario is currently consulting on home inspector qualifications. An expert panel made up of members from the home inspector sector, consumers, businesses, and other interested groups has been established. This panel is expected to develop a report that will be released in late fall 2013. At that time, the report will be available for review and discussion with the public and the home inspection industry.
You can share your personal experiences or opinions on home inspectors or inspections by sending comments to homeinspectors@ontario.ca.
**Frequently asked questions **
**Do you really need a home inspection? **
An inspection will help you understand the condition of a home and identify potential problems. In fact, some home buyers make their purchase offers conditional on the results of a home inspection. Depending on the seriousness of what an inspection uncovers, a buyer may decide to negotiate a new price for the home or walk away from the deal altogether.
Once you buy a home, you are responsible for its upkeep. That’s why it’s important to know as much as you can about a property before you buy it.
You don’t want to move in and find expensive surprises. A home inspection will help you learn more about the condition of the home you’re buying.
**Do home inspectors have special training? **
Many inspectors work in related fields, (e.g. engineering, architecture, construction) before becoming home inspectors. There are also training programs and courses that home inspectors can take to gain knowledge and understanding of home design, construction, maintenance and common defects.
**Ontario is currently consulting with **home inspector associations, consumers and other interested groups on qualifications for home inspectors.
Before you sign any contract, do your homework to find a reliable, experienced home inspector that is knowledgeable and competent. Ask inspectors about their training, technical knowledge and experience. Get a list of references and check them.
What kind of insurance should the home inspector have?
Although home inspectors are not required by law to have insurance coverage, many have policies that can include general liability and errors and omissions coverage.
Be sure to ask about insurance coverage before you hire a home inspector.
**Do Ontario home inspectors have to be licenced? **
No. Currently, anyone can offer home inspection services in Ontario. However, only registered members of the **Ontario Association of Home Inspectors can call themselves a Registered Home Inspector. **