Hiring a Home Inspector
Find out about any potential problems before you buy
Buying a home is one of the most expensive and important decisions you will ever make.
But unlike most other major purchases, when it comes to buying a house, there are no
return policies or money-back guarantees.
A professional home inspector can help you find out as much as possible about a home’s
condition, livability and safety before you sign on the dotted line. To help you make more
informed decisions – and keep unpleasant surprises to a minimum – Canada Mortgage and
Housing Corporation (CMHC) has several tips for finding and selecting a qualified home
inspector, including:
• Check association Websites, the yellow pages and housing trade magazines to find a home inspector in your area who meets the CAHPI national certification standards.
These national occupational standards of competency for Home and Property Inspectors were developed by the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI), with support from CMHC, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC), and the Construction Sector Council (CSC). You may contact CAHPI to verify an inspector’s standing as a National Certificate Holder in the CAHPI National Certification Program. Visit www.cahpi.ca to learn more.
• Ask friends or family members who have recently purchased a home for a
recommendation.
• Make sure the home inspector you choose is an experienced inspector, not an individual with an inspection business on the side.
• Look for inspectors who belong to a provincial association, and who participate in ongoing professional development activities.
• Ask for three references of past customers, and then call to ask them whether they
were satisfied with the service they received.
• Make sure the home inspector does not solicit, receive or give referral fees.
• Ensure that the inspection is carried out during the day, as night-time inspections may miss vital components of the exterior of the house.
• Find out where you can get more information about the inspector and his or her firm, such as the firm’s Website address or industry association.
• Ask what you will receive once the inspection is complete, and when you can expect to receive it. A professional home inspector should provide a written report reviewing every major system and component in the home within about 24 hours of completing the inspection.
• Nationally, the average cost of pre-purchase home inspection is about $350.
For more information or a free copy of the “About Your House” fact sheet Hiring a Home Inspector or other fact sheets on virtually every facet of owning, maintaining or renovating your home, ask CMHC at 1 800 668-2642 or visit our Web site at www.cmhc.ca. For over 60 years, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has been Canada’s national housing agency, and a source of objective, reliable housing expertise.
For story ideas or to access CMHC experts or expertise, contact CMHC Media Relations - National Office at: (613) 748-4632 or by e-mail: media@cmhc-schl.gc.ca
PLEASE ALL CANADIAN INSPECTORS, PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO EMAIL CMHC AND REGISTER YOUR DISAPPOINTMENT IN REGARDS TO CMHC A TAXPAYER FUNDED AGENCY RECOMMENDING ONE ASSOCIATION OVER THAT OF ANOTHER!
YOUR VOICE MUST BE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR. YOU ARE BEING TOLD BY A GOVERNMENT AGENCY WHICH YOU FUND THROUGH YOUR TAXES THAT YOU AND YOUR ASSOCIATION ARE INFERIOR!
IF YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY EMAIL ME AND I WILL PROVIDE YOU MY EMAIL I SENT, WHICH YOU CAN SEND AND PUT YOUR NAME TO IT.
DON’T BE APATHETIC, THATS EASY. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS EMAIL ME AND PUT YOUR NAME TO A PRE-WRITTEN EMAIL. MANY VOICE WILL RESULT IN ACTION. NOW IS THE TIME TO PROTECT YOUR INDUSTRY, YOUR RIGHTS AND YOUR FUTURE!
raymond.wand@sympatico.ca
Thank you!