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Questions to Ask a Home Inspector

 

March 25, 2024 - DMC Residential Inspection Services Inc.

 

When you are hiring a home inspector you will want to make sure you are getting a good inspector that knows what to look for. Asking the right questions up front ensures you hire a competent inspector that will do a good job for you. But, asking the right questions during the inspection is important to gain the valuable information that you will need to provide you with a full understanding of the condition of a property and the confidence that can make a well-informed decision.

 

But, before you get to that point, the first thing to consider when hiring an inspector is ensuring you are getting someone who is qualified and experienced. To find a good home inspector it is important to look for one with formal training and certification through an accredited institution. It is a reasonable question to know where they were trained and also if they are affiliated with any associations and utilize standards of practice and code of ethics. There are many associations that they could be afilliated with and most are good with the support they provide to inspectors. 

 

When asking a home inspector about experience it is important that you get someone who has experience. But, does that mean years of inspections under their belt is experience enough? In some cases yes. But, in some cases no, because years of experience can sometimes build complacency. Therefore, it is always good practice to look for any reviews that may be out there to help you better understand the performance of the inspector. Also, it is always a good idea to ask if the inspector has a trade or any house building experience themselves. The experience from working with various trades, construction methods used and material performance is invaluable, in my opinion, for an inspector to know what to look for and where weakness may be found in the construction of a home.  

 

Once you have made your decision and hired your inspector, there are many other questions you need to consider asking the inspector such as: what are some common issues they find; do they have any specific concerns with the property; are there any areas of the home that will need upgrades soon; if any of your planned changes to the home would affect the home's safety; or what is the life span of certain components, to name a few. It is always best to follow the inspector along through the inspection process. This is where you have the greatest opportunity to roll up your sleeves with the inspector to ask these types of questions and learn about the home.

 

When faced with the need for a home inspector, know what questions you should ask before hand. This will help you find the best inspector that will help you the most. And once you have secured your inspector, carefully selected questions asked at the right time during the inspection will also provide you with the opportunity to learn as much detail as you can about the home so you can make a sound decision and have the comfort knowing it was the right one.

 

For more information and guidance on home inspection click on the following link from the Innovation Science and Economic Development Canada: Home Inspection in Canada.  

 

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