Have you found the right Inspector yet?
A Couple Words About Fees
There are large differences in inspectors. The majority are average, a few are awful and a few are very good. You want one of the very good ones. Sometimes the difference in price is as little as a dinner for two.
“The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the sweetness of a cheap fee is forgotten.”
Are you looking for the cheapest, most run-down property? Of course not! What you want is the best value for your money. You should want the same from your inspection company. Most provincies do not regulate private inspections and existing regulations set a fairly low bar. So how do you do pick the right Inspector? It’s important that you interview all potential inspectors. Below its a good list of questions to ask.
- How long have you been in business? There is no substitute for experience in this business. 4 years is a good minimum time frame, but there are those who’ve been inspecting a long time without initial training or maintaining continuing education. Longevity alone is not enough.
- May I view a sample report? Inspection report quality varies widely. Looking at a sample report is the single best method of comparing inspection companies. The report is your final product. Make sure it's in an organized format that you can understand. We provide a custom narrative report with captioned photos. We avoid vague or broad terms like “fair” or “poor” which can be confusing. If a sample of a past report is not forthcoming, this is a red flag!
- Are you licensed? Most provincies do not require licensing. That is why a valid membership in a respected certifying body is important (such as CAPHI). Reputable associations have stringent exams and require training, experience, and continuing education. If your inspector doesn't belong to a couple of associations put up more red flags!
- Will I get an inspection report on site? Beware of generic inspection reports which are hurriedly generated on site . All of the time booked with us is spent on the inspection of the property. The creation of a proper, in-depth, detailed report takes additional hours of careful thought and consideration.
- How much do you charge? The question “What do you charge for an inspection?” is certainly valid, but making sure that you’re hiring an inspector with plenty of knowledge and training means not shopping by price alone. You’ll find that experienced inspectors do a good job and tend to charge more. In fact, you can probably somewhat judge the skill level of the inspector by the price he charges. Training, certifications, and continuing education don’t come cheaply to the inspectors. As the saying goes you get what you paid for! For such an important transaction you want the best, not the cheapest.
Our home inspection fees start at $400 + 5%gst
Please call for pricing on condos, townhomes, and other services provided.
Make the investment… to protect your investment
