Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Who needs a home inspection?
A. Buyers and sellers. If you're buying a home, pre-owned or new, an inspection tells you the condition of the property. That way, there are no surprises after you close on the home.
If you purchased a new home and it still has a warranty from the builder, it's a good idea to have a home inspection before it expires. It's a rare case that even a new home doesn't have some problems that were overlooked by the builder. Those repairs or corrections easily exceed the cost of an inspection. If you catch them prior to warranty expiration, your warranty should cover them.
Sellers benefit by knowing the condition of their home before they place it on the market. Then, any needed repairs can be made prior to listing. A sellers inspection can also be used as a comparison to what the buyer's inspector finds.
Q. How long does an inspection take?
A. Anywhere from two to three hours depending on the condition of the property, the number of services you've requested and the size of the home. It takes time to perform a thorough inspection of the entire property and we pay attention to the details.
Q. What type of report do I receive?
A. HORIZON is a comprehensive web-based home inspection software that produces an exceptional report that is published and posted on the web exclusively for the buyer or seller. The report includes fantastic benefits like; color illustrations, and links to relevant reference materials. Click here to view a sample.
Q. Should my Realtor receive a copy of your report?
A. That's up to you. Your realtor can assist you in determining if any items in the report are significant enough to warrant re-negotiation with the seller. Having your realtor review the report also insures that you both are "on the same page" at the closing. You receive a single copy of the report. It's likely other parties won't need the entire report for their reference. You can make copies of individual pages for them as required. We don't provide any information about your inspection to anyone without your permission.
Q. Should I be present for the home inspection?
A. Yes, we encourage you to plan to attend the entire inspection. There are always items in the inspection that can best be explained on-site. We will include them in the report of course, but your presence at the property always makes it easier for you to understand important information about the property.
Q. Are you available to answer questions about the property or report after I close and move into the home?
A. Yes, we will be happy to assist you any way we can in clarifying the information we present in the report. Even after you've moved in and settled down to enjoy your new home. We are always available to you, for as long as you own the home, to offer unbiased advice and recommendations.
Q. Does a newly constructed home need an Inspection?
A. Absolutely. A professional inspection of a new home is important. We can spot potential problems early, while they are still easy to correct. It’s especially valuable to arrange an inspection before the interior walls are finished. We may find problem areas where the builder has taken shortcuts or not done quality work.
Q. Why can’t I do the inspection myself?
A. Chances are that even if you are very familiar with home construction, you still don’t have the knowledge, training and experience of a professional Home Inspector. our inspectors are not only familiar with all the systems of a home-and how they work and need to be maintained-but we also know what to look for to determine if they're about to fail. Also consider this-when you are involved in buying or selling a house, it’s impossible for you to remain completely unemotional about the house, and this may cloud your judgment. Your professional inspector will provide an objective, unbiased view of the property.
Q. Will you fix the problems you find during the Inspection?
A. No. The code of ethics which we adhere to prohibits its members from soliciting repair work on properties they inspect. This assures that there will never be any conflict of interest on the part of the inspector. Our purpose is to provide an unbiased, objective report on the condition of the home.
Q. What if I'm not happy with your work?
A. We'll make it right or gladly refund your money.
Q. What areas do you cover?
A. Our Certified Home and Property Inspectors service East-Central Ontario including Belleville, Trenton, Frankford, Foxboro, Smithfield, Brighton, Campbelford, Port Hope, Colborn, Cobourg, Tweed, Prince Edward County, Picton, Cherry Valley,Hastings County, Kingston, Napanee, Shannoville,Grafton,Trent Hills,Hastings,Quinte West,Stockdale,Wooler,Deseronto,Marysville,Greater Napanee and anywhere in between.