Scout Home Inspections

WHY INSPECT?

Pre-Purchase/Lease Inspections: It makes sense to find out as much as you can about the house you are interested in, before you buy. That way you can avoid costly surprise repair bills and problems with your new home.

Homeowner's Inspection/Specific Issues: Our report will also advise you of what maintenance is required to keep your home in top condition.

A professional inspection will give you a clear picture of the many systems and structural elements that make up the property.

Pre-Sale/Lease Inspection: If you are selling your home, a listing inspection will point out any potential problems that might be uncovered later by the buyer’s inspector. (Finding them early will allow you to address them before listing your home, making for a faster and smoother sale.)

New Home Construction/ Final New Home Inspections: A professional inspection of a newly built home is very important.

We inspect many houses that builders have completed and we often find serious problems they have missed. Very often poorly skilled labourers and lack of supervision lead to shortcuts and substandard workmanship.

We will check that everything has been done correctly and provide an impartial report. Our inspection ensures that you will not be faced with unexpected repair costs months after the builders have handed over the home.

THE INSPECTION

The home inspection is a professional visual examination of the systems and components of a home. Home purchasers and sellers view inspections as a means of knowing as much as they possibly can about the single largest investment purchase of a lifetime - the home.

The inspection helps identify major and minor deficiencies in the home as well as future “money-towards-maintenance” issues that may otherwise come as an unwanted and unaffordable surprise.

As well, the inspection identifies and helps dispel concerns about repairs and the method of approaching a repair. The inspection is an extremely thorough educational tool which ensures the homeowner is well informed and able to make a decision with confidence.

Inspection prices are competitive and determined according to the type of inspection.

THE PROCESS

What do you look at?
The home inspector will provide a visual inspection by looking at the home’s various systems, including interior and exterior components. The inspector will check exterior components including roofing, flashing, chimneys, gutters, downspouts, wall surfaces, windows, doors, the foundation and the grading around it.

What is included in the fee?
Following the inspection, an electronic copy of the report (including pictures and further reference material) is e-mailed to the buyer, consolidating the details of the inspection. The home inspector is always willing to answer any questions a buyer might have and to clarify the limitations of the inspection to avoid misunderstandings

How long does a home inspection take?
A pre-purchase inspection for a 165 to 205 m2 (1,800 to 2,200 sq. ft.) home typically takes about three hours.

Can I follow along?
Definately. CMHC recommends that potential buyers accompany the inspector as the inspection takes place. It can be a valuable learning experience.

Should I take notes?
It's not necessary, the cost includes a detailed report of all that will be found during the inspction. Your time will be better used learning what the inspector is seeing and pointing out so that the report details will relate to this.

Can I ask questions?
Definately. This is the perfect time to get to know the inner workings and condition of your home. Knowledge is power so asking questions will provide you a great base to better maintain or negociate for your new home.

What should I wear? Be prepared to get dusty, we'll be in the attic and the basement and around the foundation of the home.

Can I bring my family? No. You are paying for a serious inspection of your home and you will need to be attentive as well so that all your questions can be answered. Treat this time as an indepth education into home ownership.

When do I receive the written report? The same day as your inspection. Pictures are taken as we progress through the inspection which are then embedded into the final report after the inspection has been completed. A short summary report will be available at the end of the inspection, however, the detailed report will be sent within 2 hours of the completion of the inspection.

Will you recommend not to buy the house? Home inspectors provide non-biased assessments of the property in question. No opinions can be offerred, just information on the condition of the home. Whether you are prepared to purchase a home with this knowledge will be left up to you alone.

Do you offer a warranty on the house? No. The information provided by the Home Inspector is for you to use or not. Any decisions made using the information provided in the reports are taken at your own risk. No opinions are provided just facts regarding the property's condition.

How many days notice do I need to give you? We can schedule clients in quite readily, however if you know you will need an inspection in the future it would be best to call so that you can be added to our scheldule. Spring and Summer are busy times in the Real Estate industy so do call sooner than later.