choosing The Best windsor home inspector

So you've decided it's time to buy a home. In this crazy real estate market, it can certainly be a challenge with vendors stating that they will only look at offers on a particular date or even realtors stating that if your offer includes a home inspection, you are certain to not get the home.
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​We've been hearing these horror stories for about two years now. It is unfortunate that the home buyer is placed in this predicament and that the government doesn't step in and insist that all homes for sale have a home inspection just like our cars MUST have safety checks.

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Anyway, many home buyers are now getting the home inspection done first and then they can put in an offer based on all the facts instead of succumbing to these pressures and emotions. A professional home inspector is not interested in selling homes but the best home inspector is interested in objectively using his home inspector training and construction experience to remove the emotions and state the facts.
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​This article will help you choose a professional, qualified and the best home inspector. Here are 10 questions to take into account when choosing the perfect home inspector for you:

1. Is the home inspector a member (in good standing) with a professional home inspection association?  There are several home inspection associations out there now. The oldest and only government-recognized association in Ontario is the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors or commonly referred to as OAHI. Their highest designation is Registered Home Inspector or RHI. To achieve this designation, the home inspector must pass courses (not online), complete 200 fee-paid home inspections, pass peer reviews & home inspection report verifications, obtain yearly educational credits and carry Errors & Omissions insurance. The Canadian Association of Property & Home Inspectors (CAHPI) along with the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) have very similar requirements. A decade or so ago, we were also briefly members of another home inspection organization but upon finding out that their requirement to become a certified home inspector was to only pass on-line courses, we quickly withdrew our membership so that we would not to be affiliated with an organization that has no accountability with ensuring that the certified home inspector performing the home inspection is actually the person who 'passed' their easy online test.
2. Does the home inspector have practical training as well as classroom training? This to me, is a no-brainer.  In addition to classroom theory, a certain level of hands-on construction experience would give the best home inspector a more well-rounded approach to assisting the home buyer in making their biggest investment.
3. Is the home inspector full-time or part-time? Once again a no-brainer. When choosing any professional, I'd go with someone who does it full-time rather than part-time, like a hobby.  Someone who works at something full-time takes it more seriously and their focus is not sidetracked. The part-time building inspector might not be around tomorrow.
4. Does the home inspector carry valid insurance?  General Liability insurance covers the home inspector if he damages something while performing the home inspection. Whereas Errors & Omissions insurance covers the house inspector if he made an error or omitted something that negatively affected his client. Insurance companies provide a certificate that the home inspector can produce as proof of insurance.
5. Does the home inspector go on the roof and in crawl spaces?  There are many home inspectors who will not go onto a roof but many issues can only be uncovered by a thorough inspection...not one using binoculars! Also, when it comes to crawl spaces, many home inspectors shy away due to claustrophobia and animals that might have set up camp in the crawl space. Our home inspectors have uncovered countless issues that could never have been discovered if we hadn't gone up on the roof, into the attic and into the crawl space.
6. Is the home inspector affiliated with a realty company?  You want to hire a great home inspector who works for you, who is objective and has YOUR best interest at the forefront. Unfortunately as outlined in a previous blog, there is one Windsor home inspector who is also a practicing realtor! I've even heard about one Windsor home inspector who told a realtor that mold isn't an issue, it's considered bad furniture placement. You see, if the vendor places furniture over the mold, no one will see it ;) Then there's the other Windsor home inspector who winks at the realtor when the home-buyer isn't looking, to indicate that he's smoothing things over so the deal won't go south.
7. Does the home inspector perform verbal inspections?  If this is case, the home inspector is not in good standing with his home inspection association as he is violating the Standards of Practice. Do you want to hire a home inspector who doesn't adhere to his association's standards? What else might this house inspector compromise on???
8. Is there a home inspection warranty?  A warranty helps the home buyer have extra peace of mind.
9. What type of equipment does the home inspector use?  This is sometimes why some home inspectors don't go up onto roofs or into crawl spaces and attics.  The home inspector must invest in proper equipment in order to be the best home inspector that he can be. A screwdriver and flashlight are just not enough. Some required equipment includes thermal infrared imaging camera, digital camera, moisture detector, level, natural gas detector, ladder to reach high enough to get onto a roof etc.  The flashlight and screwdriver do come in handy too.
10. What type of report will you get?  A verbal inspection is in contravention to each home inspection associations' Standards of Practice.  The written home inspection report should not only include pictures but illustrations are a great asset too. The report should be specific to the house inspected because the client does not need extra information on systems and components that are irrelevant to his potential new home.

​There you have it....10 questions to ask each home inspector you call so that you can increase your chance of choosing the best home inspector in Windsor and Essex County.