Tag: Home inspections

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    Home Inspection
    May 25, 20210

    What All Things Do Home Inspections Cover?

    Are you investing in a new house soon, and beginning a new exciting chapter in your life? Well, apart from being an exciting adventure, you must acknowledge the fact that it is also a life-changing decision that involves your life savings.

    You might have finally stumbled upon the perfect house for you and your family after months of searching, but it is important to ensure that the house is just as great as you think it is. Cabinets, tiles, or paint colors can be changed easily, but there are some other important aspects of the home that cannot be fixed that easily. And this is the reason why you must invest in a home inspection before you sign the papers.

    Depending on the size and other individual features of the house, your home inspector would determine a way to carry out a thorough inspection of the entire property. Mentioned below is a list that would give you a general idea of what most of the home inspections tend to cover.

    • Foundation:
      Any reliable and competent home inspector would investigate the health of the foundation of the property, and even check for secondary signs of any foundation issues such as the likes of cracks or settling.
    • Roof:
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      As a prospective buyer, you would not go as far as climbing up the ladder and checking the condition of the roof during the open house. However, people hire home inspectors to inspect the parts of the house that they themselves cannot. Your inspector would be able to inspect the condition of the roof and determine its approximate age. Moreover, they would also look for any potential damage or poor installation that can cause water damage to occur in the future.

    • Building envelope:
      The outside structure of your potential future house is another aspect that should be and is thoroughly inspected by your professional home inspector. This tends to include checking out crawlspaces under the house, the seal of all the windows and doors, and so on and so forth.
    • Plumbing:
      Your home inspector would also check the condition of the plumbing in all the toilets, showers, and faucets and look for any visible leaks, all of this while testing the water pressure too. They would also let you know what kind of pipes the house has. If the house has old pipes that need to be repaired or replaced, it would help you negotiate the original price of the house.
    • Electrical:
      Electrical is one of the few things that differ from house to house, it is especially quite different in older homes. Your home inspector would let you know the type of wiring your potential future house has, make sure that there are functional ground fault circuit interrupters, and test every single outlet in the house. Moreover, they would also inspect the electrical panel to ensure that all of it is in proper working condition in order to eliminate any safety or fire hazards.

    These were just a few important things that a home inspection tends to cover if you hire a professional and reliable home inspector.

    Certified Home Inspector
    Home Inspector in Markham
    March 18, 20210

    Mandatory Fixes and Repairs after a Home Inspection

    The home inspection is an important stage of the property selling and buying process. As a buyer, it helps you identify issues and problems in the house you are interested in purchasing. On the other hand, when you want to sell your house, a professional inspection service lets you identify and fix potential issues to increase the value of your property.

    A Professional Home Inspector examines the condition of a house thoroughly using the best practice and techniques. It helps you identify the areas that require maintenance and repair work before moving in. Following area and problems are inspected during a home inspection process:

    • Building structure
    • Plumbing and electrical connections
    • Heating and cooling equipment
    • Roof, basement, and walls
    • Pest and insect problems
    • Water damage
    • Security issues

    After the completion of the Home Inspection process, both buyers and sellers should be aware of mandatory fixes and repairs before making the further move. Every house needs to be safe, comfortable, and secure for people living there. There is no use of home inspection services if you are not going to fix and repair potential issues identified during the process.

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                                        Home Inspector Markham

    Some home issues and problems may be critical and dangerous and you cannot avoid them for safety reasons. These necessary fixes are essential to make a home habitable and a nice place to live with your family without any safety concerns. You must ask for fixes and repairs for the following issues if detected after the home inspection process:

    • Structural damage or hazards
    • Water damage and mold formation
    • Chemical or toxic contamination
    • Pest or insect infestation problem
    • Fire or electrical hazards
    • Plumbing issues
    • Building code violations
    • Trip hazards

    You cannot take the risk with the above-mentioned issues and move with your family after buying a house. From a seller’s point of view, these issues can be a big hurdle in selling a house. These issues can decrease the value of your property to a great extent.

    These are not the cosmetic fixes with which you can live. They can cause serious damage and life-threatening risk to the people living there. You can live with normal wear and tear in your house, but not with the mentioned ones. Problems like HVAC issues, broken appliances, and drainage problems can be ignored if you can handle them on your own through maintenance services after purchasing the home.

    If the seller denies fixing mandatory issues, you should immediately walk away from the deal. A well-maintained house could also help buyers to get a home loan quickly and easily from banks.  So, if you are interested in purchasing a house in Canada, and looking for a professional Home Inspector in Markham, Toronto, Contact JJ Home Inspections for high-quality and affordable home inspection services as per your requirements.

    Certified Home Inspection
    Home Inspection Near me
    March 4, 20210

    Things to Keep in Mind Before Hiring a Home Inspection Company!

    For the majority of people, purchasing a new home is considered to be the biggest investment in their entire lifetime. So, being such a huge investment, who would want to regret the decision they made a few years down the line? To avoid any disappointment even after decades of living in your house, it is important that you get every aspect of your future house checked thoroughly before you sign the deal with the realtor and commit all your hard-earned money.

    So, one of the most important things you must do before you purchase the house is investing in a home inspection company. In recent years, there is quite a load of reliable and competent home inspectors available in the market. However, there are also frauds that should not be trusted at all as they try to get your pockets lighter. Hence, you are required to do far more research than just searching “Home Inspection Near me” in the search engine.

    With so many options at your disposal, it can get quite overwhelming and stressful, but to make things easier for you we have compiled a list of some things you must consider before hiring any home inspection company.

    • Experience of the home inspectors:
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      One of the first things to take into consideration when looking for the right home inspection company is that you choose a company that has only experienced home inspectors employed. Nobody can become an experienced home inspector overnight, it takes several years of experience in the field, dealing with different kinds of situations, and of course, highly specialized training for someone to become a competent and skillful Home Inspector. Hence, you should check the number of years that the company has been in the field, and if the inspectors are just as experienced or not.

    • Certification and licenses:
      The next thing you should consider is if they have all the required certifications and licenses to do what they do. This is an important step because there might be some companies that claim to be certified without having any proof at all. Hence, you should ask for these important documents with which they can back up their claims. Moreover, you can be even more sure if you want to, by checking yourself if the home inspection company is registered with the home inspection association.
    • A sample of one of the reports:
      If you really want to check the quality of the work the company does, then you should ask for a sample of the report that they made recently. The report provided by the home inspection company tends to say a lot about the quality of their services. On average, a good report usually is around 40 pages or so. So, you must hire the company that guarantees you to give a detailed report of the inspection.

    By taking the above-mentioned things into consideration, you are likely to end up choosing the right Home Inspection Company and see if your future house is worth the investment or not.  

    Certified Home Inspection
    Home Inspection
    December 30, 20200

    The 3 Most Frequently Asked Questions about Home Inspection

    Whether you are a home buyer or seller, signing an agreement without a home inspection process is not a brainer. We know it’s an add-on expense, but it’s important for your safety and to secure your investment.

    During the Home Inspection, a specialized officer checks the damages and defects of the house you are planning to sell or buy and prepare a report based on different parameters. They look after structural, mechanical, electrical, and plumbing issues to ensure that the house is safe to live in. Not only this, the report prepared by a home inspector gives an upper hand while negotiating the cost from the other party. At every step of a home sale or purchase deal, home inspection plays an important role.

    Even with so many advantages, people hesitant about getting their house inspected before selling or buying because of lots of questions in their minds. You might also come across these while making a deal.

    To make things easy, we have answered the 3 most frequently asked questions about the home inspection in this post.

    What is the cost of the home inspection service?

    The cost of the service depends on the company you hire and other variables defined by the Home Inspectors. 

    The variables are:

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    • Location of the property or the time taken by the inspector to reach the location
    • Size and age of the home
    • Condition of the real estate market
    • The urgency of the inspection and report delivery
    • Any additional services like mold inspection

    You should not determine the cost before communicating with professionals. The best is to research online or ask for a price quote.

    How long the home inspection process takes?

    Just like the cost of the service, there is no standard time for the home inspection report. It depends on the number of officials working on the property and the following factors.

    • Size and age of the property
    • Number of systems installed and need to be inspected
    • Accessibility to the areas to be inspected
    • The weather condition of the property location
    • State regulations and permissions if required
    • Questions and answer session with the client
    • Additional services

    Usually, it takes 3 to 4 hours, but still, you shouldn’t assume. Also, you shouldn’t rush during the home inspection.

    What is the process of a home inspection?

    • The home inspection process starts with an initial consultation with the client. This consultation is majorly is for knowing the client’s expectations from a home inspection.
    • Once the details are noted, the home inspector visits the location and checks the details from the top to bottom. The expert does not leave any corner of the house.
    • Upon completion, the inspector gives a verbal overview of his findings or provides a comprehensive inspection report. Along with the report, most home inspectors advise the right steps to improve the condition or tricks to negotiate the cost.

    Due to cost and lack of time, people often think of DIY Home Inspection, but they forget that it’s not so easy. A home inspector’s job is like an advocate who analyses the home structure or utilities and proves his words. So hire a certified home inspector and save your investment.

    licensed home inspector
    Home Inspection
    October 15, 20200

    How to Choose the Right Home Inspector?

    Are you finally buying your dream house? Chances are it is going to be the most expensive purchase that you would make in your entire lifetime. Buying a home is considered to be an investment you make for you and your family’s present as well as future. So, if you are thinking about investing in a house without having it inspected by a professional, then you might be putting your future plans in danger. You would not want to deal with any expensive repairs once you have sealed the deal with the real estate agent, which could have been avoided with the help of Home Inspection.

    It is recommended that you hire a Certified Home Inspector so as to ensure that the house you are about to buy is devoid of any major or minor flaws. The job of a home inspector is to determine the integrity of your new home and all of its several components. By inspecting a home, they tend to make sure of its safety, utility of all its systems, and livability. A reliable and certified home inspector indulges in a thorough home inspection and provides you with a written report on almost all the important aspects of the property.

    However, people find it difficult to make the right choice when looking for a home inspector due to so many options available to them. So, to make things easier for you, below are some of the things you must keep in mind in order to get your hands on a reliable home inspector.

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    • Referrals and reviews:
      While you are on the lookout for a home inspector, it is recommended that you reach out to those whom your friends and family would trust and recommend. Apart from that, you can also check reviews of your preferred home inspectors online and find out who is the most reliable and suitable option for you.
    • Interview potential inspectors:
      Another thing you must take into consideration is to interview your potential candidates and clear all your doubts by asking some important questions. Are they licensed and certified? For how long have they been working in this field? Are they insured and bonded? How long the home inspection will take? How much would be the overall cost of hiring their services approximately? These are some of the questions that you must ask, and go with the one that gives you satisfactory answers.
    • Be careful of red flags:
      It is important for you to be there while the inspector is inspecting your new house. If, by chance, the inspector insists that your presence is not really necessary, you can take this as a red flag. You must be walking around the house alongside them, observing whatever they see as a problem or a potential issue. Just like this, it is recommended that you steer clear of Home Inspection companies that give off certain red flags.

    By keeping these things in mind, it is most likely that you would find a reliable and competent Home Inspector and determine if your future home is livable or not.

    Home Inspector
    Home Inspector
    August 6, 20200

    Things to Focus on when Hiring a Home Inspector

    Home inspections have now become a crucial part of the home-buying process. Today, many real estate agents recommend including a home inspection clause. That means you’ll be paying for the inspection to know what you’re getting for your money.

    If you think about it, purchasing property might be the most expensive thing you’ll ever buy. So, it better to look for a Certified Home Inspector in Toronto. A home inspector serves to mitigate the risk of hidden costs and offer peace of mind.

    However, hiring a Certified Home Inspector should not be taken lightly. Appointing the right person for the job requires extensive research and dedication. It is vital to know what to look for when hiring someone to inspect your house.

    Here are some of the essential things to focus on when looking for a professional home inspector.

    Experience

    The home inspection is a field where experience matters a lot. What matter is, how many inspections they have done, and how long they have been in the business. Consider someone who has been in the field for at least several years. They are more likely to have seen a variety of home types and home-related issues.

    Ability to provide reports

    Make sure the home inspector you consider can furnish high quality, easily-readable, and thorough inspection reports. The reports should be easy for you to comprehend.

    A well-detailed report usually consists of:

    • Areas needed to be fixed.
    • Clear pictures of the areas
    • A range of cost for any recommended repairs or updates

    An experienced inspector might prepare a long report, but they should include a summary of the areas and what’s needed to be done.

    Great Personality

    Attitude and personality are vital characteristics of a home inspector. After selecting a home, you will work with them, so you want to find an inspector who has a positive attitude, and shows a willingness to assist you.

    A certified home inspector has a calm and confident demeanor and knows that the process of home shopping can be stressful, so they clearly explain each and every step of the inspection process to you. 

    References

    When looking for a home inspector, references have been a valuable tool. Contact those homeowners that have lived in their house for a long period, as some issues overlooked by an inspection can surface years later.

    For reviews and referrals, you can also check out the company’s website or review ratings given by the clients.

    Diligence

    These days, diligence seems to be a lost quality. A home inspector should be diligent and truthful in all aspects of their work. Choose someone who works with a sense of urgency, detail-oriented, professional, with great communication skills.

    Now you know that a home inspector plays a crucial role in the process of buying a home. It’s always advisable to hire a professional, reliable, and Certified Home Inspector in Toronto to do the work for you. There are so many other factors and qualities to focus, but these are some of it which you should never avoid. 

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