Tag: Home Inspector

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Home Inspector

How a Home Inspector Can Save You Money in the Long Run

As you prepare to buy your dream home, an array of expenses demand your attention. Hiring a home inspector may seem like an unnecessary additional cost. However, recognizing how this upfront investment safeguards your financial future is key to making a prudent decision. 

In this blog, we explore the multifaceted value a home inspector brings to shielding your investment over years of homeownership.

Identifying Potential Issues Early

  • Uncovering Hidden Flaws

While captivating staging and clever photography can conceal flaws, an adept home inspector possesses a discerning eye for underlying issues. From questionable structural integrity to latent water damage, they uncover problems that, if disregarded, translate into exorbitant repairs later. 

Identifying concerns beforehand allows you to negotiate fixes with the seller or divert funds to address them immediately. Investing in this inspection shields you from surprises down the road.

  • Preventing Future Repairs

An experienced home inspector also equips you with preventative recommendations tailored to your property’s needs. From advising routine maintenance tasks to suggesting proactive upgrades, they help you safeguard what may become vulnerable spots. 

Implementing these measures grants peace of mind and allows you to avoid preventable expensive repairs.

Negotiating Power in Real Estate Transactions

  • Price Negotiation Based on Inspection Findings

Arriving at the closing table armed with meticulous inspection notes places negotiating power in your hands. Significant flaws uncovered equip you with leverage to request that the seller remedy issues or reduce the listing price accordingly. 

The outcome prevents you from shouldering unexpected financial burdens post-purchase. Let inspection findings strengthen your position.

  • Avoiding “Money Pit” Properties

Without a home inspection, you may bind yourself legally and financially to concealed existing problems or deficiencies prone to failure. Costly repairs transform what appears as a dream home into a financial nightmare overnight. 

A home inspector acts as a shield against this outcome by empowering an educated home-buying decision grounded in your property’s true state. Let it mitigate the risk of an impending “money pit” purchase.

Compliance with Insurance Requirements

  • Mitigating Insurance Risks

Seeking property insurance introduces home inspection requirements aiming to verify safe conditions and building code compliance. 

Meeting these guidelines through an inspection assists in securing coverage critical to safeguarding your valuable asset. It also reduces the possibility of denied claims resulting from preexisting deficiencies. Allow this process to mitigate coverage gaps.

  • Securing Lower Insurance Premiums

In addition to smooth policy acquisition, an inspection showcasing a well-maintained property may open doors for premium discounts. Insurance companies reward stewardship of assets translating into lower perceived underwriting risks. 

Though requiring an upfront investment, reduced premiums unlocked have the potential to yield significant savings year after year.

When committing to a property, hiring a home inspector is as an indispensable option for securing your financial future in homeownership. Allow the inspector to pinpoint lurking issues early, equip preventative insights, empower transaction negotiations, reduce money pit purchase risks, assist insurance policy acquisition, and unlock premium discounts over the long run. Perceiving this inspection for what it is—an investment in safeguarding your valuable asset—clarifies its multifaceted value.

 

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What Is the Role of a Certified Home Inspector in the Homebuying Process?

Buying a home is a major life achievement, but the process may be scary and challenging. A critical step that frequently gives buyers peace of mind is engaging a licensed house inspector. In this blog, we’ll examine the function of a certified home inspector and show how their knowledge is an invaluable resource during the home-buying process.

The Inspection Essentials

Thorough Examination:

A certified home inspector conducts a comprehensive assessment of the property, examining its structural integrity, systems, and components.

Visual Inspection:

They visually inspect various aspects, such as the foundation, roof, plumbing, electrical systems, HVAC, and more.

Safety Check:

Inspectors prioritize safety, identifying potential hazards like faulty wiring, mold, or gas leaks.

Code Compliance:

They assess if the property adheres to local building codes and regulations.

Identifying Issues and Red Flags

Defect Detection:

Home inspectors pinpoint any defects or issues within the property, helping buyers make informed decisions.

Prioritizing Problems:

They categorize problems into critical issues that require immediate attention and minor issues that can be addressed over time.

Cost Estimations:

Inspectors can provide rough estimates for necessary repairs, aiding buyers in budgeting.

Negotiation and Decision-Making

Negotiation Leverage:

Armed with the inspector’s report, buyers can negotiate with sellers to address issues, request repairs, or adjust the selling price.

Informed Choices:

Buyers can make informed decisions about whether to proceed with the purchase, renegotiate terms, or walk away if the property’s condition doesn’t align with their expectations.

Future Preparedness

Maintenance Guidance:

Inspectors often provide recommendations for ongoing maintenance, helping homeowners prolong the life of their property.

Peace of Mind:

Knowing the property’s condition gives buyers confidence in their investment, reducing anxiety and surprises after moving in.

Selecting a Certified Home Inspector

Credentials Matter:

Look for a home inspector who is certified and a member of a reputable industry association. This ensures they meet professional standards.

Experience Counts:

Consider the inspector’s experience in the field. Experienced inspectors often have a sharper eye for potential issues.

Ask for Referrals:

Seek recommendations from your real estate agent or friends who have recently bought homes. Their experiences can lead you to a trustworthy inspector.

Interview Prospects:

Don’t hesitate to interview potential inspectors. Ask about their inspection process, how long it takes, and when you can expect to receive the report.

Sample Reports:

Request sample inspection reports to get a sense of their reporting style and thoroughness.

Conclusion:

A certified home inspector is essential to your house-buying process because they provide knowledge, safety, and peace of mind. You can make sure that your ideal home is more than simply a place to live by being aware of your responsibilities, choosing the correct specialist, and actively taking part in the inspection process. Therefore, keep in mind that a certified home inspector is your reliable guide to a happy and worry-free future in your new house as you set out on your home-buying adventure.

 

 

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Home Inspector

Debunked 3 of the Widely Believed Myths about Home Inspections

A home inspection is a minor but important expense before buying your dream house. The process reveals problems related to home structure and various systems. And with the help of the inspection report, you can easily negotiate the amount with the seller.

A home inspection is a bit complicated process so DIY inspection isn’t recommended. You should look for a reliable home inspector with years of experience in the job. The home inspector should have broad knowledge about the homes and systems and should be from a reputable organization.

Though the role of home inspectors is important in the process, some buyers aren’t serious about hiring them. And it’s because of the misconceptions that exist in the real estate industry. And thus, the buyers aren’t able to get the most out of the home inspection service.

As a buyer, you too might come across such misconceptions. So to help you clear these misconceptions, we have discussed them in this post.

Myth 1#

A home inspector will check everything

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                                             Home Inspector

Fact

A home inspection is indeed a comprehensive process that includes a visual assessment of the house’s physical structure and mechanical structure, plumbing and electrical, roof, ceilings, walls, floors, windows, and doors. A home inspection is a non-invasive process.

During the home inspection process, the home inspector does not move the furniture around to check every area of the home. Also, he cannot see behind walls and under floors. Most importantly, a home inspector cannot predict the future life of components in the home. In simple words, the home inspector inspects the things that are visible and accessible.

Myth 2#

The home inspection problems are no big deal 

Fact

This might be true for some percentage of buyers, especially those who know how to fix the problems quickly and easily. But for certain buyers, it’s a huge issue because buying a house is a huge investment. They cannot afford any problem in the future, especially when it can be detected beforehand.

If you have the expertise of fixing up houses no matter how big the issue is, you might rethink home inspection. On the other hand, if you aren’t confident and are worried about the defects, you should opt for a home inspection. The home inspection report will guide you through the right way and the home inspector will advise ways to handle the problems. You need to understand no DIY videos are available to fix the problems.

Myth 3#

All home inspectors are the same 

Fact

 It isn’t possible. Though the required qualification is the same for the job, you will find a lot of difference in all the home inspectors. So, you shouldn’t hire the home inspector based on price alone, thinking you will receive the same kind of inspection as the ones charging more.

You should check the experience of the home inspector in the industry because experience matters in all kinds of jobs. Other than this, you should look for a licensed home inspector, which means the person is permitted to work in your location and is duly trained. You should even check the reputation of the company from where you will hire the inspector. Lastly, you should check the websites for complete detail.

After online and offline research, you will find that all home inspectors are not the same. And we guarantee you will get a different level of service from different inspectors.

You will go nowhere by following the myths related to the home inspection; rather, you will suffer a huge loss if the inspection is not done properly. So, you should do your homework and look for the right home inspector. And then, you should fix all the problems with help of the home inspection report and instruction from your home inspector.

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Home Inspection

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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                                    Home inspection

    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.

Home Inspector in Barrie
Home Inspector in Barrie

Is it Okay to Skip Home Inspection When Buying a Home in Barrie?

Are you going to buy a home in Barrie? If yes, have you completed the home inspection process? If not, this post is for you. We understand that the home-buying process can be very exhaustive.

Sometimes, it gets more complicated when homes you are eyeing are going under contract the same day they are listed. In such cases, it becomes nearly impossible to visit the property in person and become confident about your decision. At times like these, you might think about waiving the home inspection process. In fact, many homebuyers do this in the frenzy real estate market.

Not considering home inspection is like putting the money that you have earned with so much hardship into gambling. No matter how tight the deadline is and how much a home seller or real estate agent praises a home for sale, you should never ever skip this process.

When the real estate market of a place is hot, it is likely to find most home inspectors already booked. So, when you are on the journey of home hunting during the peak season, make sure that you get in touch with a Home Inspector in Barrie in advance.

Is it a bad idea to waiver home inspection?

Before deciding if it is good or bad to waiver home inspection, you should understand what exactly home inspection means and involves. The home inspection process is an onsite, in-person examination of the current conditions and structure of a home. A home inspection is not a test that passes or fails a home. It doesn’t evaluate if a home meets zoning or building codes.

It includes a visual inspection of major elements and systems, such as:

Home Inspector in Barrie

                              Home Inspector Barrie

  • electrical and plumbing systems (where visible)
  • foundation
  • attic ventilation
  • roof
  • exterior walls
  • doors and windows
  • heating and air conditioning systems
  • ceilings, walls, and floors
  • insulation
  • drainage systems
  • the structural integrity of the home
  • common areas if you are buying a condo

Once the inspection is completed, Home Inspectors prepare a report that provides detailed information about the condition and structural integrity of a home. You will easily know if some parts or areas of a home are safe, need to be repaired immediately, or may need replacement in the near future. Plus, you will also learn the evidence of any past problems.

As soon as you get the report and come to know about any problems, you can ask the seller to rectify or adjust the price. Or, you can even refuse to make the deal if problems are major and expensive and the seller is not ready to make improvements.

In short, a home inspection saves you from spending a sizeable amount on a home that is not worth it. Though it can be tempting to skip home inspection in a hot real estate market, waiving a home inspection may come with substantial risks.

Without a Home Inspection, you will remain unaware of costly repairs and potential hazards that will compromise the health as well as safety of yours and your loved ones. Besides, your financial interest is also not protected which is utmost necessary when you are making possibly the largest purchase of your life.

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Home Inspector Near me

Common Problems That Make a Home Inspection Report Look Bad

A home inspection report can make or break a home-sale deal. Thus, it is critical to know what common problems are checked during the home inspection, and fix them before you search for “Home Inspector Near me”. If you are someone who is planning to sell a home, then knowing these problems will help you a lot in the home-selling process.

  1. Exterior Grading That Causes Water to Collect Around the House

Poor grading and drainage issues are both common and expensive. If there is improper grading, then think about re-grading the front and the back of a property. A positively graded property draws water away from the home foundation which ensures that a home stays dry. On the other hand, negative grading may cause the soil around a home to soften that can jeopardize the structure’s integrity.

  1. Faulty Electrical Wiring and Overloaded Circuits

Don’t believe that everything is fine as long as electrical appliances are working. Because of its thinking, electrical problems are often ignored which may later result in serious hazards. Inspectors will instantly notice worn-out electrical wires, outdated knob-and-tube wiring, overloaded circuits, and exposed wiring. Missing and faulty GFCI outlets are also inspected as they are mandated by law in all bathrooms, kitchens, garages, laundry rooms, and areas where water sources are present.

  1. Aged and Faulty Roofing Problems
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                                             Home Inspector Near me

A roof with problems like cracked shingles, leaks, and water damage always needs to be fixed or replaced. It’s because a weak roof is more vulnerable to heavy snow buildup. The added weight of snow adds to the load and can weaken a home’s structure. Plus, problems with sheathing and rafters should also be addressed.

  1. Evidence of Termites and Other Wood-Eating Insects

Homeowners may not notice wood-destroying insects, such as termites, carpenter ants, and bees that may find a way in your home through foundation cracks. They stay hidden and can easily go unnoticed until the inspector comes for a Home Inspection. The main reasons behind infestation are consistent humidity and a damp environment. Signs of infestation include visible mazes, mud tubes, wood grains, and swollen ceilings and floors.

  1. Water Damage in Basement

Water damage not only compromises the structure of a home but also the safety and health of homeowners. Water penetrates through cracks in basement walls that result in spalling in concrete, brick, or stone. If your basement is invaded by water damage, it can greatly affect your home-selling deal.

  1. Increased Radon Levels

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that may result in lung cancer. It usually moves up the ground and can enter your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Radon is typically present in all homes across the country; however, concentrations are low and not strong enough to cause sickness. In case radon levels are higher in your home, it might create a big problem. So, install a radon-reduction system to fix this issue soon.

Sometimes, even smaller problems may be flagged by Home Inspectors and that can lead to bigger issues. Thus, to make the deal as smooth as possible, fix all the problems beforehand so that your home inspection report doesn’t look bad.

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Home Inspector in Markham

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.

Home inspector Markham

                                    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.

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Home Inspector

A Seller’s Guide to Prepare for Home Inspection

Located along the western shore of Lake Simcoe on Kempenfelt Bay, Barrie is one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities. Due to strategic location and many job opportunities, the population of Berrie is increasing at a high rate. Even a report says the population of the city is expected to increase to 667,000 by 2031 which was 136,063 in the year 2011.

With the increase in the population, the demand for the house will also increase. So if you are planning to sell your house to immigrants, you should be ready for a home inspection. It’s because no buyer approves to close the deal without a home inspection report. They send a home inspector to gain valuable insights into the property’s condition.

Before the Home Inspector arrives for the inspection, you should be prepared for the process. As a responsible seller, you should make sure that the home inspector does not suffer from any issues during the inspection and gets an accurate report.

The tips to prepare are:

You should make everything accessible 

During the home inspection, the Home Inspector will examine every inch of your home. Along with the main areas, he will go through the crawlspace, attic, and other less used areas. So you should ensure he can easily reach critical areas and systems. You should find all possible ways and make them accessible with utmost safety.

You should manage the perimeter

Home inspector Barrie

                                        Home inspector Barrie

A home inspector will look inside as well as outside of your house. He will check the exterior walls and other details that can lead to problems from outside. So you should ensure that the perimeter is easy to look at. You should remove everything that may come in the way of the inspection process. The path and visibility for the inspector should be clear.

You should address the roof and gutters

Roof and gutter inspection is a major responsibility of a homeowner. Even if you are not selling your house, you should inspect your house roof and gutter regularly to prevent any severe accident. If the inspection is pending for a long, you should do it before the arrival of the home inspector. You should clean out the gutters, check the downspout positions, examine the shingles for damage, and schedule repair if required.

You should clean the interior

Cleanliness is an important factor during the home inspection. You should clean your house interior thoroughly and make the area clutter-free. If your house is dirty or the Home Inspector has to navigate a ton of clutter, he might take things wrong. He might assume that since your house isn’t clean, you don’t care for it. You are not responsible. Also, with a suspicious mind, he may take more time looking for issues.

You should replace the bulbs, batteries, and filters

An electrical inspection is also an important part of home inspection. So before the home inspector arrives, you should replace the burned-out light bulbs, dead smoke detector batteries, and other damaged electrical parts. In case these electrical components are not working, the home inspector might assume that electrical connections in the property are not good. With this, one major part of the home inspection report will be marked negative.

Preparation for a Home Inspection will avoid any negative comments in the report and allow you to close the deal at the desired price.

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Home Inspection Near me

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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                                Home Inspection Near me

    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.  

Home Inspector Newmarket
Home Inspector Newmarket

What to Expect on the Home Inspection Day?

A home inspection is a process of examining the condition of a house before making the purchasing decision. It helps property buyers to identify whether or not a home is safe for living. A professional and Certified Home Inspector does a thorough inspection of a house on various parameters such as building structure, water damage, plumbing, and electrical issues that pose any potential threat to the safety of people living there.

A home inspection is the last attempt to evaluate the value of any property before purchasing. The home inspector gives a detailed report on his findings to highlight the issues that require maintenance and repair works after the deal. It increases the negotiation power of the buyer during the purchasing process.

So, if you have finalized the right property for buying, hire a licensed and certified home inspector in your region for a thorough examination of the house. When you plan to hire a home inspector for this job, it’s a good idea to research about the home inspection process to determine what to expect on the inspection day.

As a buyer, you can attend the inspection along with the home inspector to get a detailed look at the house you are going to purchase. You can follow up on all the processes that the home inspector takes while examining and evaluating the condition of the house.

Home Inspector Newmarket

                            Home Inspector Newmarket

Your home inspection checklist

When you know what areas should be inspected on the Home Inspection day, you can ensure that nothing will be left unexamined. Any professional home inspector will review the following areas of the house:

  • Structural components
  • Foundation
  • Walls
  • Ceiling
  • Basement
  • Roof
  • Floors
  • Windows and doors
  • Water damage
  • Plumbing and electrical systems
  • Pest and insect problems
  • Heating system
  • Air conditioning system
  • Security issues

How long does it take?

Typically, a home inspection process can take two to four hours depending on many factors such as the size of the property. In some cases, it could take more time depending on many factors. The duration of home inspection can vary depending on:

  • Home size
  • Number of defects
  • The thoroughness of the inspection process
  • Preparedness for the Inspection day

After the completion of the home examination and evaluation, the home inspector takes a couple of days to prepare a written report based on his findings and send it to the client.

No home is perfect but, a professional home inspection lets you identify the potential problems that can be dangerous in the future. It helps you address the serious issues with routine maintenance works on time before closing the deal. If you are looking for a licensed and certified home inspector in the New Market area in Toronto, Canada, contact JJ Home Inspections for professional and affordable services. With years of experience in the industry, you can expect the best services from them in the region.