Pre-Sale Home Inspections

A pre-sale home inspection is a visual examination of the readily accessible features of the property and reflects the condition of the home on the day of the inspection.

Our goal is always to inform and educate you about the important decision you are about to make, with clients invited and welcome to attend any house inspection, allowing you to ask as many questions as you like! A pre-sale onsite inspection is typically two to three hours in length, which includes a detailed examination of the home and property – right down to the landscaping of the yard. If there is a crawlspace, Ryan does his best to get in to have a good look at what is happening beneath the home. He also has much experience in rural properties, century homes, as well as condos and townhouses. Please see below for more detail regarding the components that will be inspected.

Your fully documented electronic report – complete with embedded photos – is available within 24 hours of the home inspection (often much sooner). All identified defects (along with the implications) will be recorded in the home inspection report, which also contains much information for future reference, with technical articles and additional info regarding maintenance or repairs. Questions that arise from your report can be answered during a follow-up phone call.

Our motto is, "Be aware before you buy!" Home buyers today are definitely aware of the value of having a home inspection, but as a seller, it’s also to your benefit to identify the defects that could potentially delay the sale of your home. We want you to know exactly what adjustments and/or repairs should be made before you place your home on the market, making it more attractive to buyers and possibly increasing the value of your property. It’s a win for everyone involved!

If the home you are selling has a wood-burning fireplace, stove, or furnace, it may be to your advantage to have a WETT inspection to ensure that the unit is code compliant. Often when a house changes hands, the buyer’s insurance company will insist upon a WETT inspection (see WETT Inspections). As a Certified WETT Inspector (Site Basic Inspection), Ryan will examine the stove or fireplace and create a detailed report for you to present to the buyer, as verification of current compliancy. If done the same day and time as a pre-sale home inspection, the WETT portion of the fee is reduced to less than half price. There are so many extra costs associated with getting a house ready to sell, as well as purchasing a new home, that Ryan is pleased to be able to offer this as a bonus and savings for his home inspection clients.

As a Registered Home Inspector (RHI) with the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) and the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI), Ryan adheres to the Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics set out by these two government-sanctioned organizations that provide oversight of their members in the home inspection industry.

Every client will be provided with a home inspection report in electronic format, listing all identified defects in the various major components of the home and property. This includes:

• Roofing
  • Roof
  • Chimneys
  • Flashings
• Exterior
  • Walls
  • Foundation
  • Gutters (Eavestroughs) & Downspouts
  • Soffit & Fascia
  • Decks, Balconies, & Porches
  • Paths, Walkways, Steps & Stairs
  • Garages
  • Grading & Surface Drainage
  • Windows & Doors
  • Landscape Hazards – i.e. large trees too close to house
• Structure
  • Foundation
  • Beams, Posts, & Joists
  • Walls – Exterior & Interior
  • Floors
  • Roof & Trusses
  • Lintels
• Electrical System
  • Service Panels – type, service size & grounding
  • Type of Wiring
  • Service Entrances
  • Switches & Outlets – i.e. reverse polarity, grounding
  • GFCI’s & AFCI’s
  • Lights
• Heating
  • Fuel & Type
  • Flue Pipes & Vents
  • Fuel Tanks & Pipes
  • Air Supply, Filters, Ducts
  • Heat Recovery Ventilators
  • Electric Baseboards
  • Hot Water Radiant Heating
• Air Conditioning
  • AC Units – central
• Insulation & Ventilation
  • Attic
  • Walls
  • Basement
  • Crawlspace
  • Vapour Barriers
• Plumbing
  • Water Supply
  • Supply Pipes – type
  • Well Pump & Pressure Tank
  • Sump Pump & Floor Drain
  • Shut-off Valve
  • Water Pressure – checks re sinks, showers, tubs, taps, toilets, etc.
  • Waste Pipes
  • Water Heater
  • Exterior Faucets
• Interior
  • Floors & Floor Coverings
  • Walls & Wall Finishes
  • Ceiling & Ceiling Finishes
  • Trim
  • Stairs & Handrails/Railings
  • Windows & Doors
  • Skylights
  • Wood Fireplaces, Wood Stoves, Corn/Pellet Stoves
  • Gas Fireplaces
  • Countertops & Cabinets
  • Exhaust Fans & Ducts
  • Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors & Alarms
  • Evidence of Possible Mould Growth