Frequently Asked Questions

Does a Home "Pass or Fail" an inspection?

No, a Professional Home Inspector does not pass or fail a home. The home inspection is done to describe the current physical condition and indicate what may need repair or replacement and report to you the conditions found in a comprehensive written report. The decision to buy the home is ultimately the decision of the buyer. Each buyer has different skills and different goals for the property.

Do I need to be present for the inspection?

Yes, we strongly encourage you to not only attend the inspection but to follow along with the inspector and ask questions. The inspection is an important opportunity to learn about the house and get some good tips on maintaining it. Even seasoned home owners who attend the inspection and have been through other inspections often pick up and learn new things. The inspector will also point out such things as plumbing shut-off valve locations, electrical panel, water-heater, furnace, etc., and give a brief explanation of how the major systems operate. You will likely find that much of the information will be helpful after you have moved in.

How long does the inspection take?

We do not rush through Home Inspections. We want todo the best job possible for our clients (within the scope of the Home Inspection), and be able to answer questions on-site for our clients. Typically we are on-site for about 2-3 hours; longer for larger and/or older dwellings. Condominium units usually take 2 hours.

How much does a home inspection cost?

The fees for a Home Inspection are set primarily by the age of size of the dwelling. Older and/or larger homes take longer to inspect and are charged for accordingly. Additional feeds may also be charged for mileage outside a distance of 75kms from the office, and for such things as in-law suites, etc.

Our fees start at $399.00 plus HST for a 1000 SQ FT bungalow home.

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Which forms of payment are accepted?

Cash, Cheque, Visa, Mastercard or email money transfers (EMT) are the accepted methods of payment. Payment must be made prior to or at the time of inspection.

Who receives a copy of the inspection report?

Only you do. The contract is between “Littl’s Home & Property Inspections” and yourself. Upon fulfillment of the contract for the Inspection Service, the Inspection Report, becomes you property. We can only distribute the Inspection Report to other parties with your expressed, written permission. If you require another party to have a copy of the Inspection Report, it is your choice if you would like to forward it on to them.

When do I receive the inspection report?

At the end of the inspection, the Inspector will sit down with the clients and go over the findings in the summary of the Inspection Report. The Inspector is an unbiased, third party. It is important to remember that the findings in the report should not be interpreted negatively. There are many positive comments that can be made about a property, however, that is not the purposed of the Inspection. The Report is designed to bring to your attention items that may be in need of maintenance, repairs, or safety issues. The Inspector will then answer any remaining questions that the clients may have.

Our goal is that we will email the report to you the same day as the inspection and/or in less than 24 hours of the Inspection. The Inspection Report is a high quality, narrative type report with photo documentation that is provided to you.

What do I do if significant issues, problems, or defects are discovered during the course of the home inspection process?

You should be proud of yourself for choosing to have a Home Inspection! The Inspector is willing to answer your questions and explain any of the issues, problems, and defects as you go along. When completed, it is up to you to decide how to proceed now that you are informed about the condition of the property you are considering. This next step is usually discussed by you and your Real Estate Professional. We always recommend obtaining repair cost/estimates from qualified professionals prior to making your final decision.

Do you offer any services after the inspection?

Absolutely! Strong customer service is very imporant to us. After the home inspection we will be there for you. It does not matter if you have a question one day, two months, or three years after the inspection, we are here to help. If you have questions about the Inspection Report or anything in general regarding your home that you think we may be able to help with, just send us an email. We will try to answer questions within 24 hours.

Does the inspection come with a guarantee or warranty?

No. In our opinion, third party guarantees or warranties are merely a marketing tool. Some Home Inspection firms may offer a third party warranty. You should take time to fully read and comprehened these warranty documents and be very aware of the exclusions and limitations that make up these warranties. Typically, the list of exclusions and limits is so restrictive that you should ask what are they are actually covering, or how difficult it may be to file and collect on a claim?

The scope of a professional home inspection is limited to a non-invasive, visual and physical examination of the home, not a technically exhaustive inspection of every system and component. The purpose of a home inspection is to inform you about the condition of property you are considering.

A Home Inspection is NOT an insurance policy. It is unreasonable to expect that for a fee you can transfer all the risk of the property purchase on a Home Inspector. A good Home Inspection can make you more aware of the condition of the property to help reduce your risk, and make an informed decision. It cannot eliminate your risk. Also, the Home Inspector cannot predict future failures of any items, components, or systems within the property. The Inspection is based on the current working condition or status at the time of the Inspection.

 

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