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Home Inspection in Ottawa

Tuesday, June 7th, 2011


It is not everyday that one builds or purchases a home. And obviously it is a matter of concern and worries if you do not get the desired home or features that you had always wished for. It is not that you are not knowledgeable or do not have an idea or two about homes but then as the saying goes, leave it to the experts. There is something that needs to be left to experts. One such thing is home inspection. Before buying a home you need to look into many aspects and since buying a home is not a thing which you will do everyday, hence all the aspects needs to be covered and up to your satisfaction.

This is where the home inspection companies come in. There are many companies in Ottawa which do provide the services of home inspection. It may sound an easy thing, but trust me; it is one of the most difficult things to do and should be left to be handled by these experts. There are home inspection companies in and around Ottawa which have trained professionals and they assist you in making your home-buying decisions in Ottawa and surroundings.

Now let us look at the detailed things that are done during a home inspection and why is it essential? Home Inspection includes a thorough visual investigation of the home’s readily accessible features, major systems and their components such as structure; foundation; roof; interior; exterior; heating and ventilation system; electrical; plumbing and more. After analysing all these summary presentation is send to you for better understanding of the same.

To enhance the home inspection in Ottawa some companies also make use of the thermal imaging equipment. With the help of infrared, thermal imaging equipment, the home inspection process is enhanced and it helps to send you an electronic report including digital images and infrared images.

Thermal imaging assists the technical personnel to identify surface temperature variations of the building envelope, which are directly related to problems in structure, moisture content and air leakage. It can also be used to find hidden heating and cooling losses due to moisture intrusion, inadequate or non-existent insulation, and poor construction. The earlier corrections of these conditions are done the more you are likely to prevent damages in future. A thorough infrared thermographic scan of each room within the living area of the home including attic, roof, walls, floors, foundation and ceilings are done which leaves no room for anything left out and help make a thorough home inspection.

Home Inspection – Why You Need One

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010


How much do you charge? Isn’t this usually the firsts question perspective home buyers ask a home inspector? Actually,asking the inspector about their qualifications and experience should be the first questions.

In home inspection, it’s safe to say that one size does not fit all. All homes are different and all home inspectors are different. If your home is an older home, the inspection may take several hours. Many web sites state that a home inspection can run from $175 to $300, but this fee is based on an inspector performing 2 to 3 inspection per day, and while in some instances this is doable and acceptable, you shouldn’t use it as a standard since a thorough inspection and report can take up to 5 to 6 hours. A home inspection price is quoted using several different criteria and methods; quotes can be a flat fee, they can be based on square footage of the living area or square feet under the roof.

Still others will base their fee on the price of your home or how much time they spend inspecting the home. Does your home have an detached garage? An inspector may or may not charge for its inspection, but will include the square footage of it in his overall price. A detached garage can also be considered as an outbuilding and the inspector will charge for its inspection. Every home has its own unique optional items; some inspectors will charge for some of them others won’t charge for options like pools or septic systems. As you can see, there is as much variation in a home inspection as there is in homes themselves.

Let’s talk money and put home inspection fees into perspective. If you’re buying a home in the range of $400,000 and the inspection fee is $700.00, that’s less than 2% of the cost of the house. When you realize that most realtors charge 3% to 6% to sell a home, you’re talking $12,000 to $24,000 for your $400,000 home. Put that way, a home inspection is a real bargain.

If the home inspection doesn’t turn up any problems, then you’ve bought peace of mind; if it does bring to light some serious concerns, you’ve saved yourself many thousands of dollars down the road. There’s really no way you can lose if you have your home inspected by a competent home inspector. You’ll learn the condition of the property and what kind of repairs you might be in for. Your inspector can also educate you on recommended ways to keep the house in good shape and keep all of the major systems running smoothly.

A professional home inspector will identify problems, offer solutions, and give you cost estimates for any major repairs/replacements. This kind of knowledge is invaluable to a homeowner and well worth the money.