Wednesday 8 January 2014

Significant changes in home inspection industry

 Critical Questions to Ask a Home Inspector


An integral part of any real estate home purchase is a home inspection. Whether you are purchasing a residential dwelling or a commercial building, it should be inspected by a professional. A competent inspection should identify any potential problems with the building or components. More importantly, it will provide sufficient information to allow the buyer to make an informed decision. Choosing a qualified and reputable building Inspector is not always an easy task. While there are many people who claim they are “qualified” building Inspectors, the quality of their work varies significantly.

Over the years, I have witnessed firsthand a wide range in the quality of work that the Inspectors perform. I cannot emphasize that it is very important for a consumer to complete their own due diligence when they are selecting a building Inspector.

Today anyone can call themselves a home inspector in Ontario. That is a scary proposition since most consumers depend on the opinion of a home inspector before making one of the biggest purchases of their lives. There are over 1,500 home inspectors operating in Ontario, yet there are no mandatory training or technical standards for them to meet. The results are often a leaky roof, cracked foundation or outdated electrical wiring or plumbing that was missed and which ends up costing unwary consumers thousands of dollars to repair after closing. Few consumers realize that many inspectors do not carry errors and liability insurance, meaning that if they make a mistake, even if you win a lawsuit, you may not recover funds to offset the repairs or problem.

The Ontario Minister of Consumer Services formed a panel of industry experts to make recommendations to change the home inspection industry, which included home inspectors, educators, a Realtor, a lawyer, educators, engineers and an insurance broker.

Their report is aptly titled "A Closer Look: Qualifying Ontario's Home Inspectors". The recommendations’ aim is consumer protection.  



The government is also asking for feedback. If you go to the government Government Website, then scroll down, you can get a copy of the form to complete.

If you have your own views on this important issue, send in your feedback to the government now. Change is coming to the home inspection industry, and the consumer should be the winner.


Making the right move is easy when you go with a knowledgeable and experienced local professional. Buying a home is something that you should not take any chances with. The inspectors I recommend all carry insurance, are very experienced and provide consumers with quality reports. 

Purchasing real estate is a complex process and every element of the transaction is best handled by an experienced professional. Don’t take chances, go with proven results and experience. As the top producing agent in my brokerage (approx.. 160 agents) last year and with 24 years of full-time local service in Whitby, Brooklin, Ajax, Pickering, Oshawa, Courtice and Bowmanville, I can make your purchase worry-free.



Randy Miller
Sales Representative
Re/Max Rouge River Realty Ltd., Brokerage
905-668-1800 or 905-427-1400 
randy@randymiller.ca
www.randymiller.ca




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