Home Inspections

Finding and Choosing a Home Inspector

There are several ways to find a professional home inspector in your area. For example, you can:

• Ask your real estate agent for names
• Check the local phone directory
• Ask friends and family who have used a home inspector in the past
• Contact a home inspection association for a list of qualified inspectors in your area
• Go online to association Web sites
• Ask someone in the construction or housing industry
• Contact your local real estate board for references

When choosing a home inspector:

• Ask if they belong to a professionally recognized organization such as the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors.
• Ask about their training-they should have taken courses related to this field.
• Verify that they are full-time inspectors with significant experience (versus performing inspections to supplement other fields of business).
• Ask for references. Then, call the references to see if they were satisfied.
• Use only inspectors who will give you a written report of their findings.
• Ask how much time the inspection will take and how much it will cost. A thorough inspection should last at least three hours, depending on the size of the property.
• Ask about their limitation of liability agreement. This will let you know what they are and are not liable for if something was missed or an oversight occurred.