If you’re purchasing real estate, a pre-purchase building inspection will ensure you’re making a sound investment. At C4U Inspections, we believe hiring a home inspector for your Kelowna home or commercial property that you can trust to perform a quality assessment is an essential step. Once the home inspection is completed, you will receive a home inspection report.
Your home inspection report is designed to give you the most in-depth information and insight into current or potential issues with the property. To get the most out of this report you need to be present during the inspection and ask questions. Knowing the best questions to ask your home inspector will make a huge difference. So, we’ve compiled the best questions to ask your home inspector:
Ask exactly what your home inspector is evaluating, checking and looking for, but also what they aren’t or can’t check. Often times, an inspector will flag potential problems in the report, which requires another expert, such as a roofer, HVAC technician, builder, electrician, or plumber, to do a more detailed examination.
During a property inspection, your home inspector will be looking for what exists in the house at that moment and what potential issues may arise based on their expertise.
When you contact a home inspector, ask them what qualifications they have, and what makes them suitable for the task. Hiring a home inspector that is licensed will ensure your Kelowna home, strata or business is thoroughly and professionally inspected.
A Home Inspection Certification means they will follow specific guidelines and standards. They will also provide you with a thorough report at the end of the inspection. Even if your property has passed all local codes, an ordinance doesn’t save you from troubles in the future. In fact, this is one of the most common misconceptions. Your home inspector can highlight a number of issues that may cause you serious issues in the future if they are not properly addressed.
Other questions that can help evaluate their level of expertise include: How long have you been inspecting homes? Are you a full-time or a part-time inspector? Where did you get your training? How many homes do you inspect a year? And, are you experienced with this type of home?
As you and your Kelowna home inspector go through your residential, strata or commercial property, ask your inspector to show you exactly what needs to be repaired and where the problems are located. Following up with questions about how to fix each issue will give you insight into how serious the issue really is.
If you don’t ask questions at the moment, you may be left with a list of red flags including HVAC damage or insulation issues that will leave you uncertain as to how serious the problem is or how to fix it.
With larger repairs, your home inspector can provide you with referrals. Larger repairs can often be used to negotiate with your home's seller as well.
Your home inspector has a wealth of knowledge from years of experience, so take advantage of it. If you are uncertain about inspection issues, like a damaged roof or old appliances, ask them what they would do. Your inspector will provide you with invaluable advice that will make repairs easier or if purchasing the property is a good financial investment.
Given the cost of a home inspection, it’s wise to be prepared, to listen and to observe. Preparing ahead of time will ensure you know the right questions to ask and get the answers you need to determine if the house you want to buy is a good investment.
With over 2,300 inspections to date, C4U Inspections in Kelowna knows how to find the issues other inspectors miss. C4U Inspections has a solid reputation for unbiased and accurate reporting. If there’s a problem, we will find it so you know exactly what to expect when you’re buying or maintaining a home. With a reputation for being honest, C4U Inspections always offers advice based on years of experience and happily provides ongoing support.
Serving the Okanagan Since 2005
