What Home Inspectors Don’t Tell You

What Home Inspectors Don’t Tell You (Also Seen in Snap South Simcoe)

Written By: Steven Silva
 Getting a Home Inspection when you buy a home is very wise. Unfortunately, Realtors and Buyers can rely too heavily on the Home Inspection and be surprised after they close and move in. Even if you use a Registered Home Inspector, here are some limitations that you should know about.
Home Inspectors Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff: They know that you are buying a very expensive property and they typically have a short time to inspect (about 3 hours). While home inspectors will try to find as many little things they can, they will typically look for things that will cost you over $500 in the next few years (unless it is a safety issue).
Water Quality, Water Quantity, Water Source, Septic Systems, Air Quality, Asbestos Radon Gas and Mould are not included: Home inspectors do not use special tools, perform chemical analysis or laboratory tests. They don’t take samples as part of a standard home inspection. There are thousands of types of mould and not all are toxic. As a home inspector, mould is a sign of moisture. Moisture is something they do look for. They also can’t comment on the quality of air or test materials to see what they are. They can sometimes identify materials that may contain these potential health hazards but they can’t comment on their presence or their effect on you.
Termites and Pests: Many inspectors can identify termite tubes if they are readily visible but they are not Termite Inspectors. If termite tubes are suspected get a termite investigation first before you hire a home inspector.
Swimming Pools, Chimneys Flues, Wood Burning Fireplaces and Stoves: Most inspectors will recommend a “further evaluation by a specialist” as they are not part of a home inspection standard of practice although they may point out defects that are obvious to the home inspector.
Many experienced Realtors will know the limitations of their preferred home inspector and will recommend additional due diligence if needed. Just make sure that you have enough time to perform them. I will often do a Home Pre-Screening in order to identify what will be required before a home inspector is called. If you have a home that you want to sell that is over 20 years old or are thinking of buying one, a home inspection may not be enough to protect you. Buying a home with unforeseen problems can lead to high unexpected costs. Be sure to hire the right team of advisors to protect you during your next Real Estate transaction.