The First Question I Get Asked
This is almost always the question when I get a call about doing a home inspection in Edmonton, Camrose, Whitecourt and Lakeland areas. The proper answer is that I follow the CSA A770 , which is the home inspection standard. The short answer is this quick list of what I inspect. A typical base fee is $550 for a single detached house additional services listed below. This typically takes 2 hours houses around 1500sqft and 3 hours for an acreage. Remember, this is supposed to be a visual condition inspection. Conditions are noted at the time of inspection, anything can fail at anytime.
What’s Included?
- Roof with access up to 16ft high
- Driveway/Concrete
- Exterior & Siding
- Foundation Wall & Grading
- Vegetation
- Deck
- Garage
- Doors & Windows
- Walls, Floors, Ceilings
- Electrical
- Furnace/HVAC
- Ductwork
- Hot Water System
- Plumbing
- Appliances
- Attic
- Infrared Thermal Scan
The Building Code
This is also not a code compliance inspection. New homes must pass building code inspections to get an occupancy certificate. Significant changes to the building code have been implemented over the last decades. A house from 1960 would simply never pass and a home purchase does not mandate a building be brought up to current code. Significant renovations requiring a permit, all need to meet code requirements. This can be tricky in some circumstances and it’s usually best to check with the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), the local building department, what those expectations will be for the final inspection. The home inspection standards are heavily focused on safety and are often based on select parts the building code. Although this may be confusing, the takeaway is the scope of work gets clearly defined within the home inspection standards.
What’s not Included?
- Latent, hidden defects. Think of foundation cracks covered by walls and flooring or mold behind a wall.
- Asbestos. I will tell you anything suspected to be asbestos, the only way to know is lab testing.
- Anything obstructed by walls, furniture or personal items
- Outbuildings or other structures.
- Carbon Monoxide, but gas fittings are tested with a bubble type tester. I recommend CO detectors be installed in every home
- Any destructive testing or invasive activity without homeowner permission eg. lead paint
- Testing of every single electrical circuit, a representative number is tested
- Additional warranty on any appliances or systems
- Speculation on future conditions
- Real estate buying advice
Additional Services
- High roof inspection, up to 28ft $40+GST
- 1 day ozone shock treatment $120+GST
- Wood burning appliance (WETT) $100+
- Acreage Inspection (well, water treatment & analysis, septic) $100+GST