HOME INSPECTION FAQS

Why do I need a home inspection?

A home inspection gives you, as the buyer or seller, the opportunity to have a professional, unbiased and third-party summary of the home. Good aspects and areas that require improvement will be identified and reported on, and recommendations will be made if necessary. We will also guide you on what to do once we have given you this information to make the best and most educated choices possible for you and your family.

Does a home pass or fail an inspection?

This is a common misconception. It is not up to us to judge the scope of work you may or may not be willing to undertake. Nor will we tell you not to purchase a property. That decision is yours to make. What we will do is help you to fully understand the home and the scope of the work that may be required. We will also take the time to go through many general maintenance practices and some energy savers that will save you money in the long run.

Can you guarantee you found everything wrong with this house?

We will do our very best to use the time, tools and methods at our disposal to ensure the most thorough inspection possible. All defects identified at the time of the inspection will be reported and recommendations will be made to our clients. That being said, we are all human and have our limitations. For example, if there is a finished basement in a house and there has been no recent rainfall, then no inspector can be 100% sure that the basement will not leak. Nor can we guarantee that no new issues will arise in the future. We do our best to circumvent our limitations and will do our very best for you.

Are home inspectors licensed?

At this point, the Province of Ontario does not license or govern home inspectors. This means anyone, regardless of their training, qualifications or skill, can call themselves a home inspector. It is the job of the client to ensure that their home inspector belongs to an association of home inspectors such as InterNACHI. These organizations govern home inspectors with minimum qualifications, standardized training, testing and continuing education requirements. A quality home inspector will have their qualifications and certifications visibly posted on their webpage; if not, ask to be sure. The exception to this rule is in Alberta and British Columbia, where home inspectors are provincially governed. At Rock Solid Home Inspections, we would welcome provincial licensing.

Will you go on the roof?

According to the InterNACHI Standards of Practice, “3.1 IV An inspector is not required to: A. Walk on any roof Surface.” That being said, it is up to the discretion of the inspector at the time of the inspection. No one should expect an inspector to endanger themselves by walking on a wet, snow-covered, icy, poorly maintained or steeply sloped roof. Our inspectors have the tools to assess the roof from the ground if any of those conditions apply.

What happens if I have questions after my inspection?

We all have questions, and we at Rock Solid Home Inspections welcome them. Not only during the inspection, but also after it has been completed. We consider our services to be ongoing. This means to us that our job isn’t done until we have answered all your questions to the best of our abilities. Feel free to contact us.