Why home inspections in Calgary are required

When you’re preparing to buy a home, you may begin to contemplate whether or not you should get a home inspection done. While such an inspection may seem like a time-consuming venture, it is imperative you get one completed before you begin the process of becoming a homeowner. The alternative to getting a home inspection is ultimately relying on the homeowner to tell you about every fault in the home, but this can prove difficult if the homeowner isn’t aware or just neglects to disclose to you every detail that is often deemed a necessity. Because of this, home inspections in Calgary that are executed by an unbiased professional will give you a detailed report on the home you want to buy.

Find out the main reasons why a home inspection is necessary and why you should get one when you’re about to buy a home.

Undetected issues

You may see a home and immediately feel compelled to it based on if the floor plan is to your liking, the kitchen is sizeable for you, and the floors sound solid, without much consideration of the other housing elements involved besides aesthetics. Because there could be issues with the home that can’t be detected by the naked eye, a home inspection is vital to have completed. A home inspector will check areas where problems are most likely to be present, like in the basement or attic. A home inspector will have the tools and resources to ensure the inside of your home is safe enough to live in or if there are undetected issues that need to be tackled.

Structural problems

Veiled housing problems don’t just exist inside a home you’re looking to purchase, as structural problems often manifest without a homeowner even knowing the extent of these issues. A home inspector will identify structural issues around the foundation of a home or within the walls and will assess the damage, so you’ll know the extent of the damage involved and how much it could inevitably cost you.

Improved safety

The most defining factor a home inspection will offer you is a sense of safety before you buy a home. A home inspection will ensure that a home is safe enough to move into and could eliminate any worry. By checking the status of the structure itself, the electrical wiring and the plumbing, you can obtain important information on whether or not a home is safe enough that you wouldn’t be able to ascertain without a thorough home inspection.

Maintenance costs and accurate budgeting

Home inspections in Calgary will provide you information on how much it will cost to repair any damages in a home that was already lived in, which will help you calculate an accurate move-in budget. When you receive a home inspection, it will also give you an indication of whether you want to invest in a home that requires costly maintenance.

Cost-effective

Although you may believe that a home inspection will inflate your budget, this is simply the case. Home inspections are actually affordable for any owner, with the cost ranging from $150 to $300. If you require specific inspections, like for HVAC concerns, the cost might increase, but not to an untenable amount.

Integra Inspection Services is the leading provider of home inspection services throughout Calgary. Our commitment to our clients is evident by our honest and thorough Calgary home inspections. Our service is available for residential buildings, including homes, townhouses, and condos. Whether you are a buyer, seller, or a realtor, we conduct complete home inspections to determine if your property has any structural flaws and to prevent future costly repairs. Our Calgary home inspections include infrared thermal imagine on every inspection for an accurate, detailed inspection. For all of your home inspection or commercial property assessment needs, we can help. Schedule your inspection with Integra Inspection Services.

Signs you should walk away after a home inspection

Getting a home inspection is an essential and crucial part of buying a home. This part of the process can help protect you from purchasing a property that has expensive, hidden defects and issues. Although home inspections are not mandatory, many prospective home buyers chose to have their potential homes inspected.

Your home inspector will check interior and exterior elements like the HVAC system, the foundation, interior plumbing, electrical systems, and many other components of the home. But what happens if the potential home you’re looking at doesn’t quite live up to your expectations? Can you just walk away?

Can You Walk Away From a Home After an Inspection?

The answer is yes! There is no hard and fast rule for when you can walk away from home after an inspection. In fact, it’s actually one of the most common times to walk away when a home is under contract. Since buyers don’t always know what’s inside of a home or the parts that make up the home until after the inspection is complete. This is why home inspections are very strongly recommended, it helps identify possible problems and gives the buyer’s peace of mind when making one of life’s biggest purchases.

Now whether you walk away or continue on with your purchase will depend on how much you truly want the home and how willing you are to make the repairs yourself if the seller isn’t willing to negotiate or agree to repairs.

What are some signs you should walk away from a home after an inspection?

There are many reasons a home can fail a home inspection, but below are some of the biggest reasons to consider walking away.

Foundation

The foundation of a house holds up the home and is in integral part of its’ structure. Making sure there are no structural issues and that the foundation is intact is a critical component. If there are issues with the foundation, this can be a costly repair depending on the severity of the issue. If this is something that you don’t have the budget for or don’t want the stress, it may be a good idea to walk away.

Electrical Issues/ Damage

If your home inspector finds faulty electrical wiring, electrical system or damage to it, this can pose a problem. From 2015-2019 about 47,000 home fires involving electrical failure or malfunction were reported. The electrical system in a house can cause fires and if you need to replace certain panels this can be costly.

Water Damage

One of the most common issues uncovered during home inspections is water damage. While this isn’t always a major issue (like signs of flooding), it can be a sign there are other additional factors and problems at play.

Sewer Problems

Similar to electrical issues, sewer problems can be expensive to repair. They are more common in older homes, where the sewer line can become compromised or corroded with time. While the majority of sewer problems are usually repairable, they are very large, laborious undertakings that can take time.

Asbestos exposure can cause serious and lingering health issues that vary in severity. Although it was once commonly used in constructing buildings as insulation and is still present in older homes today, this substance is no longer used due to its hazardous nature. Consulting both a doctor and scheduling a home inspection in Calgary if you think asbestos exposure is present in your place of residence can help reduce your chances of developing chronic health issues.

Because of the threat of lung scarring conditions caused by asbestos, knowing what steps you should take in case of asbestos exposure is important.

Consult healthcare professionals

If you think you have been exposed to asbestos, you should consult your healthcare provider. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-time or brief exposure to asbestos is usually nothing to worry about. If you feel any effects from short-term exposure, they should subside after a short period of time. Consult a doctor to get examined where medical experts can determine your risks of developing asbestos-related health issues to relieve any worry. Having been exposed to asbestos, even only briefly, you should wash your body and your clothes to further eliminate any threat.

Unknowingly being exposed to asbestos for long periods of time can be more cause for concern. While lung issues typically won’t materialize for 5-10 years after long-term exposure, you should still seek a doctor to monitor your symptoms.

Home Inspection

Since asbestos exposure can often occur in your own home, you should get your home inspected by professionals. Home inspection professionals will assess the asbestos condition in your home, advise you on what action you need to undertake, and will contain the exposure for you. It is highly advisable to let professionals handle this substance to minimize your exposure.

Symptoms

Asbestos exposure can eventually manifest into lung conditions where symptoms are often shortness of breath, chest pain, and a perpetual cough. Coughing up blood and weight loss can be linked to asbestos-related diseases that can become quite severe, like mesothelioma and lung cancer. If you have any lung-related symptoms, you should seek medical help as soon as possible.

Treatment

Unfortunately, it’s impossible to reverse any damage done by asbestos exposure. While there are no known cures to eradicate lung scarring caused by asbestos, treatments are available to reduce symptoms and minimize any potential disease from progressing. Treatments like oxygen therapy can help you breathe more easily, and hazardous habits that can worsen your lung health, like cigarette smoking or vaping, should be stopped immediately.

Radiation, surgery, and chemotherapy will be recommended for severe lung conditions.

Even if you’re not planning to sell your home anytime soon, it’s good to have a pre-listing home inspection done. A pre-listing home inspection will allow you to make any necessary repairs, updates, and minor renovations prior to putting your house on the market. Hiring a qualified Calgary home inspector can save you a lot of time, money, and stress.

What are the Benefits of Pre-Listing Home Inspections?

Enhance Your Curb Appeal

Even if you’re not putting your house on the market for several months, there is no reason to let it go to waste. You won’t get more money for your house by neglecting to make necessary repairs and improvements. A good home inspector will point out areas in your home that can be improved and updated to make it more attractive to potential buyers. The inspector may also recommend fixes you hadn’t considered as important to its marketability.

Gain an Advantage Over Other Sellers

By having a pre-listing home inspection done, you’ll be ahead of the game when it comes time for selling your home. Your inspector will point out any needed repairs and renovations and provide suggestions for potential buyers. The result is a house that’s more attractive to those looking to buy real estate in Calgary. Having a professional inspection report puts sellers on the level of motivated sellers.

Save Money

An inspection prior to putting your house on the market will help avoid costly repairs required as a part of closing a deal. By identifying any potential problems before presenting your home to potential buyers, you can save money by addressing these problems way in advance. The inspector may also have suggestions on making repairs more cost-effectively, which can result in a lower sale price for your home.

Trouble Spots Prelisting Home Inspections Help to Avoid

Unnecessary Repairs and Renovations

When you get ready to put your house on the market, it’s easy to get carried away with unnecessary renovations. Instead of spending extra money on upgrades that won’t attract buyers, address any major problems that may need to be repaired or renovated. On the other hand, you don’t want to get carried away by making unnecessary fixes.

Some buyers prefer houses without renovations so they can do them themselves or choose their own contractors if needed. An inspection well ahead of time allows you to prioritize renovations.

Potential Problems with Closing Deals

If your realtor is proactive, they might insist on getting the results of a prelisting home inspection before agreeing to sell the place. It really is win-win. It can help you avoid costly issues at closing by providing you with the opportunity to address any problems before they cause significant concerns about the listing price. Fixing these problems on your own won’t cost nearly as much as emergency repairs required at closing the deal.

Potential Legal Problems

If you neglect to address needed repairs and renovations upon selling your house, it can lead to legal problems. For instance, if the home inspector finds an issue with the roof and you didn’t disclose this information to potential buyers or their inspectors, there is a chance that the buyers will cancel the conditional sale. Further, malfeasance or negligence are remote possibilities, but having a pre listing home inspection report could safeguard you from significant legal exposure in those cases.

Pre-listing home inspections offer a number of benefits for those looking to sell their homes. You can improve your home’s curb appeal, gain an advantage over other sellers, and avoid potential legal problems by having an inspection done. You can also save money on repairs and renovations by addressing any major issues identified by the inspector. Additionally, pre-listing home inspections help avoid unnecessary repairs and renovations that potential buyers may not need. Call us your Calgary home inspector well before you list your home and make use of the one thing you can’t get when you’re selling your home: time.

Integra Inspections is a Home Inspection Company in Calgary that provides unbeatable service for home inspections. With over 15 years of experience and the latest technologies such as thermal imaging, you can count on Integra Home Inspections to get you the facts and have you ready for your next home!

When it comes to buying a house, there’s a lot more to your home than just four walls and a roof. Your major appliances are like organs, keeping your home habitable. And your furnace is much like the heart of your home, keeping warm air flowing through the winter months. But that’s not all there is to HVAC. Air conditioning keeps your household cool in the blistering heat, provided it’s part of the integrated HVAC system; many homeowners are making AC a new priority.

A home inspection is not HVAC maintenance, but it might be even more important. A critical part of your home inspector’s professional process ensures that your HVAC system is worth its part of the home’s purchase price that you’re bidding—before you sign on the dotted line.

What Is HVAC?

HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. Many homes have all three systems, but homes with just a furnace and ventilation are a bit more common depending on where you live. If your home-to-be is in Calgary, the term is interchangeable with furnace. If the furnace has problems, a given home’s HVAC system might not be worth much.

What Problems Can Home Inspectors Identify Due to Poor HVAC Systems?

If you’re lucky enough to be looking at your dream home, but the HVAC system is in disrepair, the experience of living there might not be pleasant. The furnace might make a lot of noise, and it might not move air, whether cooled or heated, in an efficient manner. In extreme cases, it could pose a natural gas hazard. Repair or replacement must be done by HVAC professionals.

How Can Home Inspectors Help You Understand a Listed Home’s HVAC System?

Naturally, if an HVAC system has been poorly maintained or it’s entered the final stages of its life-cycle, the overall value of the home is less than advertised. Replacing a furnace isn’t cheap. If replacing such a critical component of an HVAC system is totally necessary, you might want to bring that point into price negotiation for the home. Calgary home inspectors can give you an unbiased opinion on its condition and the likelihood of failure in the near future.

Signs the Home Needs a New HVAC System

As mentioned above, noise and slow-moving air are signs that the motorized blower component has struggled for months, if not years. Motors need lubrication on moving parts and a clear pathway through ducting to ease the load. Dust blowing out of the vent openings on the home’s floor are signs the ducts are clogged, and the motor has been overworked. There’s more to it, but those are some of the first indicators home inspectors look for.

Calgary Home Inspectors Help You Appraise an HVAC System’s Worth

In some cases, home inspections, or even condo inspections, require a look at the HVAC system. Inspectors lend you a sharp, trained eye not just on the structure and life-supporting fixtures of the home but also on the plumbing and electrical systems.

Your HVAC system transforms natural gas and electricity into a habitable temperature, but not without sophisticated components in need of responsible care. If that’s lacking, you might need a home inspector’s professional advice to confidently negotiate on the offer you’ll be making.

When it’s time to buy or sell a home, one of the core steps in the process for both the buyer and the seller is to get a professional home inspection from a Calgary home inspector. Home inspections in Calgary are about more than just checking off a task on your to-do list. They’re about ensuring everyone is on the same page regarding the state of a property before a sale. But what exactly does a home inspection uncover?

In today’s post, we explore the main reasons why you get a home inspection in Calgary.

Benefits of Home Inspectors

To the untrained eye, Calgary home inspectors don’t do much other than walk through a home looking for problems to uncover to make sure a sale can go through. However, their work provides valuable insight for home buyers and sellers that can impact their decision-making process. Let’s take a look at why home inspections are important.

Uncover Structural Flaws

The structure of a home is one of the most important components of a home and is one of the top reasons to have a home inspection completed by a trusted Calgary home inspector when buying a home. By performing a home inspection, you can determine if there are any structural issues, and if so, whether or not you’re willing to take on the future costs of fixing those problems.

Forecast Future Expenses

Homes can be expensive to maintain, and there are always risks of stumbling upon unforeseen expenses. However, a home inspection in Calgary can help you forecast the potential for future costs. Take structural flaws as an example. Without the knowledge gained from a home inspection, you could end up buying a house that could have cracks in its walls within ten years. By performing a home inspection, you can avoid having large expenses in the future by identifying them today.

Help With Negotiations

If you’re buying a home, sending in a Calgary home inspector can even help you negotiate a lower price. If the home inspection uncovers previously unknown issues with a house, the sellers might have a tougher time finding a buyer than expected. That means you have the opportunity to leverage your willingness to buy the home as it stands to get a better deal.

Calgary Home Inspectors Bring Peace Of Mind

Perhaps the biggest benefit of all is the peace of mind you get from a home inspection. Buying a new home is expensive, and no one wants to buy a house without knowing what they’re getting into. Home inspections give you the knowledge and peace of mind that you need to enjoy your home to the fullest.

You’ve listed your home, you’ve lined up potential buyers, you’re ready to close the deal, but you still have one major step to take before closing the deal; a home inspection. A proper walkthrough with a Calgary home inspector can be a make-or-break moment when trying to convince a buyer to sign on the dotted line. To ensure the inspection process is hassle-free, painless for the inspector, and won’t turn up any unexpected surprises, we break down below how to prepare for a home inspection.

Why Prepare For A Home Inspector?

One might assume that it’s not a big deal to simply call an inspector and have them arrive at your home to inspect it as is, with no need to prepare the house and property because Calgary home inspectors have seen it all before, and they know where to look and what to look for; it’s their job right? However, home sellers need to be aware that buyers will often accompany home inspectors during the inspection, and what they see could influence their decision to buy or buy at your asking price.

Calgary Home Inspector Preparations

Cleaning

As you might expect, the most important step to take when preparing for a Calgary home inspector is to do a thorough clean of the house in the days leading up to the home inspection. A dirty home can make it difficult for an inspector to find what they are looking for, and it can leave a bad impression on potential buyers by making it seem that the house and property haven’t been properly maintained over the years.

Prep Steps

Once you’ve made sure that your house is squeaky clean, there are a few more things you need to take care of before you leave and the inspector arrives. First, you need to have a plan to leave your home for at least 3 hours while the inspection is taking place; this might be a good time to run some errands or give that new restaurant down the street a try. More prep steps include:

Leave all interior doors unlocked
Ensure all pilot lights are lit
Remove pets (or place them in their crate)

If your attic hatch is located in a closet, you should remove items and clothing from the closet because the insulation will sometimes fall from the hatch during the inspection.

Obstructed Areas

Most Calgary home inspectors know their way around a house, but you can make their life much easier by clearing any obstructions to areas in the home that you know they will be inspecting. Remove any items or furniture that may be blocking access to your:

Attic Hatch
Electrical Panel
Furnace
Main Water Line
Hot Water Tank
Air Exchanger

Buying a new home can be one of the most rewarding moments of your life. Stepping into a newly purchased home inspires feelings of comfort, safety, and reliability, especially when you’ve hired a company to perform a complete home inspection. A home inspection offers incredible peace of mind, but not every homebuyer chooses to make the investment. Here are some pros and cons of that decision.

Home Inspections In Calgary

The Seller

Waiving a home inspection is mostly beneficial to the seller of the home. By waiving the home inspection, the seller is offered the luxury of selling to a buyer who is willing to take on a home exactly as it is. Meaning that the seller will have one less speed bump to worry about, negating the risk of inspectors uncovering unexpected problems that could cost the seller both time and money.

The Buyer

If a buyer decides to waive a home inspection in Calgary, they choose to expose themselves to a significant amount of risk. Calgary home inspectors are a crucial part of identifying both current and potential issues with a home. Houses can carry a considerable amount of hidden risk that anyone buying a home should be aware of.

Some of the items covered during an inspection are:

What (if any) structural work is necessary to ensure safety?
How long before the roof will need replacement?
How long before the furnace/air conditioner will need replacement?
Is the electrical panel properly wired? Any special safety concerns?
Are the insulation levels adequate?
Is the fireplace safe?
Basement leakage

Why Waive A Home Inspection?

There are really only two reasons why a buyer would waive the contingency for a home inspection in Calgary. These reasons are a) to speed up the buying process and close the deal as fast as possible or b) to increase the likelihood that the seller will accept their offer.

Since home inspections may reveal unexpected issues that could delay the purchase of a home, waiving the home inspection makes the process easier. Still, it can result in significant headaches down the road, both financially and emotionally. Sellers generally like to find a buyer as quickly as possible; this means they might be more willing to accept an offer from a buyer who is willing to waive the home inspection, especially in a competitive housing market.

Imagine you’ve found your dream home. Everything is perfect and exactly as you’ve always imagined. But because of competing offers, you’re forced to waive the home inspection to close the deal quickly. It might seem worth it at first, but six months down the road, you may rethink your decision when you have to replace the electrical or hire an exterminator.

Buying or selling a home can mean a lot of considerations. Whether it is finding a great home for your family or ensuring a great deal on your long-term home, you may have to consider a large set of data.

This includes considerations for the safety of the property. Of course, foundational and structural components should be checked in accordance with Calgary home inspection requirements. But, as we’ve discussed in the past, other concerns also exist, such as the presence of Radon.

Today we look at what Radon is, how to test for it, and most importantly, what causes Radon to actually enter our homes.

What is Radon?

Radon is an invisible gas that forms in the Earth’s crust. It rises from the ground and can get trapped in structures, such as homes and commercial buildings. It is also responsible for causing some forms of lung cancer, especially with excessive exposure.

The danger of radon gas - concept image with periodic table of the elements and magnifying lens

How to Test for Radon

Testing for Radon is a relatively simple procedure that can be done in conjunction with a Calgary home inspection. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Home Buyer’s and Seller’s Guide to Radon, “Radon testing is easy.” You can test the levels yourself with the right equipment or the professional services of a home inspector.

What Causes Radon to Enter Our Homes

Radon is a naturally-occurring gas that rises into the atmosphere from the Earth’s crust. If it becomes trapped during this process, such as by a ceiling or building interior, it will sit and become “stale” air. This may be harmful to our lung health due to the radiation it gives off, but it could also cause us to have trouble breathing in high concentrations.

The world of a Calgary home inspector involves many different decisions and actions. Whether or not to include a minor fault is a key consideration, but it is just the tip of the iceberg. Throughout the average workday, a home inspector will find themselves making judgement calls, tough choices and more.

Therefore, in establishing what Calgary home inspectors can do, it is equally important to determine what they cannot do. Below we look at some of the activities that home inspectors will not do and why.

Activities that Calgary Home Inspectors DON’T Do

Issue a Passing or Failing Mark

Perhaps the biggest misconception about home inspectors is that their job is to allow the sale or occupancy of a house. This is not the case. Instead, home inspectors are trained to identify potential problems in the construction of the house, record them and submit their findings for review.

Telling people that they should or shouldn’t buy a house is not part of a home inspector’s responsibility. This prevents potential conflicts of interest and protects home inspectors from opening themselves up to potential liability. Additionally, it prevents purchasers from making decisions based on incomplete information or opinions.

Perform Destructive Testing

During an inspection, there are several methods of determining the acceptability or rejectability of a particular area. Take corrosion, for example. A metallic support with visual rust typically indicates some amount of corrosion or degradation in the material. It does not determine the exact amount of corrosion, however. This would require physical inspection and testing.

Home inspectors do not participate in this level of destructive testing. They are there to perform visual assessments and referrals to specialized services when required. Performing destructive testing could lead to rework or repair that do not involve a home inspector’s services.

Determine a Home’s Value

Home inspectors in Calgary and other areas are not required to determine a home’s value. Nor should they, in many circumstances. The reason for not performing this activity is similar to the previous examples.

It is simply not the responsibility or duty of the home inspector to provide their opinion on this information. Realtors and real estate agents work in the housing industry to offer this information, along with municipal governments and other relevant professionals.