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Is Your Home Inspector a Professional?

Home inspection is unfortunately a largely unregulated industry with no clearly designated standards of licensing. This is why it can be easy to be fooled by any average Joe claiming to be a Toronto home inspector. How can you tell whether your home inspector is a seasoned veteran or an amateur just starting out in

Home inspection is unfortunately a largely unregulated industry with no clearly designated standards of licensing. This is why it can be easy to be fooled by any average Joe claiming to be a Toronto home inspector. How can you tell whether your home inspector is a seasoned veteran or an amateur just starting out in the business? Here are five things that you should look out for!

  • Qualifications and Credentials: Inquire after a home inspector's education and work experience. A well-rounded home inspector will typically have several years of formal training as well as practical experience. Home inspectors usually have degrees in engineering, architecture or similar trades. This type of knowledge base gives them a sound foundation which coupled with sufficient experience can produce a truly professional home inspector.
  • Record of Homes Inspected: It is important to determine the type of properties that your home inspector has surveyed. This will give you an idea as to whether he can do a good job with your property. Inquire about the age of the properties surveyed as well as the construction styles. A seasoned home inspector will demonstrate familiarity with a range of architectural designs and properties of varying ages.
  • Ask for Sample Inspection Reports: Requesting a copy of ahome inspection done in the past will give you an idea as to the kind of information your own certified home inspection will reveal. It will also demonstrate whether or not he is thorough and organized. Examine the language used in the report as well which will indicate whether or not it is accessible to the layperson or inundated with jargon.

AllMax Toronto home inspectors have been doing this for a long time. With over 40 years of experience behind the name, we can guarantee that you will receive the attention of a true professional. AllMax is regarded as one of the most well-regarded home inspection companies in Canada. Call AllMax today for your next certified home inspection!

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AUTHORIZATION TO PROCEED

The inspection of the Building or Property by AllMax Home & Property Inspections is subject to the terms, conditions and limitations stated below.

  1. The report, issued by the inspector, is prepared with reasonable skill and care. This consulting service is limited to the physical evidence that was visually accessible at the time of inspection.
  2. The required repairs to the building include, but are not limited to, what is reported herein due to the limitations and restrictive nature of the visual inspection. The client is hereby warned that not all deficiencies will be discovered. 80% of the first year repairs should be revealed; not 100%. The inspection report is an opinion of the present condition of the property. It is based on a visual examination of the readily accessible features of the building. A Home Inspection does not include identifying defects that are hidden behind walls, floors or ceilings. This includes wiring, heating, cooling, structure, plumbing and insulation that are hidden or inaccessible. Some intermittent problems may not be obvious on a Home Inspection because they only happen under certain circumstances. As an example, your Home Inspector may not discover leaks that occur only during certain weather conditions or when a specific tap or appliance is being used in everyday life.
  3. Unless specifically requesting this service the determining the presence of mold, fungi , asbestos and other indoor air quality contaminants are specifically not included in the standard home inspection.
  4. The inspector’s role is principally educational; to provide you with a better understanding of the building.
  5. The inspection is designed to give factual statements of the property’s current and present condition. No personal opinions will be provided regarding value or worthiness of the purchase.
  6. This inspection and /or report are not a guarantee, warranty or insurance policy of any kind. The main objective of the inspection / consultation service is to provide you with a better understanding of the observed condition of the building / property. We caution you that we will not be able to detect all deficiencies or shortcomings with the house due to the restrictiveness of a visual inspection. As such AllMax will not assume your risk associated with buying a “used” house or with the future performance of the house.
  7. Cost estimates, if provided in this report, are minimums and are intended to be a rough guideline only. Estimates are based on the most cost effective solution to address the problem and will not include betterment. If a quotation and/or further assessment is required, the Client agrees to request this from the appropriate specialist prior to finalizing the purchase.
  8. The inspection does not cover code compliance issues set by governments or other regulatory authorities.
  9. The inspection does not take into account eligibility for mortgage insurance, building or home owners insurance.
  10. The purchaser is advised to ask the property owner in writing if they are unaware of any defects that would not normally be detected by a visual inspection.
  11. All booked inspections are subject to a 50% cancellation fee, should formal written notice of cancellation not be received within 48 hrs prior to the confirmed / scheduled appointment.

SCOPE & LIMITATIONS

The report is intended only as a general guide to help the client make their own evaluation of the overall condition of the home, based on their own personal preferences and expectations. It is not intended to reflect the value of the premises, nor make any representation as to the advisability of purchase. The report expresses the personal opinions of the inspector, based upon his visual impressions of the conditions that existed at the time of the inspection only. The inspection and report are not intended to be technically exhaustive, or to imply that every component was inspected, or that every possible defect was discovered. The fee charged for this general inspection is less than that of a technically exhaustive inspection, which would involve a number of specialists, a longer inspection time and a significant increase in the cost of the inspection. If the client requires AllMax Home and Property to proceed with a more comprehensive inspection, the client would be required to pay additional fees for those services with the appropriate specialists, independently of this agreement. In order to prevent potential property damage on the premises and personal injury to the inspector, the inspection will not turn power and gas or on/off, disassemble equipment, move furniture, appliances and stored items, excavate the grounds, or board roof surfaces. Excluded from the report are all components and conditions which by the nature of their location are concealed, such as behind walls, camouflaged or difficult to inspect. Some problems can only be discovered by living in a house and cannot be detected during a few hours of a home inspection. A roof, foundation or shower enclosure leak, for example, may only occur during specific conditions (water running for at least 5 minutes, wind driven/heavy rain, etc.). For these reasons, the client or their representative must obtain prior to completing the purchase agreement, a legal disclosure from the vendor regarding their knowledge of any history of leakage or major structural and electrical modifications during or prior to their possession of the inspected property. Confirmation of environmental hazards is beyond the expertise and scope of a professional home inspection. Some of these conditions include, but are not limited to: formaldehyde, lead paint, asbestos, toxic or flammable materials, soil contamination, mould or mildew, and underground fuel oil storage tanks. If, while inspecting the home, a condition is observed which is suspected to be an environmental hazard, we will make every effort to bring this to your attention as a courtesy to you. We therefore will not accept responsibility or liability for any environmental hazards or issues that are discovered after the inspection, whether they are concealed or in plain view. If your inspector identifies any concerns or if you have any concerns yourself about potential environmental hazards, it is your responsibility to engage the services of a qualified environmental specialist to provide a full environmental of the house and property before proceeding with the purchase of the home. Other systems and conditions which are not within the scope of the building inspection include, but are not limited to: pest infestation, playground equipment, efficiency measurement of insulation or heating and cooling equipment;internal or underground drainage or plumbing, water treatment systems, swimming pools, hot tubs, septic systems, sprinkler systems and any systems which are shut down or otherwise secured; water well quality, quantity or zoning ordinances; intercoms and security systems; heat sensors; or cosmetics. Any general comments about these systems and conditions are informational only and do not represent an inspection.

Testing of household appliances are not within the standards of practice of a home inspection.