Purchasing your dream home is an exciting and important time in your life. But that perfect home could turn out to be a nightmare! Many Canadians have purchased homes without having a home inspection just to find out that there are problems that even the seller was unaware of. But what are the Top 3
Purchasing your dream home is an exciting and important time in your life. But that perfect home could turn out to be a nightmare! Many Canadians have purchased homes without having a home inspection just to find out that there are problems that even the seller was unaware of. But what are the Top 3 home buying deal breakers, and how can you make sure you do not fall victim to these potential issues?
Firstly, it is always important to hire a Toronto home inspector. A pre-purchase or pre-listing inspection will ensure that both the buyer and seller know the homes ins and outs before closing a sale which will protect both parties and avoid complications. Below is a list of the 3 most damaging issues that may have you thinking twice before signing on the dotted line.
Asbestos – In newer homes you a less likely to have a problem, but with a large number of older re-sale homes in Toronto it is important to rule out this health risk. Asbestos is used in insulation and is a carcinogen. It will only pose a health risk when fibres are present in the air we breathe but can be damaging to your health and expensive to remove if detected. This may be a reason to reconsider making that offer.
Mold – One of the biggest deal breakers, mold can be caused by a number of things including a leaky roof, poor ventilation in a bathroom, or large water issue in the home such as plumbing and draining. The good news is you can see and smell mold, making it easier to detect. A qualified home inspector will be able to spot this problem and let you know the full extent and cost that will go into fixing it.
Foundation – Foundation problems are a huge deal breaker for potential home buyers and may be something you wish to avoid. Some things to watch for are cracks in walls, uneven or sloping floors, doors & windows not closing properly, and displaced or cracked moldings to name a few. Repairing a foundation is costly depending on the extent of the problem, and may be a sign to walk away.
With many things to consider when purchasing a home, Allmax Home Inspection can alleviate a large amount of stress by examining and providing a detailed report about the home you wish to buy. Making an informed decision makes all the difference and can prevent you from making a costly mistake.
The inspection of the Building or Property by AllMax Home & Property Inspections is subject to the terms,
conditions and limitations stated below.
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.
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.
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.
The inspector’s role is principally educational; to provide you with a better
understanding of the building.
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.
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.
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.
The inspection does not cover code compliance issues set by governments or other regulatory authorities.
The inspection does not take into account eligibility for mortgage insurance, building or home owners
insurance.
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.
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.
