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FAQs

  • ”What is a home inspection?”
    In its simplest terms, a home inspection is a technical analysis of the major systems of a house, to find components that are not performing correctly or items that are unsafe. These include the Roofing, Exterior, Structure, Electrical, Heating, Cooling, Insulation, Plumbing and the Interior.
  • ”How long does a home inspection take?”
    A typical inspection should take 2 to 3 hours to complete. This can vary, given the current condition and size of the home, the accessibility of mechanical systems, and so on. As a courtesy to sellers, we recommend that they be informed of the time frame in a pre-purchase home inspection situation.
  • ”What do you look at?”
    We inspect the major systems of the house. These include the Roof, Exterior, Structure, Electrical, Heating, Cooling, Plumbing, Insulation, and Interior. Our intention is to identify any existing major problems of the house prior to purchase.
  • ”What is included in the fee?”
    • Complete inspection conducted by an experienced and qualified inspector.
    • Comprehensively written digital home inspection report with pictures and diagrams.
    • Follow up after the inspection should you have any further questions.
  • ”Can I follow along?”
    Definitely! We encourage you to attend. The inspection is a valuable learning experience for all home buyers.
  • ”Do I have to take notes?”
    You certainly can, but you don’t have to take notes during the inspection. We will document everything in a written digital report. It’s much better to follow the inspector though, listening to his comments to make sure you understand. It’s also a great opportunity to ask questions and to clarify anything that confuses you, is of a concern or to discuss special subjective requirements.
  • ”Can I ask questions?”
    Absolutely! You may want to bring some questions that you have regarding the home. You should also feel free to stop the inspector and ask questions as you go. If the inspector’s comments or explanations are not clear, please ask for further explanation. Some inspectors will also show you how to perform basic maintenance on the furnace, humidifier, water heater, etc. For that reason alone, it is important that you attend the inspection.
  • ”Do I get a written report? When?”
    A digital report will be emailed to you, which includes a summary of the condition of the home and details on all the major systems of the home. It is delivered within 24 hours after the inspection. Traditionally same day.
  • ”What if I’m buying a new home?”
    No house is perfect and even brand new homes have flaws. But that doesn't mean you should give up the search for your dream home. It does mean that when you find the right house, you need to go one step further and find out what problems could arise in the future. Buying a house is one of the biggest investments most people will ever make, so it makes good sense to have it checked out by a professional. That is when you should call on the services of a reputable and qualified home inspection company like AllMax.
  • ”I have submitted my Tarion warranty form. Now what?”

    When you submit your warranty form you start the processes were your builder has a 120 day period during which he should carry out repairs or resolve warranty-related defects.

    • The builder's 120 day repair period for the 30-Day Form begins 31 days following the day you took possession.
    • The builder's 120 day repair period for the Year-End Form begins on the anniversary of the day you took possession.
    • The builder's 120 day repair period for warranted items listed on a Second Year Form begins on the day after Tarion receives the Form.
  • ”Do you offer a warranty on the house?”
    A home inspection is a professional opinion based on less-than-complete information. It’s a little like getting a check-up from your doctor: It improves your odds of good health but there is no guarantee or warranty. Some problems can only be discovered by living in a house – they cannot be discovered during a home inspection. For example, some shower stalls leak when people use the shower but don’t leak when you simply turn on the shower. Some roofs and basements only leak when specific weather conditions exist. Some problems will only be discovered when carpets are lifted, furniture is moved or finishes are removed. As we did not build the structure or manufacture any of its components, we cannot and do not offer any kind of warranty on the house. Anyone who does promote such a service is merely taking advantage of your understanding and are typically hidden behind vague and obscure clauses / limitations which protect them and serve no purpose or value to yourself. Call it what it really is, a gimmick.
  • ”Resources”

    How to choose a home

    Tarion Warranty

    How to choose an Inspector

    Canadian Home Builders Association

    Canadian Home and Property Inspectors Association

    Electrical Safety Authority

    Water Damage / Mold Remediation Services

What to expect

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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.