Question 1

Is a home inspection a pass or fail test in Ontario?

Accepted Answer

No, a home inspection is not a pass or fail test. Ontario.ca is direct on this point: "A home inspection is not a pass or fail test. It doesn't assess if a home meets zoning or building codes." What an inspection gives you instead is a picture of condition.

Question 2

Does a home inspection tell me if the Kanata basement was permitted?

Accepted Answer

A home inspection does not check whether any work in a home was permitted. Ontario.ca is clear that a home inspection "doesn't assess if a home meets zoning or building codes," and a home inspector is a private service, not the City's building inspector. The City's building inspectors check permit work against the Building Code; that is a separate function entirely.

Question 3

What does a home inspector look at in an Ottawa house?

Accepted Answer

A home inspection is a visual examination of a home's condition and structure, carried out on-site and in person. Ontario.ca describes it as "an on-site, in-person examination of a home's condition and structure" covering major elements and systems.

Question 4

Will a home inspection in Orleans find hidden mould?

Accepted Answer

A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive examination. Ontario.ca notes directly that an inspector may not find mould. What an inspector can do is note visible signs during the walk-through on surfaces that are accessible.

Question 5

Can an inspector check the roof on an Ottawa house in winter?

Accepted Answer

Only if conditions allow. Ontario.ca lists the roof among the things a home inspector will typically examine "if they are able and it is safe to do so", and it gives a snow-covered roof as an example of something an inspector may not be able to inspect. In an Ottawa winter, that limit is real. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs says a report is limited to describing conditions in the areas the inspector can see or has access to.

Question 6

Will an Ottawa inspector open walls or move furniture?

Accepted Answer

A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive examination, so opening walls is outside it. Whether an inspector will move furniture or stored belongings is a question to ask before the day.

Question 7

Does an Ottawa home inspection come with any guarantee?

Accepted Answer

No. Ontario.ca says an inspector "does not provide warranties or guarantees on a home's condition." What you get is a written report. Ontario.ca says it will normally show the condition of every major system and component, anything unsafe or needing repair or replacement now or in the near future, anything not working properly, and any evidence of past problems. That is information for your decision, not a promise about what happens after you take possession.

Question 8

Furnace and air conditioning: are they part of a Nepean inspection?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Ontario.ca lists heating and air conditioning systems among the things a home inspector will typically examine, so they are part of a standard inspection on a Nepean house. The inspection is visual.

What an Inspection Covers