Recent Inspection IQ Answers
Browse the latest home inspection questions from Ottawa buyers, sellers and new-home owners.
Is an inspection booked online covered by Ontario consumer law?
When you book a home inspection through a website, the Consumer Protection Act, 2002 may apply to that transaction, but...
Is a home inspection a pass or fail test in Ontario?
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...
What would the Home Inspection Act require if Ontario brought it in?
Ontario passed the Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial...
Do I tell my builder before filing a Tarion claim in Kanata?
Yes, you notify your builder first. Tarion says: "Before you make a claim to Tarion, it's important that you notify...
Does a home inspection tell me if the Kanata basement was permitted?
A home inspection does not check whether any work in a home was permitted. Ontario.ca is clear that a home inspection...
What does a home inspector look at in an Ottawa house?
A home inspection is a visual examination of a home's condition and structure, carried out on-site and in person....
Should I hire an inspector for my new build PDI in Riverside South?
Tarion requires your builder to do a Pre-Delivery Inspection with you before handing over the keys, and you are...
Can a home inspection confirm asbestos in an old Ottawa house?
A home inspection cannot confirm asbestos. It is a visual, non-invasive examination, and only a laboratory test on a...
How long does Tarion cover major structural defects in Ontario?
The seven-year warranty covers major structural defects, running from the date of possession to the seventh anniversary...
Will a home inspection in Orleans find hidden mould?
A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive examination. Ontario.ca notes directly that an inspector may not find...
What does the RHI title mean on an Ottawa inspector's card?
RHI stands for Registered Home Inspector, a designation granted by the Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI), a...
Are inspection fees part of closing costs when buying in Nepean?
The inspection fee is one of the upfront costs you pay when buying a home, and the Financial Consumer Agency of Canada...
What does CSA A770 mean for a home inspection in Ontario?
CSA A770 is a national home inspection standard that CSA Group, a non-profit standards organization, published in 2016...
What belongs in a written home inspection contract in Ontario?
We found no Ontario rule in force on what a home inspection contract must contain; the Home Inspection Act, 2017 would...
Why ask a Barrhaven inspector for a sample report first?
A sample report shows you exactly what you will get before you commit to anything. Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act...
What should a large Rockcliffe Park home inspection cost?
Ontario.ca puts home inspection fees at $350 to $600, and notes they may be higher depending on the size and condition...
Should HST be added to a condo inspection fee in Vanier?
Published Ottawa-area inspector pages list condo apartment inspections at about $350 to $470 plus HST, so on those...
Signed an inspection contract at the house in Orleans: can I cancel?
A contract signed in person at the property for more than $50 may be a "direct agreement" under Ontario's Consumer...
Should I get quotes from more than one inspector in Kanata?
Yes. Ontario.ca suggests getting quotes from more than one inspector, and the federal Office of Consumer Affairs...
Can an Ottawa inspector bill more than their fee estimate?
Under the Ontario Consumer Protection Act, 2002, if your inspection agreement includes an estimate, the inspector...
What does one PDI visit by a hired inspector cost in Stittsville?
A single new-home PDI or one-year warranty visit is about $450 to $600 on published Ottawa-area inspector pages...
Is $650 a fair fee for inspecting a Kanata detached house?
Ontario.ca puts the range for a home inspection at $350 to $600, and notes fees may be higher depending on the size and...
Is a short-term radon test useful when buying in Orleans?
Health Canada is clear on this: short-term measurements are not appropriate for informing mitigation decisions, and the...
Do Ottawa inspection fees change with the size of the house?
Yes, size is one of the factors that moves the fee. Ontario.ca puts the range at $350 to $600, noting fees may be...
Townhouse inspection fees in Barrhaven: what range is fair?
Published Ottawa-area inspector pricing for a townhouse runs from about $400 to $515, and ontario.ca puts the broader...
Condo apartment inspection fee in Centretown: what range is fair?
Published Ottawa-area inspector pricing puts a condo apartment inspection at roughly $350 to $470 plus HST....
What is a WETT inspection when buying a house in Ottawa?
When you are buying a house in Ottawa that has a wood-burning fireplace, woodstove, or other solid-fuel appliance, a...
My Ottawa inspector missed a leak, what are my options?
When an inspector misses something and you find a problem after possession, your first step is to go back to the...
Common areas in an Ottawa condo: does the inspection cover them?
Ontario.ca lists "common areas in a condominium" among the elements an inspector will typically examine, so common...
Should I worry about mould an inspector found in an Ottawa basement?
Finding mould noted in an inspection report is worth taking seriously, but the report itself cannot tell you whether it...
Does the seller's property information statement replace an inspection in Ontario?
No, the seller's property information statement does not replace a home inspection. The two serve different purposes,...
Thermal imaging with a Greely home inspection: included or extra?
Ask, because it varies by inspector. We found no regulator or government guidance on thermal imaging in home...
What happened to Ontario's Home Inspection Act from 2017?
It is still not in force. The Home Inspection Act, 2017, S.O. 2017, c. 5, Sched. 1, received Royal Assent on April 13,...
What does Tarion's second-year warranty cover on an Ottawa new build?
Tarion describes its two-year warranty as including items such as water penetration, heating and electrical. It is the...
Can an inspector check the roof on an Ottawa house in winter?
Only if conditions allow. Ontario.ca lists the roof among the things a home inspector will typically examine "if they...
What can an inspector see in a Sandy Hill condo building?
What the inspector can see in a condo comes down to access. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs says a home...
Why didn't my inspection report include repair costs in Ottawa?
Because home inspectors are not supposed to price repairs. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs says a home inspector...
Can I test for radon during a conditional offer in Ottawa?
Not for a valid result. Health Canada says the minimum test length is 91 days for a valid estimate, with at least 91...
Where do I complain about a home inspector in Ontario?
Start with ontario.ca's consumer complaint page. Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been...
Why would an Orleans inspection fee land above ontario.ca's range?
Because ontario.ca's range has a stated top end that can be passed. Ontario.ca puts home inspection fees at $350 to...
Insurer asking for an ESA inspection on a Kanata purchase: why?
Because some insurers want one before they cover a home with aluminum wiring. The Electrical Safety Authority says:...
Does a pre-listing inspection cost the same as a buyer's in Westboro?
The fee for a pre-listing inspection and a buyer's inspection are based on the same factors: the size of the home, its...
Can I send someone else to my PDI in Findlay Creek?
Yes, you can send someone else. Tarion says you or a designate must be present during the Pre-Delivery Inspection, and...
Worth inspecting a Centretown condo apartment before buying?
A home inspection of a condo apartment is worth considering, and published Ottawa-area inspector pricing for a condo...
Do Ontario home inspectors need errors and omissions insurance?
No law in Ontario requires home inspectors to carry errors and omissions insurance, or any other insurance. Ontario.ca...
Sewer camera scope: part of a standard home inspection in Manotick?
A sewer camera scope is not part of a standard home inspection. Ontario.ca's list of what an inspector will examine...
Should I attend the home inspection on a Kanata house?
Yes, attend. Ontario.ca says directly: "If you're the homebuyer, make sure you're there for the inspection." Being...
Will an Ottawa inspector open walls or move furniture?
A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive examination, so opening walls is outside it. Whether an inspector will move...
Are references worth checking for an Orleans home inspector?
References can tell you things that no credential or association membership will: whether the inspector communicated...
Is a pre-listing inspection worth it for an older Ottawa house?
A pre-listing inspection gives you a written record of your home's condition before buyers arrive. Ontario.ca notes...