What should an Ottawa home inspection report show?

Ontario.ca says a home inspection report "will normally show" the condition of every major system and component, areas or parts that are unsafe or need to be repaired or replaced now or in the near future, anything that is not working properly or needs to be changed, and any evidence of past problems. That is the baseline to measure any report against.

The federal Office of Consumer Affairs adds that the report is limited to describing conditions in areas the inspector can actually see or has access to. It advises making sure the seller or real estate agent makes all areas of the home accessible for inspection.

In terms of what the report covers, ontario.ca lists the systems and elements an inspector will typically examine:

• foundation, exterior walls, drainage away from the building
• roof, attic, insulation and ventilation where visible
• doors, windows and ceilings, walls and floors
• plumbing and electrical systems where visible
• heating and air conditioning systems
• an overall assessment of structural integrity
• common areas in a condominium, where access is available

One limit worth knowing: ontario.ca is clear that a home inspection is not a pass or fail test and does not assess whether a home meets zoning or building codes. The report describes visible conditions; it does not certify, guarantee or warrant anything about the home. The Office of Consumer Affairs also notes that an inspector should not give estimates of repair or renovation costs in the report or during the inspection. If a finding needs a dollar figure attached to it, written quotes from the trades who would do the work are the right source for that.

Ontario.ca's first suggested question for any inspector is whether you may see a copy of the inspection report they use; reading one against the list above shows you what you will get.