Which questions does ontario.ca suggest putting to an Ottawa home inspector?

Ontario.ca suggests five questions to put to a home inspector before you book:

• May I see a copy of the inspection report you use?
• Do you have experience inspecting the type of home I am considering?
• Do you have insurance?
• May I see accreditation that shows what kind of training and experience you have?
• Can you provide references?

Ontario.ca also says to get quotes from more than one inspector and to ask whether they choose to carry insurance. The federal Office of Consumer Affairs adds a sixth question worth putting alongside those: will you apply the CSA A770 national standard for home inspections? That standard is voluntary, not required, but asking the question tells you something about how the inspector approaches their work.

On credentials, one thing to keep in mind: Ontario passed a Home Inspection Act in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today. So a provincial licence number is not something an inspector can give you. What you can ask for instead is evidence of training, association membership or a sample report, and then judge for yourself.

Ontario.ca is clear that if you are the buyer, you should be present for the inspection itself, not just for the report afterward.

Before any work starts, the Office of Consumer Affairs recommends getting a written contract that sets out three things in plain terms: exactly which items and systems are to be inspected, when the report will be delivered, and the total cost. Having those three points in writing before the inspector arrives gives you a clear record if anything is unclear later.