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 in 2017, but it has not been brought into force, so there is no provincial licence today, and ontario.ca says Ontario does not have mandatory requirements for home inspectors.

The federal Office of Consumer Affairs puts it plainly: ask for a sample report before hiring. Ontario.ca's first suggested question is the same: "May I see a copy of the inspection report you use?" The Office of Consumer Affairs also suggests a written contract that lists the items to be inspected, the report deadline and the total cost. Reading a sample first lets you judge whether the report names specific conditions, notes what is unsafe or needs repair, and covers the areas ontario.ca says an inspector will typically examine: foundation, roof (where safe to access), exterior walls, attic, plumbing and electrical systems where visible, heating and cooling, ceilings, walls, floors, insulation where visible, ventilation, and drainage away from the building.

What you are looking for in that sample:

• Does it describe the condition of each system, or does it just tick boxes?
• Does it note what is not working properly, is unsafe, or may need attention in the near future?
• Does it explain what the inspector could not see or access, so you know where the limits are?

The Office of Consumer Affairs notes that a home inspection report is limited to conditions the inspector can see or has access to, and advises making sure all areas of the home are accessible on the day. A sample report will tell you whether this inspector records those access limits clearly, which matters if you later want to refer back to the report after possession.

Ontario.ca also suggests asking whether the inspector has experience with the type of home you are considering, and asking for references. Those questions sit alongside the sample report request; none of them costs you anything before you book.

If anything in the sample report raises questions about what is or is not covered, put those questions to the inspector directly before you sign a contract.