Why Do I Need a Home Inspector for My Barrie or Lake Simcoe Waterfront Home?

Before you buy any new home in Barrie or Lake Simcoe Waterfront home, you will want to have it inspected by a qualified, licensed Home Inspector . As a Realtor, I always recommend a home inspection for my buyers, even if the home is brand new. It’s a good way to ensure that all of the extras and upgrades the builder has charged you for are actually in the house!

Home inspectors are not looking for minor cosmetic deficiencies but instead major structural issues that may affect the total integrity of the home such as the plumbing, electrical, mechanical and HVAC systems. They do overviews of every component of the home looking for anything that could be an issue down the road. The last thing anyone wants is to move into their new home in October and have to replace the furnace by Christmas!

The presence of mould, gases or chemical fumes can pose severe health risks and could be the result of many things from carpet cleaning to something as ominous as a former grow op. Make sure your inspector checks for the presence of gases and odours. Don’t be afraid to ask!

As a result of recent amendments made to the Building Code through Ontario Regulation, principal authorities in certain portions of the Lake Simcoe watershed will be required to carry out mandatory on-site sewage system maintenance inspections. These amendments come into force on January 1, 2011. Within five years of January 1, 2011, maintenance inspections will be required in the strip of land that is located within 100 metres of the Lake Simcoe shoreline, with the exception of certain portions of the shoreline.

The entire home inspection is written up in a concise report that lists anything that requires repair either immediately or in the not too distant future. Should there be an issue that the Buyers are unable or unwilling to overlook, they can go back to the Sellers and ask that they repair the deficiency or offer a price abatement.

Just remember, make sure whoever you choose as your home inspector is registered with the OAHI (Ontario Association of Home Inspectors) and follows their Standards of Practice. Having a home inspection doesn’t cost, it pays!

* provided by the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing