Before purchasing a property, hiring a building inspector is a crucial step. While it may seem like an additional cost, it’s a wise investment that can save you from potential headaches down the road.
Buying a home is a long-term commitment, typically involving significant debt over many years. As a buyer, it’s essential to ensure the property doesn’t have any hidden issues. A professional inspection provides a thorough and reassuring assessment before you finalize the deal.
Investing in an inspection is a protective measure that offers peace of mind. The cost of hiring an inspector is a small price to pay compared to the risk of overlooking potential problems.
What is the role of a building inspector?
A building inspector plays a crucial role in evaluating a property’s condition. With their expertise in construction, they apply their technical knowledge to assess the safety and health standards of a building.
Their involvement is particularly important during the home-buying process. The inspector’s main objective is to identify any issues, whether significant or minor, that could impact the property’s value or present risks to its occupants.
Why hire a qualified building inspector?
Hiring a qualified building inspector is a crucial step in ensuring peace of mind when buying or selling a property. With their expertise, these professionals can identify potential issues that may lead to significant costs down the line. Their insight can save you thousands of dollars in future repairs!
Additionally, the detailed report provided by the inspector allows buyers to:
- Make informed decisions
- Negotiate the price
- Request necessary repairs before finalizing the deal.
Their involvement is essential in avoiding unpleasant surprises and safeguarding your investment. By hiring a professional building inspector, you greatly reduce the likelihood of discovering hidden defects in your new home.
Different types of inspection for your needs
Depending on your need, various types of building inspections can be carried out:
- Pre-purchase inspection: this is the most common and essential before buying a property.
- Presale inspection: a helpful tool for assessing a property before putting it on the market.
- Pre-delivery inspection: conducted to verify the condition of a new home before it is handed over to the buyer.
- Preventive inspection: designed to identify potential issues in an existing property, helping to prevent future problems.
Each of these inspections serves a specific purpose, helping you make informed decisions and protect your investment, whether you’re buying, selling, or maintaining a property.
What problems can a building inspector detect?
During a thorough property inspection, a home inspector will evaluate several key elements, including:
- Foundations: Look for signs of movement and cracks.
- Accessible structure: Assess the condition of both interior and exterior floors and walls.
- Lot: Examine sloping to identify potential flooding risks.
- Driveway: Review the condition of the asphalt.
- Roofing: Inspect the roof’s condition and determine if any materials need replacement.
- Moisture: Measure humidity, detect water infiltration, and check for mould.
- Insulation: Identify areas where heat loss might occur through doors and windows.
- Plumbing: Evaluate the condition of pipes and the overall plumbing system.
- Heating system: Check the system’s condition and necessary maintenance.
- Electrical system: Ensure that the electrical panel and system meet current standards.
- Ventilation: Inspect air exchangers, wall-mounted air conditioners, or heat pumps to detect potential major issues.
- Sewers and drains: Review sewer connections and look for any harmful substances in the drains.
Additionally, the inspector should be able to identify various issues affecting the building, including:
- Iron ochre: A substance formed when oxygen, water, and iron in the soil react with certain bacteria, potentially leading to drainage problems.
- Poly-B: Chlorinated plastic pipes that can deteriorate prematurely, increasing the risk of leaks.
- Pyrite: A mineral that can cause concrete and stone to expand, leading to significant structural damage.
- Radon: A harmful gas that, with prolonged exposure, can elevate the risk of lung cancer.
- Vermiculite: An insulation material that may contain amphibole asbestos, posing health hazards.
The inspection report
Once the building inspector has conducted a thorough examination of the property, they will provide you with a detailed inspection report. This report will outline all their findings, including any items that need repair or replacement.
The report, along with its detailed observation, will give you a clear understanding of the property’s condition, highlighting both its strengths and potential issues. This information will empower you to make a well-informed decision.
What is not included in a home inspection?
While a building inspector performs a thorough visual assessment of the property, there are certain elements typically excluded from the inspection, including:
- Outbuildings such as sheds or garages
- Wood heating appliances
- Telephone and cable systems
- Alarm systems
- Pools and spas
- Aesthetic features of the home
The inspector focuses only on items that are visible and accessible. As a result, they may not be able to detect hidden issues within the foundations, floor, or walls.
Hidden defects
It is important to understand that a building inspection is not a guarantee, but rather a detailed visual examination conducted by an experienced professional.
As such, it cannot protect against hidden defects as these issues are, by nature, concealed and cannot be detected during the inspection. However, a thorough inspection significantly reduces the likelihood of facing unexpected problems after the real estate transaction is completed.
What is the price of a pre-purchase home inspection?
The cost of a pre-purchase home inspection can vary widely, depending on several factors. Just as inspection fees differ from one specialist to another, the price can also vary by region. Generally, the farther you are from major cities like Montreal, the lower the prices tend to be.
The cost of a building inspection depends on several key factors:
- The location or area of the property.
- The type of property (house, condo, commercial building, residential building, etc.)
- The age of the property.
- The size of the property.
- The building expert selected.
- Whether additional evaluations, such as pool or foundation, are requested.
As of 2025, the estimated cost of a pre-purchase inspection is as follows:
- Condo: Between $500 and $850
- Single-family home: Between $650 and $950
- Duplex: Between $750 and $1,000
- Triplex: Between $850 and $1,250
- Larger properties: Over $950
These price ranges are provided for information purposes only. To get the best value, it’s advisable to request quotes from multiple building inspectors.
If you’d like assistance, our team can help by connecting you with 3 prequalified inspectors, allowing you to compare their quotes and choose the one that best suits your needs. Feel free to contact us to get started!
Who pays for the residential inspection?
Generally, it is the buyer who pays for the pre-purchase inspection, regardless of the type of property, unless otherwise stated in the purchase agreement. The buyer is also responsible for hiring the building inspector of their choice.
However, in cases where the inspection is conducted outside the context of a real estate transaction, such as for preventive or presale inspections, the property owner typically covers the cost.
Who can become a building inspector?
When it comes to inspecting your property, it's crucial not to entrust the task to just anyone.
While a friend or family member with construction knowledge may be helpful, nothing compares to the expertise of a qualified building inspector. A qualified inspector possesses specialized knowledge and experience in the construction field, enabling them to assess the overall physical condition of a building thoroughly and accurately.
But what exactly defines a qualified building inspector?
1. Obtain specialized training
To become a building inspector, candidates must undergo specialized technical training to assess the various components of a building and their condition. Typically, this includes obtaining a college-level diploma or Attestation of College Studies (AEC) in building inspection or a related field.
2. Possess a certificate from the RBQ
Under the new Regulation on the Supervision of Residential Building Inspectors (REIBH), which came into effect in October 2024, building inspectors are required to hold a certificate from the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). There are two categories of certification:
- Category 1 Certificate: For residential buildings with one to six private units.
- Category 2 Certificate: For any residential building.
A 3-year transitional period has been established to allow professionals to adjust to the new regulation and meet the certification requirements.
3. Be a member of a professional association in Quebec (AIBQ)
In addition to specialized training and certification, a qualified building inspector should also be a member of a recognized professional association. In Quebec, one of the most well known and respected associations is the Association des Inspecteurs en Bâtiment du Québec (AIBQ).
By choosing an inspector who is affiliated with a reputable association like the AIBQ, you can have greater confidence in the quality and reliability of the inspection services they provide.
How to know if the chosen expert is the right one?
Choosing the right building inspector is crucial for a successful and thorough evaluation of a property. A good inspector should dedicate approximately 8 hours of work, broken down into the following activities:
- Travel time
- Property observation and assessment of its components (usually lasting 2 to 3 hours)
- Photo analysis
- Research work (checking building codes, previous repairs, etc.)
- Writing the report
Additionally, the building inspector should be able to:
- Advise you in a way that helps you make an informed decision regarding the property.
- Ask the seller about any recent construction, renovations, or repairs, providing you with essential context for the property’s condition.
- Review the seller's disclosure with you, ensuring you fully understand the information about the property's history.
- Verbally summarize the inspection results, answering any questions and clarifying key findings.
- Provide a detailed and personalized report that is clear, understandable, and free of technical jargon.
Are you looking for a qualified home inspector?
XpertSource.com can help you in your efforts to find a building inspector. By telling us about your project, we will refer you to top-rated experts, free of charge! Simply fill out the form (it only takes 2 minutes) and you will be put in contact with the right experts.
