What to Expect When Getting a Montreal Home Inspection

By Gloria Smith

A Montreal home inspection is one of the requirements of people buying a home. Its objective is to come up with a report on a home's condition both positive and negative. Getting a Montreal home inspection assures them that the property they are buying is in good condition and they're investing their money in the right place. A home seller may also initiate this to show buyers the real condition of his or her home.

To home buyers, a home inspection is vital as it determines the possible problems that may exist in their future home. This will enable them to request for immediate repair from the seller if possible. Many buyers are usually emotional when purchasing a new home and they want to make sure that they're moving into a property free from worries.

As for home sellers, they are now becoming conscious about getting a thorough inspection before listing their home. This allows them to honestly reveal the condition of their home notably in the required property disclosure form. Doing this also enables them to know firsthand the possible defects of their home and thereby allow them to do the repairs right away instead of having the buyer discover the problems after the negotiation process. Initiating the home inspection will actually save them money.

Inspection coverage

A professional real estate inspector is in charge of doing a home inspection. Depending on the size of the home, an inspector may take several hours or more than half a day in evaluating a home and more time writing a home inspection report. The average fees for such services is about $500.

A Montreal home inspection covers several existing systems and equipment in the home such as the plumbing and drainage, air conditioning and heating system, electrical and roofing. These systems as well as other appliances are normally put to test to make sure that they are functioning well.
Presence of termites and other pests and possible damage should also be looked into by the inspector. If pest existence is proven, the inspector should inform the owner and give recommendations on how to solve the problem.

An inspector should also look into the interior and exterior paint, gutters, flooring and walls to determine if they need repair or are in good condition.

All other areas of the home are considered in the inspector's evaluation. From the floor plans and property layout, walls and ceilings, insulation, ventilation to the floors, windows, doors, closets and fireplaces as well as the exterior areas, the professional real estate inspector will look into each of them.

Estimating the cost

Once the inspection report is done, you now have the opportunity to estimate the costs of bringing the home up to your standards including repair and maintenance and then find solutions to problem areas. It is also during this stage when you should decide whether to pursue buying the property or consider another home. Reading through the report will allow you to compare the other homes you may want to consider purchasing. Reviewing the findings with the inspector himself is ideal to help you understand the positive and negative results.

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Montreal Home Inspection - What Questions Should I Ask

By Amy Nutt

Now that you've decided to purchase a new home, you are probably very excited. However, the process gets a little more frustrating because there are a few hoops you have to jump through. At least it is worth it in the end, but to get to the end it is important to know a few things about the next step in the process. That next step is the Montreal home inspection.

You have to have your Montreal home inspected to learn of its condition. If there are severe problems, then you can see about having the price of the home reduced. Then again, you can ask the current owner to take care of those problems. It is important to do so because you do not want to pay too much for a home that isn't worth the amount. You also want to know what hazards exist so that severe injury doesn't happen on the property.

Ask questions

Once you have found a good home inspector to inspect your home, you need to tag along during the inspection. That way, you can ask questions and receive answers to those questions. You don't have to stand outside and wonder about anything. Jump in there and talk. Home inspectors have no problem answering your questions, no matter how stupid you may think your questions are. The truth is that there are no stupid questions.

Here are things you want to ask your home inspector during the home inspection:

- Putting all specifics aside, ask your home inspector about anything you may find you're concerned about. Everyone buying a home has different concerns, so be sure to let it all out.

- Ask the inspector if the drainage around the home's exterior is good. You can then ask how you should keep your basement dry, if there is one. You can even ask questions about prolonging the life of roofing and rectifying any other exterior issues.

- Some homes have abandoned oil tanks. You can ask the inspector if there are any signs of such tanks and it will be quite likely that the inspector will tell you to speak with your attorney if signs of oil tanks have been found.

- When it comes to electrical issues, ask the inspector if there is knob and tube wiring or aluminum wiring, especially if the home is old. Both of these can make home insurance hard to acquire.

- As for plumbing, ask the inspector if the sewer clean out cap is new. If it is, then there may be an issue. Ask the inspector how old the sewer pipes and the plumbing supply pipes are.

- For your heating system, ask the inspector what each of the different parts of the heating system are. Home inspectors like to show how much they know, so they'll be eager to tell you.

- Finally, you want to talk about the structure of the home. You want to make sure it is sturdy. They can tell you about what they can see, but remember that they cannot see what is inside the walls. Many damages within homes can be hidden.

What not to ask

The above serves as a great rundown of what questions to ask during your home inspection. However, there are also questions that shouldn't be asked. These questions include, "Should I buy this home?" "Do you think this home is right for me?" And, "Do you think the price is right?" A Montreal home inspector cannot tell you these things. The home inspector provides you with a guide that allows you to make an informed decision regarding whether or not you should purchase the home. The home inspector report also gives you bargaining power if you need it.

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What to Look For During Your Montreal Home Inspection

By Greg Gagnon

Before making an offer on a home, nearly all real estate experts recommend conducting extensive inspections. Montreal Home inspections are designed to protect you from unexpected repairs and costs after move-in. If any problems are found during a pre-sale inspection, the buyer can then negotiate with the seller to have the issues resolved before closing or incorporate the cost of repairs into the offer. By assuring the buyer that they are purchasing the best home for their money, home inspections are an invaluable resource in the home buying process.

In most cases, Montreal home inspections analyze a number of factors both inside and outside the home. We begin with the six most critical inspection concerns for the exterior of the home.

Foundation - The most important thing to check for in the foundation are cracks. If any cracks or irregularities are noticed in the foundation, a further inspection may be needed to check the integrity of the construction.

Roof - When the roof is inspected, it must first be determined if any leaks are present. If the roof is free of leaks, a proper inspection will then attempt to determine if the roof possesses any flaws that could cause leaks in the future. During inspection, it is also important to notice if any large trees hang over the home. Wet leaves from such trees can sometimes cause serious problems for homeowners.

Drainage - The most important thing to consider is how the home is situated on the property. To ensure adequate drainage and prevent flooding in the home, the surrounding land should slope away from the home and 6-8 inches of the concrete foundation should be visible. Additionally, all gutters and drainage spouts should be angled away from the home.

Windows and Doors - Besides looking for broken glass, a check of the windows should cover many factors. Ideally, all windows should open and close properly with a good seal, be free of rot around the window sills and have all screens intact. Similarly, all doors opening to the exterior should open and close properly with a good seal to prevent extra heating and cooling costs.

Siding, Trim, Gutters and Paint - An inspection of the exterior siding or paint should check for the presence of bubbling or peeling. Also, all exterior fixtures that do not impact the structural integrity - such as ornamental trim and rain gutters - should be checked for overall condition.

Decks and Porches - If the home has a deck or porch, the inspection will try to uncover the presence of rot or insect damage.

Now, we will look at six factors that should be thoroughly inspected within the interior of the home.

Walls, Floors and Ceilings - All walls, floors and ceilings inside the home should be checked for the presence of water damage - usually present as mold or other stains - and signs of insects or pests. The areas near plumbing fixtures should be given extra attention to check for mold and water damage, while gaps or cracks in exterior walls should be checked for the presence of insects. Lastly, all wall and floor surfaces - such as paint, plaster, wood floors, tile bathrooms and carpet - should be checked for overall condition.

Appliances - Typically, home inspectors will run one dishwasher cycle and check all functions of the oven and stove. If the home is being sold with a full set of appliances, it is wise to check the working order of refrigerators, washers, dryers and microwaves.

Electrical, Heating and Cooling Systems - These inspections of the home's infrastructure are some of the most telling assessments of a property's quality and, by extension, value. An inspection of the electrical system will typically test all outlets, light fixtures and circuit breakers. If it is an older home, an inspection should look for updated features such as ground fault interrupt (GFI) outlets in the bathrooms and kitchen. When checking heating and cooling systems, inspectors typically test the furnace, monitor the response of the thermostat and assess the overall ventilation of the home.

Plumbing - The inspection of the plumbing system begins with a check for leaks around all fixtures and pipes. Next, both cold and hot water pressure should be tested by turning on multiple faucets. In the bathrooms, the areas around each bathtub and shower should be inspected for water damage. Lastly, try to ensure that the hot water heater is up to code and functioning properly.

Basement - If the home has a basement, the most important thing to check for is the presence of water damage. An inspection of the basement is primarily an extension of the previously mentioned check for walls, floors and ceilings.

Chimney and Fireplace - An inspection of the chimney and each fireplace will check for loose bricks and mortar, assess the overall stability and check for obstructions within the chimney.

Keep in mind, if an inspection uncovers a problem, you should not necessarily be deterred from buying the home. More than anything, the inspection will help you determine the value of the home and prevent you from overpaying or experiencing unwanted repairs. Depending on what is uncovered during the inspection, you may want to conduct an additional inspection of the problematic element or simply work with the seller to resolve the issue as part of your offer.

Greg Gagnon writes select articles about important topics related to real estate for the Coldwell Banker Corporation. For more information about buying a home or selling your current property, visit http://www.ColdwellBanker.com today.

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