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1. When do I pay for a home inspection?

Payment is due upon completion of the home inspection. Payment may be made in the form of cash or cheque.

 

2. When should I contact HOMESTAR Inspections?​​​​

​You should contact us as soon as possible in advance of the date that you hope to schedule your inspection.

During busy time periods we may need several days advance notice to accommodate your requested date and time.

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​3. Who should be notified of the inspection?

   Your agent and vendor must be aware of the timing of the inspection. Usually these arrangements are made by your agent.

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4. Should the vendor be present at the inspection?

It is preferred that vendors are not present during the home inspection. Vendors may have difficulty with an inspector pointing out deficiencies with the property and the home. Regardless, HOMESTAR Inspections is working for our clients and will provide them with a detailed and comprehensive report.

   

 

      5. How long does a home inspection take?

A standard home inspection usually takes three hours. The time varies depending on the size of the home, accessibility and questions asked.

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6. Do I need to be in attendance at the home inspection?

It's a great idea to attend the inspection so that you can ask questions during the inspection. If you're not able to attend, then HOMESTAR Inspections will contact you after the inspection to review the report. The inspection must take place during the daylight hours so that the exterior can be inspected. It may be necessary for you to take time off work. Please dress appropriately for the outdoors portion of the inspection. Due to safety concerns, clients are not allowed to climb ladders, go on the roof or crawl through the crawlspace.

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7. Who should come to the inspection?

​You can bring along your partner or one other adult to the inspection. It's a good idea to leave children and pets at home with a trusted person as your complete attention to the inspection will be required. Too many people can create distractions for the inspector and the client(s).

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8. What should I bring to the home inspection?

It's a good idea to bring along a notepad, pen and tape measure.

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9. When will I receive the home inspection report?

You will receive the report within 24 hours of the inspection.

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​10. Are there any special arrangements that I need to make with the agent?​

​Please work with your agent to ensure that the vendor provides access to the furnace, water heater, electrical panel, crawl space and attic hatches. Home inspectors cannot move the vendor's property. Since a home inspection is limited to a visual inspection, basements that are full of boxes may conceal deficiencies in walls or flooring such as leaks and cracks. 

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11. Will the home inspector turn off the electrical power to the home?

No. This can't be done as it may affect timers, alarms, computers, health-care equipment and household electronics. HOMESTAR Inspections will conduct a random inspection of the electrical outlets. Where accessible, the electrical panel will be inspected, however, the inspection is restricted due to 'live power' at the electrical panel.

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​12. Can I take pictures?
No. Photos should not be taken unless cleared in advance with the vendor via your agent. Vendors are usually concerned with their privacy. HOMESTAR Inspections will be taking random photographs for the home inspection report.

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13. Is there anything that I should read prior to the home inspection?

Yes. Please read the Standards of Practice, What I Should Expect From Your Home Inspection and the Home Inspection Agreement/Contract prior to the inspection date. These documents are available on the tab headings below the HOMESTAR logo at the top of every page. You will be asked to sign the Inspection Agreement prior to HOMESTAR Inspections conducting the inspection. An inspection cannot be completed without a signed agreement. The Standards of Practice are a set of guidelines for home inspectors to follow in the performance of their inspections. It provides you with a list of what is covered and what is not covered in an inspection. Please ensure that you understand the limitations of an inspection prior to the home inspection. 

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14. What does a visual inspection mean?

The CLIENT will be provided with a written report of HOMESTAR'S visual observations. HOMESTARS is not able to determine all deficiencies from visual observations alone. Some deficiencies may go unnoted in the report and the client accepts this. The report is not intended to comply with any legal obligations to disclosure. The Home Inspector is a Generalist, not a specialist in all disciplines.​The inspection is not exhaustive and all-encompassing. The Client acknowledges that there may be problems with the Property inspected that will not be apparent from a visual inspection. 

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15. Will the inspection be building code or by-law compliant?

No. The inspection is not a Building Code or By-Law compliant inspection. The Client acknowledges that it may be necessary to confer directly with authorities to confirm whether the property meets Building Code or By-Law requirements.

 

16. Will cost estimates be given for any deficiencies?

No.  It is recommended that the client obtain at least three cost estimates from qualified specialists before finalizing budgets for any work.

 

17. Will environmental concerns be addressed in the inspection?

The inspection will NOT address environmental concerns including, but not limited to: air quality, water quality/quantity, sealed/underground fuel storage tanks, UFFI, asbestos, radon gas, molds, toxins, etc. The inspection report will also NOT address infestation by wood boring insects, rodents or other vermin. The CLIENT understands and acknowledges that it may be necessary to call on specialists in these areas to identify and evaluate these risks.

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18. Will I need to retain other specialists?

The inspector may recommend that other specialists are consulted for further evaluation of a deficiency.

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19. Can I call the inspector after the inspection?

Yes. Please contact our office with any questions or concerns.

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