Due to the size of the territory we cover, it often happens that our inspectors are called upon to inspect second homes for our clients. Unfortunately, many people still buy cottages without first having them inspected and some see their peaceful haven turn into a real nightmare… Whether you’re at the cottage or at home, take a moment to watch our vignette as our inspectors reveal three problems that are all too often encountered when buying a cottage.

1. Water that tastes… weird?
While we all take for granted the good quality of water in our homes, the situation is quite different in cottages. The cottages that our clients wish to purchase are often located on a lakefront, on the banks of a river or on the side of a mountain far from urban centers and, therefore, far from water and sewer services.

Since the majority of cottages are served by artesian wells and therefore fetch water from the water table and then purify it so that it can be consumed, our inspectors always recommend that the water be tested before the purchase. This way, our clients know before they even buy the cottage whether they will be able to consume the water on site, whether they will have to make corrections or even if they will have to bring their own drinking water. After all, who can do without a good cup of coffee in the morning.

If you are aware that the cottage you wish to purchase has a well water supply, why not kill two birds with one stone by having a home inspector perform the water sampling at the same time as the inspection! This will save you time and money.

2. Insufficient insulation
As you know, Quebec winters can be very cold, some would even say frigid! Unfortunately, the vast majority of our cottage inspection clients contact us in the spring or summer, a time when insulation is not a major factor. However, neglecting insulation when buying a cottage can be a decision that many will regret once the cold season returns…

Our inspectors therefore pay particular attention to this aspect during the pre-purchase inspection of a cottage and ask their clients about the use they intend to make of it. With a less well insulated cottage, they will have to turn off the water for the winter or empty all the ducts every time they leave the cottage.

However, a well-insulated cottage allows you to heat it year-round without breaking the bank. This makes it easier to enjoy it in the winter, which is a big plus for owners who want to rent it out!

3. Inadequate septic system
Although the septic tank and drain field are not part of the building inspection, our inspectors never fail to advise potential buyers of this… very unsexy aspect. They will also flush the toilet to see if the flow is normal.

They will advise their clients to ask the seller for any inspection reports of the installation, invoices of the drains and any other documents that may be relevant. To be on the safe side, they will also strongly recommend that they call in a specialist in the field to ensure that the septic installation is indeed compliant.

So if you don’t want to regret the purchase of your future cottage, don’t make the mistake that too many people do and call on the services of a professional building inspector for the inspection. This way, you will be able to fully enjoy your haven of peace…