The Quebec Federation of Real Estate Boards (QFREB) reveals that about thousands of units (house, condo, duplex, etc.) change hands in the three months before July 1 in the metropolitan area alone. Of all these buyers, too few realize what a pre-purchase inspection actually is and understand its value and utility. Yet it is the most important step for anyone who wants to acquire a safe and healthy home. If you or someone you know are on the market for a new home, read our article to get the most out of your pre-purchase inspection and make the best deal possible!

Pre purchase home inspection mistake # 1: Not having the property inspected

Article 1726 of the Quebec Civil Code cites that “the seller must guarantee to the buyer that the property and its accessories are, at the moment of the sale, free of latent defects (…). However, he is not required to guarantee any latent or apparent defect known to the buyer; is apparent any vice which can be perceived by a prudent and diligent buyer (…) ».

Explanation: the buyer must take every means at his disposal to make sure he’s making a good purchase. And since the pre-purchase home inspection is there to protect the proposed investment, it is an excellent tool for any  buyer seeking to learn more about the property he intends to acquire. Not having the property inspected can be a regrettable breach of this article of the Civil Code. If the buyer decides to sue the seller following the discovery of a defect, the latter could use this omission to try and demonstrate that the buyer did not use caution and diligence. The simple fact of not having the home inspected is enough to thwart any legal recourse from the buyer.

While we hope that everything goes for the best with your new property, put all the odds in your favor by avoiding this mistake. Even if you think you know everything about construction, inspecting yourself a property for which you have a personal interest is not recommended because your judgment might be impaired. We suggest you put your ego aside and be prudent and diligent by hiring a professional.

Pre purchase home inspection mistake # 2: Choose an inspector for the wrong reasons

As portrayed in certain television programs and several articles published in recent years, nothing regulates the home inspector profession. But if it is true that anyone with knowledge of construction can give himself the title of home inspector, such as your father or brother-in-law, it’s quite a different story when it comes to insurance. As insurers do not accept anyone, possession of insurance for professional responsibility for errors and omissions (E & O) should be your first selection criterion. Why? Simply because being insured makes creditworthy home inspection company in the event of an error on their part. That way, you’ll avoid finding yourself in front of an inspector unable to compensate your financial losses even if you can prove that he’s responsible for the mistake.

Better still; avoid getting stuck with an incompetent inspector. Since having insurance is not a guarantee of competence, we must look elsewhere for proof of an inspector or company’s professionalism. Has it been in business for a few months or numerous years? Is it recognized by renowned institutions you already trust (CAA, a corporation, a government agency, etc.)? Does the inspector work alone or is he supported by a team if it encounters an issue with which he’s unfamiliar? Are there any quality control performed on the work of the inspector?

Once you are satisfied with the responses, ask about the price, but do not make it your predominant selection criteria. As with everything, the price of a pre-purchase inspection is consistent with the quality of service so if it’s too low, it is likely that it will not offer you the professionalism you seek. It is certainly nice to save a hundred dollars during the home inspection, but you might bitterly regret the savings if, in a few years, some defect or another surface and lead to costly expenditures.

To give you something to think about, an article was published in February 2016 in La Presse + establishing the average price of a pre-purchase home inspection in the Metropolitan area for a standard single family home around $ 550 and $ 350 for a condo, private area only. So beware discount inspectors when it comes to choosing the professional who will assess the biggest investment of your life.

Pre purchase home inspection mistake # 3: Not following your inspector’s recommendations

The inspector is there to identify apparent defects, to collect evidence of hidden defects and of the general state of the building in order to prioritize work according to their urgency. He will give his honest opinion and if some elements in particular are cause for great concern, he will suggest calling in a specialist to learn more on these issues.

Here lies the third common mistake: too many buyers ignore this advice and go ahead with the purchase regardless. It is possible that these buyers will never regret their hasty purchase, but it is equally possible that a problematic situation identified during the inspection but ignored by the buyers may come back to haunt them in the future. Unfortunately for them, since they have knowingly ignored the inspector’s professional advice, they will be left without any recourse.

Imagine paying for the services of the best doctor in the world for your annual examination. Imagine he discovers an abnormal growth in your neck and recommends for you to go see a colleague who specializes in this specific area. However you decide to ignore his advice… You paid an expert to give you his opinion; shouldn’t you at least take them into account?

The same principle applies to your pre-purchase inspector. As a potential buyer, you see the property with pink glasses. Imagine spatial area and the colors of the dining room. You get involved on a personal level, not the inspector. He sees and analyzes the property with perfectly transparent glasses. If he tells you that a situation should be investigated further, listen to and act before purchasing. You will be able to negotiate the sale price to your advantage or to perform remedial work before taking possession of the house.

The moral of this story: trust your inspector. Although he doesn’t have a crystal ball in his tool kit and therefore cannot predict the future, he’s still your best ally when it comes to ensuring a safe and healthy living environment for you and your family. See life through rose-colored glasses, enjoy the moment and trust his objectivity. Put everything in perspective and never forget when the time comes to choose an inspector that the peace of mind that comes with a pre-purchase home inspection costs less than 0.2% of the total amount of your purchase on average! Click here and learn more about our pre-purchase inspection service, chat with our consultants or book your pre-purchase home inspection online!