Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post When should your clients call a plumber? appeared first on REM.

Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post Helping clients identify top electrical defects in a home appeared first on REM.

It’s important for them to understand the value a home inspection can bring to the equation before renos get underway so their goals of making more money on a sale don’t end up breaking their budgetary or time constraints.

Renovations are an exciting undertaking that can turn your client’s property into a dream home for their family and/or potential buyers, but they can also be quite stressful — especially if unknown issues are uncovered once renos have begun. 

By having their home inspected before renovations get underway, your clients will have a better understanding of how such things as mechanical systems and structure could impact planned renovations. They’ll then be able to add these to their budget and better plan for all scheduled projects while also helping prevent delays. They may also choose not to tackle certain projects before listing.

How can a pre-reno home inspection help?

There are several ways that a home inspector can help out with determining how your client’s renovation plans may impact their existing home systems and structures, including:

1. Mechanical Systems: Do the electrical, heating, cooling and/or plumbing systems need to be upgraded in order to meet the needs of the renovation plans? The inspector will help the homeowner understand if any mechanical systems need to be upgraded and what this will entail. 
2. Structure: Will a wall move be in the plans? Is it load-bearing? Will doors/windows be added or relocated? How will this impact the home’s structural support system? The inspector will help determine if a wall is load-bearing and, if so, what must be done before taking it down/changing its current setting.
3. Basement: Are you finishing or renovating a basement? The inspector can help advise about special considerations when working on a basement, including reducing/eliminating dampness and minimizing the risk of water damage and mould growth.
4. Roof: Is an addition part of the plans? How about a skylight? These types of projects could lead to additional roof work. The inspector will help determine if new roofing is required throughout or if it’s possible to simply work with existing materials. 

Homes should be inspected after renos too

Renovation problems typically stem from the use of sub-standard materials, poor workmanship or unfinished projects. To the untrained eye, it can often be difficult to know if a homeowner is getting their money’s worth. (And the same can hold true when having a new home built as well.)

A home inspector can assess a renovation job nearing completion to ensure everything’s being done correctly. This can save your clients time, money and a world of grief if their contractor isn’t completing renovations properly. 

Regardless of where your clients are in the renovation stage, it’s important for them to understand how helpful it is to their peace of mind and investment to have inspections carried out to make sure money and time are being well spent.

Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post Why it’s important to have a home inspected before starting renovations appeared first on REM.

A major bonus for your clients is the ability, once again, to have conditions attached to an offer to purchase that protect all parties, particularly conditions for having a home inspection completed and successfully securing financing before the offer is firm. 

Home inspection peace of mind

Following the past couple of years of crazy bidding wars and high demand, many buyer’s remorse stories are coming to light. People ended up with money pits because they had to get offers together quickly, and they’d lose out if they included any conditions. 

It’s really no surprise that when something goes wrong on a home, it’s often a big-ticket repair. And while homebuyers must anticipate ongoing maintenance expenses, having a home inspection as a condition on an offer enables your buyers to learn more about their potential new home and better plan for repairs that may be needed.

In addition to encouraging your buyers to include a home inspection condition in offers, suggesting to sellers that a home inspector complete a pre-inspection prior to listing can help set your client’s property apart from others already for sale in the neighbourhood by highlighting the sound investment buyers can expect when purchasing the property. In a cooling market especially, this can be an invaluable practice. Being proactive with a pre-inspection may even eliminate the need for a home inspection condition.

All home inspections should disclose the condition of the structure, foundation, plumbing and electrical systems, windows and roofing. An inspector will provide alerts to caution areas based on the house’s age and specific characteristics, note previous renovations and specify issues that must be addressed immediately versus ones that can be remedied in the future. 

Both pre and post-offer home inspections include thorough reports that become the property’s operations manual, detailing deficiencies, safety concerns, system shut-off locations and maintenance suggestions. Of course, the more educated everyone is on a property, the better for your clients – buyers and sellers. 

Mortgage pre-approval isn’t guaranteed financing

With rising interest rates comes tougher mortgage qualification, or more specifically, your clients may be approved for a lower mortgage amount than expected. And while they may feel confident with the mortgage pre-approval they obtained prior to home shopping, a pre-approval is far from a guarantee for home financing.

The pre-approval will typically be valid for 90-120 days. During this period, it’s important for your clients not to make any significant changes to their current financial situation. When it’s time to draw up the offer to purchase, their lender will want to verify that they still meet the qualification criteria as well as assess the property’s value and suitability. If there are changes that could possibly derail the process, your buyer could be denied a mortgage despite having been pre-approved. When in doubt, your clients should consult with their mortgage broker or lender before making decisions that could impact their financial situation.

Three key areas your clients should pay special attention to include: 

 

1. Maintaining a good credit score.
2. Refraining from increasing debt loads.
3. Keeping employment and income consistent. 

Including a condition of finance within the purchase offer gives your buyers valuable time after the offer is accepted to arrange their mortgage, which is especially important in today’s increasing interest rate environment. 

Conditions exist for a reason, so taking advantage of them can be beneficial for both buyers and sellers in ensuring everyone is well-versed in the home’s condition and that sufficient mortgage financing can be obtained.

Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post The return of conditional offers appeared first on REM.

A WETT inspection ensures that the system is correctly installed and operating properly, and that it poses no threat to the residents or home itself. When using woodburning appliances, the potential for harmful pollutants to be released into the home as well as combustible materials to ignite is increased. That’s why it’s essential to have these systems regularly inspected and properly maintained – not just when a property is being bought or sold.

A WETT inspection typically includes a visual check of:

• fireplaces and chimneys
• fireplace inserts and freestanding units
• pellet stoves and vents
• woodstoves and flue pipes
• woodburning furnaces and boilers

WETT inspections are also often required as part of the home insurance process, with insurance companies insisting that homes using wood-burning appliances are thoroughly inspected by a professional and given the green light before the home can be insured.

If your clients are planning to purchase an older home or cottage that includes woodburning appliances, a WETT inspection is vital. Cottages, in particular, often rely on woodburning appliances and the installation of these features isn’t always in compliance with current WETT standards.

An inspection will indicate whether these systems are operating properly, remain in good structural condition and that they’re burning in a safe manner.

In order to become WETT certified, inspectors must undergo specialized training. Ongoing education is also mandatory to maintain WETT certification, ensuring WETT inspectors are on top of the latest designs, technology and information to best advise your clients throughout the home inspection process.

Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post Woodburning systems must be inspected by WETT certified experts appeared first on REM.

Radon is an invisible and odourless radioactive gas that’s released from the ground by radium (which comes from uranium). The second leading cause of lung cancer in Canada, radon kills more than 3,000 people annually, according to the Government of Canada.

Perhaps what makes radon exposure extra frightening is that build-up can occur in any home, regardless of age or how well it’s maintained – although higher levels are typically found in areas that have a higher concentration of uranium naturally occurring in the soil. Virtually every home in Canada has some radon, but the levels vary from house to house, even if they’re situated next door to one another.

How does radon enter a home?

Radon can build up over time to the point when it becomes a serious problem. A home’s radon levels depend on three main factors: 1) The amount of uranium in the ground; 2) The number of entry points into the home; and 3) How well the home is ventilated.

Possible points of entry for radon include:

• Construction joints
• Cracks in foundation walls and floor slabs
• Dirt floors
• Floor drains
• Window casements
• Gaps around service pipes
• Sumps or cavities inside walls
• Support posts

Radon testing

It’s impossible to know the levels of radon in any home unless testing is performed. Since you can’t see or smell it, you can be exposed without even knowing. Radon can build up over time to the point where it becomes a serious problem.

A study by the University of Calgary found one in five Canadian homes have radon levels above the Health Canada acceptable limit of 200 becquerels per metre cubed (Bq/m³). Levels are on the rise across the country, but particularly in Southern Ontario due to a broad range of reasons, including weather changes, atmospheric pressures and construction.

Ontario is the only jurisdiction in Canada where the builder’s warranty on new homes includes radon remediation coverage.

Testing for radon is recommended in homes about every two years as a proactive measure to ensure that levels are safe and the health of occupants won’t be compromised. A radon test is an inexpensive and simple way to bring your homebuyers peace of mind – for both an existing home and a prospective purchase.

There are two common types of radon tests – a presence test and a more comprehensive 90-day test.

Presence tests used to be conducted over 48 hours, but new technology provides initial results in 10 minutes, and then numerous times over the next two to three hours as we’re conducting a standard inspection. So, by the time we finish an inspection, we can give a homebuyer or seller a good idea of whether they’ll want to follow up with the more costly 90-day testing, which will likely lead to some remediation.

Action should be taken immediately if radon levels are higher than the Canadian Guideline of 200 Bq/m³.

Mitigating radon inside a home

Radon levels in most homes can be reduced by more than 80 per cent for about the same cost as other common home repairs such as replacing the furnace or air conditioner.

If radon levels in a home are above the Canadian guideline, Health Canada recommends that a professional certified under the Canadian National Radon Proficiency Program (C-NRPP) be hired. Lowering radon levels in a home requires specific technical knowledge and skills to ensure the job is completed properly.

When selecting a radon reduction method for a home, a contractor will consider several things, including:

• Radon levels in the home
• Costs of installation and system operation
• Home size and foundation type

The effectiveness of any one radon-reduction method will depend on the unique characteristics of the home, the level of radon, how it’s getting into the house and how thoroughly the job is done. A single method may work, but sometimes a combination of several techniques must be used.

A radon professional will likely perform one or more diagnostic test to help determine the best radon-reduction system for the home. For example, a contractor may use chemical smoke to see the air flow sources and radon entry points by watching a small amount of smoke that has been placed into holes, drains, sumps or along cracks. Another type of diagnostic test is a Pressure Field Extension Test (or communication test). This test uses a vacuum cleaner to measure how easily air can move from one point to another under the foundation and estimate the number of suction points and fan size needed for an active radon-reduction system.

Once diagnostic testing has been completed, there are several mitigation options available that are effective in reducing radon to safe levels in a home and keeping it there long term, although regular testing is always recommended.

Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post What your buyers need to know about radon exposure appeared first on REM.

Let’s face it – this hot sellers’ market won’t last forever, so it’s great to have some tools in your back pocket to help sell homes quicker regardless of market conditions.

While inspection reports always offer a list of concerns to be addressed based on urgency – and give context and the ability to ask questions to better understand if something is significant or can be remedied down the road – they also act as a homeowner’s instruction manual for that property. The report is a live document filled with ongoing maintenance information, shut off details, videos, photos, warranty and lifetime appliance safety recall monitoring, and transition warranty for items that were not evident at the time of inspection but pop up on possession, such as a leaky sink or appliance.

All home inspections should disclose the condition of the structure, foundation, plumbing and electrical systems, windows and roofing. An inspector will note previous renovations and detail any problem areas that were possibly patched up but not fully addressed.

A home and property inspection is money well spent. On average, the cost is $500 for a 2,000-square-foot home to be professionally inspected (including infrared/thermal imaging to uncover what the naked eye can’t see) and ensure that big-ticket issues don’t occur down the road that can cost homeowners dearly.

Here’s what an inspector should review during a standard inspection:

• Structural components (roof, foundation, walls, floors, ceilings, attic checked for water leakage or condensation)
• Exterior faults (inspection may reveal deteriorated stair treads, settlement cracks or areas where additional caulking is needed)
• Roofing (examined for loose shingles or tiles, gutter debris, skylights and chimneys checked for proper sealants)
• Plumbing (piping, drains, vents and waste systems, tested for leakage, mineral deposits, fitting issues or bacteria)
• Electrical (tested for fit as well as safe and efficient operation, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors noted)
• Heating/air conditioning (verified in working order, no corrosion on pipes, chimneys sound and clear of debris such as animal nests)
• Insulation/ventilation (attic crawl space insulation, vapour retarders, venting fans, under floor insulation examined for deterioration)
• Interior/built-in appliances (doors, floors, stairways, counters, cabinetry and windows, noting any items not functioning properly)

An inspector may also offer add-on specialty services that aren’t part of a standard inspection, such as Wood Energy Technical Transfer (WETT) inspection for woodburning systems, radon testing and water testing.

It’s important to note that buying a new home or one that’s just a few years old doesn’t mean a buyer should forego a home inspection. Issues can turn up with any home regardless of age and the builder’s reputation. There are multiple trades involved in the construction process, including contractors. Like any profession, workers can range from highly professional to completely unreliable. And, in many cases, your buyer won’t know the difference until an experienced home inspector scrutinizes the property. Having a professional inspector examine a new home to ensure the builder got everything right and the buyer can move into their dream home with added peace of mind is invaluable.

Cliff Campbell

Cliff Campbell is a regional owner and member of the National Leadership Team at A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections (ABCHI) Canada, as well as a Certified Master Inspector (CMI) and the local owner of the Lethbridge, AB ABCHI franchise. Having performed 6,000+ residential and commercial property inspections, Cliff has a passion for raising the bar in what buyers, sellers and their realtors should expect from a professional inspector. He can be reached at: https://abuyerschoice.com/partners

abuyerschoice.com/partners

The post Home inspections do more than list issues within a home appeared first on REM.