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Can the building inspection determine and reveal everything in the house?

For the building inspection, it is not even so important whether the handle turns well to open the sash of the window, it is much more important to him whether these windows are leaking and how well they insulate the room. If the windows are in working order and do not leak, then they are still good for the inspector. And for the sale of a house in the near future - old, useless.

In a report from one inspector, I read that the window does not close well, and he recommends it ... clean and wash. I read this from a "local" inspector, quite famous in Montreal, who charges about $ 600 to inspect a house. His second recommendation was to change the hairdryer in the toilet, as the hairdryer is very noisy. I don’t know why he didn’t point out some other flaws that I knew for sure in the house, and which were in the process of being eliminated by the sellers.

Probably, this is why he did not indicate that the building inspection was done only for the buyers to abandon the house. Most likely, they just changed their minds. That happens. After inspection, you can cancel any purchase. It doesn't matter what it says. If at least something does not suit you or you change your mind about buying, the inspection will allow you to refuse without fines and claims. The offer that you signed says that if the inspection finds something serious that affects the value of the house, then you have the right to refuse. In fact, you can refuse because of anything, you don't even have to explain why. I didn't like it, that's all.

With the help of an inspector, any house can be declared worthless, even the newest one. Well, for example, the inspector will say that he is suspicious of numerous cracks in the dry plaster of a completely new house, and are these structural changes? It is clear that no. Dry plaster cracks in all new houses, this is the norm, and this is considered cosmetics, i.e. a trifle. But if you want, you can refuse the purchase, since the inspector is in doubt. The builders will say that everything is done according to the codes (building codes and regulations), but they will understand that you just changed your mind about buying and will not be able to force you to buy. If, of course, the condition of the building inspection was negotiated in your contract.

The fear of buying a brand new home prompts many to look for homes from builders. It seems like everything is new with them, it won't break. A new home is always more expensive and they are all far from Montreal. Where to pay - at once for everything in a new house or gradually on trifles, updating the old one, you choose. Or maybe everything has already been renovated in the old house, and for the next years you won't have to do anything in the house? It is wrong to avoid houses that are 30-40-50 years old.

building inspection

Everyone knows that before buying a house, you need to do an inspection. If they buy an apartment, then they also do an inspection, especially if the building is not new. Few have a clear idea of ​​what an inspection is really for and what it should reveal.

Sometimes customers complain that after moving, they found the faucet dripping slightly or the water poorly leaving the bathroom sink. Where the inspector looked, and they take offense at him. When a house is rented and chosen, special attention is paid to the taps - whether the water is flowing or running well.

When buying a house, you need to think about something else. Of course, if something is wrong in the house, obvious things, even the same taps or water pressure in old pipes, then the inspector will make a comment, but, in general, a two-dollar gasket or a lump of dirt in a siphon are not the same problems that the inspector came to find out in the house. And rarely in any house you can see poorly working plumbing. People look after the house, their own real estate is always in much better condition than, for example, ordinary rented housing.

I remember one day an inspector noticed that the toilet did not flush well, and the sellers changed it immediately. But when, during the inspection, all the taps in the house are opened and the cistern is lowered, this is not done in order to check whether the toilet flushes well and whether the plumbing is working, but to understand what pressure is in the water pipes and whether everything is in order with the general drain ...

A dripping faucet is a trifle, and 60-year-old galvanized pipes throughout the house, due to which the water pressure is very weak, is already a serious problem. Replacing the water supply system is very expensive. Although you can live with low pressure and not make expensive repairs for many years. Everything needs to be clarified on the spot and decisions should be made depending on each specific case - the general condition of the house, its price, location, prospects, etc.

If something is wrong with the toilet or the faucet jams, then it will be considered a trifle that does not affect the total value of the house. Cranes can be in good condition during an inspection, and then the gasket in the crane will need to be replaced before you move. The sink can also get clogged at any time or right after you move.

For the buyer little things do not exist, everything is important. Especially with expenses like buying a house. Replacing a crane is already over a hundred and a half dollars, and this is just the beginning. In no house, even the newest one, can you avoid expenses after purchase.

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Why are the inspectors invited? First and foremost is the architecture of the building. Is everything done according to the rules? Are the loads distributed correctly, are all carriers in order, are there any manifestations of subsidence, displacement. Structural changes are one of the most important in analyzing the condition of a home. It costs a hundred dollars to change a faucet in the kitchen, and to strengthen a wall or foundation can cost 10-50 thousand. An inspector is needed in order to identify possible serious problems that may be in any home.


If you bought a house, and after 3 years you realized that the windows in the house are very old and it is time to change them (15 thousand for everything), then there is no need to reproach the inspector for not telling you this. Better blame the real estate broker with whom you bought the house and who did not explain it to you.

The most expensive real estate in Montreal is the oldest. The houses in Outremont and Westmount are over a century old. One medium-sized apartment in such an old house in Outremont costs as much as 2-3 new houses somewhere in Mascouche or Vaudreuil-Dorion. Slightly younger at home in NDG or Cote-Saint-Luc. They were built in the 30s-40s-50s of the last century. And they all have problems or problems. There is always something to do, to update. Of course, serious problems are more common in these houses than in newer ones. But they are still much more expensive than new ones. The house will stand for 200 years. Its price will be determined not by age, but by location. You just need to monitor the house and make timely updates.

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No, ot everything. There are so-called hidden flaws that the inspector cannot detect. For many years I have had only one serious case when a problem was discovered in the house after the purchase, requiring very expensive repairs. Inspectors do not open walls during building inspection, do not shovel snow on the roof, do not undermine the foundation to see the condition of concrete.

In some situations, it is impossible to see anything or determine with the help of instruments. And the sellers might not even suspect that things were not going well in their house. The house is sold with a quality guarantee, if the problem appeared during the previous owners, they are responsible for it. In fact, even if someone is clearly guilty and legally responsible, it will be very difficult to get money from him. The process can last for years, and it also costs a lot.

When making an building inspection, many begin to think about how to drop the price after it.

Those. so that you can find problems, schedule them for 10-20 thousand, get this money from a notary, then fix these problems for 2-3 thousand, and make some more updates for the rest of the money.

Not every seller wants to reduce the price by such amounts. He can himself call the builders and get an estimate of the work from them in order to understand the real cost of fixing the problem.

If the bank finds out that the house becomes cheaper by 20 thousand after the building inspection, it will refuse to issue a loan and will offer to remake the issued mortgage taking into account this reduction in the purchase price.

The notary may refuse to sign the deed of sale with such a refund.

Everything must be justified. And the best way, if serious problems are found, is to reduce the purchase price by asking the bank to include the cost of the necessary repair work in the mortgage, and give you this money for repairs after the construction company has completed the work.

If we are talking about compensation in 2-3 thousand, then these are trifles, and you don't even need to notify your bank for such amounts. The notary will return them to you during mutual settlements at the time of signing the deed of sale. If we are talking about 5-7 thousand and more, then it is better to do everything right.

During the building inspection, the inspector will recommend what needs to be improved in or around the home and what to look for. This can apply to absolutely everything. And insulation, and electricians, and even the ground level around the house to drain water from the foundation walls.

Recommendations are not problems, they are home care. Problems are something that needs to be addressed immediately. Recommendations are what you better do in the house in the near future, so that later after years there will be no problems. To solve problems, you can try to drop some amounts when buying, but not to follow recommendations.

If you find a large crack in the basement, but dry without traces of water around it, then this is not a problem. We have every second foundation with cracks. The problem is if this crack is leaking. Then, in order to eliminate the leak, we can talk about a price reduction. How much? - Great question. Maybe you have enough epoxy and it costs $ 300, or maybe you have to drain around the perimeter and it will cost many thousands of dollars.

In life, we are not insured against anything. And when buying a house, anything can happen. But in order to reduce the degree of risk and, if possible, avoid unpleasant surprises in the future, the building inspection should always be done.

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