home inspectors: Ontario inspectors at least 2 years away from licensing
- 03/11/18 12:25 PM
In February, Allan Spisak, Chair of The Professional Home & Property Inspectors of Canada (PHPIC) along with 4 other Inspection Associations met with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) to discuss Licensing and Regulation of Home Inspectors in Ontario. The draft Regulations will be available for public input in the fall of 2018, and once licensing is announced Home Inspectors will be given 18-24 months to meet the minimum standards. This means that we are still 2 years away from all inspectors becoming licensed! The most important agreement was that all inspectors will be required to pass a written exam, pass … (0 comments)
home inspectors: air conditioner + dog pee = disaster
- 03/04/18 11:03 AM
Urine damages condenser coils Urine is acidic and will quickly damage your air conditioner, especially if the unit is running when your pet piddles on it. The fan will suck the urine through the coils and distribute it inside the cabinet, causing unseen damage. This kind of damage significantly affects system performance and lifespan. Removing the animal from the area will not stop the corrosion from progressing. Unless the entire unit is professionally cleaned (hopefully in time) the final result may be replacement of the unit - which usually means replacement of the entire central air conditioning system. Warranty replacement would be … (4 comments)
home inspectors: Occupational Profile: Home Inspector
- 04/30/17 07:11 AM
Ontario Network for Internationally-trained Professionals OnlineA home inspector does a thorough examination of a house, both inside and out to determine the home’s condition, habitability and safety. Home Inspectors check the condition of the roof, foundation, floors, walls, insulation, plumbing and electrical system. They look for evidence of deterioration or safety risks like faulty wiring and gas leaks. The inspection will determine where repairs will be needed and where there have been problems in the past. These inspections generally do not include opening walls or pulling up carpets. Each home inspection takes approximately two to four hours, depending on the size and … (4 comments)
home inspectors: A Closer Look: Qualifying Ontario's Home Inspectors
- 04/25/17 10:38 AM
The Ministry of Consumer Services asked a volunteer panel of experts to review home inspector qualifications in Ontario. This is the panel’s report to the Minister. Currently in Ontario, anyone can call themselves a home inspector. This report takes a closer look at Ontario’s home inspector profession and recommends that it should be regulated. It also explains the rationale behind the need for regulation and recommends additional considerations for the government to strengthen the profession and consumer protection for home buyers and sellers when purchasing home inspection services. A Closer Look: Qualifying Ontario’s Home Inspectors
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home inspectors: Growing health risks fuel rise in fresh air systems
- 01/18/17 09:57 AM
(NC)-Respiratory disease is steadily on the rise in Canada. In fact, asthma has increased by 160 per cent over the last 15 years according to the Asthma Society of Canada. One household out of four has a family member who suffers from asthma, allergies, or another chronic respiratory disease. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) points to poor indoor air quality as the culprit for this increase. Did you know the air inside your home and at work can be up to 100 times more polluted than the surrounding outdoor air and people spend up to 90 per cent of their time indoors? These … (0 comments)
home inspectors: Modern oil heat makes a convincing case
- 01/18/17 07:58 AM
(NC)-The fuel used to heat your new home is a personal choice, so don't hesitate to request exactly what you want from your builder. "In a lot of instances, new homes are automatically built with the intent of heating with natural gas and without input from the homeowner," says Dave Frittenburg, president of the Canadian Oil Heat Association (COHA) Ontario Chapter. "Homeowners should know that they have options when it comes to their heating fuel, and that oil heat is considered a premium choice for comfortable, efficient heat." According to COHA, oil heat offers homeowners a safe, dependable, environmentally friendly and economical alternative … (0 comments)
home inspectors: Why your finished basement may be cold
- 01/17/17 08:15 AM
(NC) Chances are that your furnace has the capacity to heat your basement and the above-ground levels of your home. So why are so many finished basements cold in winter? Lack of cold air return ducting is often the culprit. For any furnace to deliver warm air to a given room, the cool air that's already there needs to get out of the way. Unfortunately, cold air return ducts are often forgotten when basements are finished. To function properly, they need to draw air from the basement floor level where it's the coolest. This work is best done by a professional heating contractor. If … (0 comments)
home inspectors: Inspecting home inspectors
- 01/03/17 09:04 AM
Examining the quality and consistency of home inspections In real estate transactions, some things never change. Sellers often feel they’re giving their house away, buyers believe they’ve paid too much and Realtors fear neither side will ever get to the closing table. There is however one thing that has been inconsistent in real estate transactions: the quality of the home inspection. That’s been slowly changing over the past thirty years or so, with the inception of professional home inspection associations. To gain membership, home inspectors typically prove their competency by passing exams, meeting annual education and experience requirements - and by maintaining a … (0 comments)
home inspectors: When things go wrong...
- 12/27/16 07:21 AM
There may come a time when purchasers discover something wrong with the house, and may be upset or disappointed with the home inspection. Some problems can only be discovered by living in a house. For example, some shower stalls leak when people are in the shower, but do not leak when you simply turn on the tap. If there are no clues of a past problem, one cannot presume that the inspector should foresee a future problem. Some say we are inconsistent because our reports identify some minor problems but not others. The minor details that are identified were discovered while looking … (4 comments)
home inspectors: Home Inspections... Just another expense?
- 12/27/16 06:53 AM
Congratulations! You've found the perfect home, and now it's time to do the offer and close the deal. Many home buyers are feeling a cash crunch by this time, and may be wondering why they would want to incur yet another expenditure, such as a home inspection. A valid consideration!
In our experience, a home inspection can do two important things.
Firstly, buyers will have an unbiased, professional opinion of the overall condition of the home, and an understanding of any areas of concern. Home buyers can be made aware of hidden or unrecognizable defects or potential problems in the home. Sometimes the … (2 comments)
home inspectors: Getting the most from your home-buying team
- 12/27/16 06:06 AM
(NC) - For many of us, our home will be our most significant asset. Therefore, it makes sense to employ the services of top-notch professionals when setting out to buy. Referrals from friends, family, or other housing professionals are always a good place to start looking for these key players:
Real estate agents The job of the real estate agent is to help you find the home you want, so make sure you tell them exactly what you're looking for and willing to pay. Armed with that knowledge, a licensed real estate professional will: Inform you about the state of the market and … (1 comments)
In February, Allan Spisak, Chair of The Professional Home & Property Inspectors of Canada (PHPIC) along with 4 other Inspection Associations met with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services (MGCS) to discuss Licensing and Regulation of Home Inspectors in Ontario.
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