Passing Your Home Inspection

Failing a home inspection can be detrimental to closing a sale and can turn away prospective buyers

Whether your home is old or new, there will always be things that may fall short during a home inspection. Identifying and dealing with these issues can prevent costly repairs and ensure your home is in good condition. You can even do a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you’re looking for. It’s also a great idea to stick around during your home inspection to ask questions and hear findings first-hand.

We’ve narrowed down the most common items that could cost you the most money. Before you list your home for sale in Ottawa, we highly recommend you read our free report called “11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection”. Even if you aren’t listing your home in the near future, having a general knowledge of this information can help you maintain your property for any future inspections you may need.

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How it works

There are two types of assessments in Ottawa real estate: a buyer’s and a pre-listing inspection for sellers

Buyer’s inspections happen after an offer is made and before closing a sale; seller’s inspections are done before the home is listed for sale. Pre-listing inspections can bring to light any potential issues or repairs that need to be made on the house before someone buys it. A successful pre-listing review will save you time during the closing process and makes your home attractive to buyers.

For an average-sized home, inspections typically take a few hours, and it takes around 3-4 days for the final report. During your assessment, the inspector will evaluate the interior and exterior of the home and the area surrounding the property. They’ll look for safety issues or anything that’s broken, hazardous, or defective. Home inspectors don’t care for anything cosmetic, so you don’t have to worry about that horrible colour you chose to paint the bathroom. They will only report on something cosmetic if it poses a potential safety issue – like water damage or cracks in the ceiling.

A long list of problems could come under scrutiny during a home inspection. The most common things that a home inspector looks for include:

Structural Damage
Water damage
The condition of your roof
Damaged electrical system
Plumbing issues
Infestations
HVAC system issues
Heating system issues
The condition of attics and basements, including visible insulation
Damage to the windows, doors, floors, ceilings, and walls
Damage to the foundation of the home

You don’t necessarily have to repair any issues brought to your attention during an inspection; however, you’re legally required to disclose the results to your buyers. Pre-listing inspections are a good idea because it allows you to prepare yourself for possible repair requests and negotiations that may come from buyers. Pre-listing inspections are an excellent idea if you have an older home.

Don’t forget; buyers will also bring in an inspector before they close on the sale.

Passing Your Home Inspection

Get a Free report on the 11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection

There are two types of assessments in Ottawa real estate: a buyer’s and a pre-listing inspection for sellers

A long list of problems could come under scrutiny during a home inspection. The most common things that a home inspector looks for include:

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