Roofs have always been a concern for buyers, but I think with all the recent shows on TV (e.g. Holmes Inspection), people are becoming more concerned with the condition of the roof as the effects of water damage are quite scary. Every time Mike Holmes identifies roof damage, interior walls are coming down and men in radioactive protective gear show up on the scene to remove all the mould! If you ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on May 1, 2011
It is always a shame when you hear about someone having a huge financial surprise on the day of closing. On the day you are making the biggest purchase of your life, many forget to calculate all of the other expenses that are to be paid on closing. These expenses will not be rolled into your mortgage, so be sure to calculate them all on top of the money you had planned to put down as your ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on January 26, 2011
Now that you have bought a home and are in need of an inspection, how do you decide on who you are going to hire? Here is a list of questions that should be asked before you decide on your home inspector. You want to do everything you can to ensure you hire the best person for the job. A person that you are confident will be able to identify all of the deficiencies in the home so ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on October 8, 2009
Home buyers hire home inspectors to help discover deficiencies in the home they are hoping to purchase. This inspection should reveal all major issues in the home so the buyer understands the condition of the home before they purchase it. Problems arise when buyers choose to go with the cheapest inspector they can find, don’t interview inspectors before they are hired or don’t ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on October 7, 2009
When you see the following problems listed as a concern in your inspection report, be sure to ask more questions to find out how serious the problem is and how much it will cost you to remedy. If the inspector writes “N/A”, “can’t be determined” or worse, left blank beside any of the following problems, be sure to bring a specialist in so you have a clear understanding ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on October 5, 2009
It is not the intended purpose of a home inspection, but the inspection might also give you some insight into potential opportunities for repairs and renovations that will not only make your home more pleasant to live in, but may also increase its value. With the federal government's new Home Renovation Tax Credit, you may have financial incentive to undertake some of these projects once you ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on October 4, 2009
Since anyone with a clipboard and some business cards can call themselves a home inspector, it is important to find one who is most qualified to accurately assess the various elements of a home. It is important to do your research so you can ensure the inspector you choose is the most qualified to do the best job.
First-time homebuyers should go to any chapter of the Canadian ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on August 21, 2009
It is essential for all buyers to accompany the home inspector throughout the house. "When the client attends the home inspection, our inspector will physically show the client both the areas of concern and the benefits of the home construction. The client has a much better understanding of the quality of the home and a far greater and deeper understanding of what they're about to get into", ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on August 13, 2009
Home buyers need to know what problems exist in the home before they purchase it, they will need to be given information on how much money will be required to make the necessary reparations, as well as how much money they will need to invest in their home within the first five years or so. A good home inspector will be able to identify all faults and flaws and be able to set out a timeline for ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on August 11, 2009
Welcome to my 8 part series on home inspections. Many home buyers underestimate the importance of a quality home inspection. A big mistake purchasers often make is to search out the cheapest home inspector on the block to conduct this vital stage of the home buying process. It makes not sense to me to have the cheapest guy inspect the largest investment you and your family will ever make. A quality ...
Posted by Sean Kavanagh
on July 31, 2009