What to Expect From Your Inspection

If you are in need of a home inspection in the Calgary area, Homestead Inspections is here to help. Whether you need a buyer’s inspection, a pre-listing inspection, or you are simply interested in a home inspection to ensure proper maintenance of your current home, you can trust us to deliver excellent services.

Our certified home inspectors are always here to help, ensuring that you are aware of any potential issues with your current home or a home that you are interested in purchasing.

We are focused on education, and our goal is to provide you with all of the information you need about the property in question. We welcome our clients to walk through the home with us and to ask any questions they may have throughout the inspection process.

Homestead Inspections uses a through, multi-point checklist that ensures that no stone is left unturned, and we will explain the overall condition of the home and its systems to you and your agent after your inspection is complete.

In addition, we will compile a comprehensive Spectora report, delivered online via HTML, or in PDF format, documenting all of our findings and including images, references and further details. This report will be available for you both in a desktop-friendly format and a mobile format so that you can stay in-the-loop and check your report even when you’re on the go.

Standards of Practice

Wondering what’s included in a standard home inspection from Homestead Inspections? Here is a quick overview of the services included in your home inspection, and the major systems that we analyze and assess throughout the process.

Roof
The roof is one of the most costly and important structures. We will examine the roof, its structure, shingles/tiles, flashing, gutters, downspouts and more.
Exterior
This includes the exterior walkways and doors, siding, eaves and soffits, fascia, paint, and other such elements of the home’s exterior.
HVAC
We will visually inspect the HVAC systems including ducts, filters, furnaces and air conditioning units.
Plumbing
We will visually inspect plumbing fixtures for proper function, including tubs, sinks, hoses, showers, and water shut-off valves, and look for leaks and other such flaws.
Electrical Systems
We will visually inspect both interior and exterior electrical systems including service drops, service masts, grounding, outlets, meters, circuit breakers, and other such systems.

Appliances
We will test and examine all major appliances like hot water heaters, washers and dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, and more.
Doors, Windows & Interior
We will check doors and windows for proper sealing and drafts, signs of mold or water damage, and more. We will also check the condition of all interior spaces.
Foundations, Basements and Crawl Spaces
We will examine the foundation, crawlspaces and basements to look for signs of things like past water damage, foundation cracking or shifting, and other such potentially expensive issues.
Attic, Ventilation & Insulation
We will examine the attic to ensure it is properly ventilated, check for mold and moisture, assess the level of insulation, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Everything is covered in snow. Can you still inspect the house?

Yes, we can still inspect the house, but there will be some limitations – the largest being the roof covering. When roof coverings are buried in snow, they are more difficult to inspect however we will do everything we can do view the roof covering and evaluate the general condition of the roof.

How much do you charge?

For home inspections we charge a flat rate of $450. We do not charge based on square footage or number of items to be inspected.

How much time does a home inspection take?

On average, between two and four hours. We typically spend another one to three hours typing each report off-site.

When are you available?

In general, we book out approximately five to seven calendar days in advance. That said, we can always accommodate short notice requests. For the fastest scheduling, please call or use our website contact portal.

What do you inspect?

For a buyer’s inspection, we inspect the major items that most buyers want to know about. For a full list, please visit our Services page. All reputable home inspection companies will cover all of these items; it’s a standard list common in the industry. What sets us apart is our knowledge, experience, attention to detail, inspection report, and passion for our work.

Do you offer repair estimates?

No, but we are happy to refer you to some of YYC’s greatest contractors for a quote.

Do you inspect commercial buildings?

Yes. We offer inspections of office buildings, restaurants, churches, apartment buildings, warehouses, and other commercial buildings.

Are you licensed?

Yes, we are fully licensed through the Province of Alberta’s licensing program.

Can you inspect a home in another province?

Yes! Some provinces require specific licensing, however we always welcome the opportunity to inspect in other areas. Contact us for more information.

The furnace is really old. Should I hire a furnace guy to look at it?

We typically don’t recommend hiring any other inspections right from the start. If we suspect a crack but we can’t prove it, we’ll recommend inspection by an HVAC contractor, but we’ll be specific about our concern, and we’ll write it out in our report. We’ll also include a photo if we can.

Will you inspect geothermal heating systems?

No. We’ll check for the basic operation of the system, but that’s all. There is far too much that can go wrong with the design and installation of these systems. To anyone buying a home with geothermal heat, we recommend obtaining detailed installation and service records for the system, as well as an inspection by an HVAC company who specializes in geothermal heat.

Will you get on the roof?

As long as we can safely do it, yes. We carry big extension ladders on our vehicles for inspecting two-story roofs. A lot of duplexes in the Calgary area have roofs that can only be accessed this way. In the event that the roof is unsafe to be on we will use a drone to get an up close view without putting our team’s safety at risk.

Can I see the inspection agreement before you do the home inspection?

Yes, we email the inspection agreement to our clients at the time we book the inspection, and we ask our clients to fill out the inspection agreement online ahead of time.

Can I schedule the home inspection via email?

Yes, however the best way to schedule an inspection is via phone call, text or our website.

Can I be there for the inspection?

Definitely. We encourage our clients to attend the entire inspection, if possible.

When will I receive the home inspection report?

We will email the inspection report within 24 hours.

What to Expect From Your Inspection

Wondering what’s included in a standard home inspection from Homestead Inspections? Here is a quick overview of the services included in your home inspection, and the major systems that we analyze and assess throughout the process.

Frequently Asked Questions:

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