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Real Estate Talk:
Choosing an inspector

What to know and look for when choosing a home inspector

By Joseph Marovitch

January 17, 2024

This past week, I had a client searching for a home inspector. I was told the client had a cousin who was a part-time contractor for the past two years and would be the inspector. As this is my client and my responsibility is to serve their best interest and protect them from costly mistakes in purchasing a home, I said, “No, he will not be your inspector.”

Purchasing a residential property is one of the most important and expensive investments in most people’s lives. Why make the purchase even more expensive and possibly a legal liability?

The inspector should not be a person with a backward baseball cap and a pad and pencil. Home inspectors check for everything they can see in the property and some things they cannot see but suspect. Inspectors check for but are not limited to the following:

  • Foundation cracks and/or erosion
  • Exterior wall cracks and/or erosion
  • Front and back balcony damage or rot
  • Front and rear doors
  • Windows and frames
  • Roof
  • Electrical system
  • Heating system
  • Plumbing system
  • Central air conditioning
  • Floors
  • Ceiling cracks
  • Garage door
  • And so much more

Each of these points has many more points attached to them that must be examined. Only a trained and experienced eye can see and find all the issues that may devalue the property and cost money.

At times, the inspection is very good with few or no issues, in which case the buyer is lucky. Other times, a proper inspector will find issues that can be very costly. Good inspectors can also detect signs that indicate an issue that requires a specialist. In this type of situation, the inspector will refer the buyer to a specialist to have those issues further examined.

Only a trained and experienced eye can see and find all the issues that may devalue the property and cost money.

In this article, we are not discussing everything the inspector does and is responsible for, but rather what to look for when searching for a home inspector. As stated earlier, a buyer does not choose a person with just a pad, pencil and two eyes who is related or has some experience. The inspector must be:

  • Trained
  • Certified
  • Experienced
  • Equipped
  • Have excellent detection and deduction skills.

Therefore, the prospective inspector should have training and certification from one or all of these recognized Quebec and OACIQ (Organisme d’autoréglementation du courtage immobilier du Québec) organizations such as:

InterNACHI – International Association of Certified Home Inspectors in Quebec

AIBQ – The Quebec Association of Building Inspectors

CAHPI – Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors

PHII – Professional Home Inspectors Institute

The inspector should have at least two to three years of experience as an apprentice and then several more years working on their own.

An inspector should arrive for the inspection with a myriad of tools such as a tool bag to open panels, a flashlight, a camera, a folding long ladder, a device to check live electrical wires, a humidity device to check for water infiltration and moisture, a thermal imaging device to check for moisture, cracks to see if they are superficial or surface, live wires in a wall or cold air coming in the house. The inspector should also have a pad and pencil.

‘The inspector should have at least two to three years of experience as an apprentice and then several more years working on their own.’

Finally, if the inspector is certified, it must have been determined that they have excellent detection and deduction skills.

You can usually find out if the inspector has all the proper prerequisites by checking their website. However, not all inspectors have a website or one that has all the required information. Therefore, the buyer can ask the inspector the following:

  • What are their qualifications?
  • How many years have they been an inspector?
  • Do they have references from other clients?

Always have a proper inspection in every purchase!

Should you have questions or comments, please refer to the comments section at the bottom of the page. As well, to view past articles, click here.

Next article: What are the buyer’s options if the inspection indicates major issues


State Of The Market

Bank of Canada interest rate: 5 %
Canadian prime rate: 7.2%
Canada inflation today: 3.4 %

According to the Association professionelle des courtiers immobiliers du Québec (APCIQ) in The Gazette, home prices rose in December 2023 even though sales fell by 4%. This is a very general comment since rising prices and low sales vary from municipality to municipality and from low-range priced homes to high-range priced homes.

Generally, inventory is still low. Demand is not high, but it is consistent. There are always those who must buy and sell. The Bank of Canada’s target inflation rate is 2%, however, the rate increased recently to 3.4% from 3%. Hopefully, this will reverse so we can see interest rate decreases in mid-2024.

‘… home prices rose in December 2023 even though sales fell by 4%. This is a very general comment since rising prices and low sales vary from municipality to municipality and from low-range priced homes to high-range priced homes.’

Issues that are influencing where interest rates go are the U.S. election. The U.S. requires a study, competent, no-drama, fair, with integrity President who is inclusive and cares about the rest of the world and what the effect of the rest of the world will be on North America. The U.S. does not need a narcissistic President who will place his own needs before the people. A hero and a leader is someone who can be self-sacrificing before self-preserving.

Have a great week!


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Joseph Marovitch has worked in the service industry for over 30 years. His first career was working with families from Westmount and surrounding areas, hosting children between the ages of 6 to 16 as the owner and director of Camp Maromac, a sports and arts sleep-away summer camp established in 1968. Using the same strengths caring for the families, such as reliability, integrity, honesty and a deep sense of protecting the interests of those he is responsible for, Joseph applies this to his present real estate broker career. Should you have questions please feel free to contact Joseph Marovitch at 514 825-8771, or josephmarovitch@gmail.com


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  1. Gilles Larin

    Very accurate and informative on home inspectors! When the Québec Government decides to implement regulations pertinent to property inspection, inspectors will need a permit delivered by the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec. Until that happens, I strongly recommend to use Joseph’s wise method as well!


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