Frequently Asked Questions
Certifications go hand in hand with experience. Not all certifications are created equal nor all experiences are created equal at the same time. When considering your home inspector, certifications and experience should be considered. For example, you're looking at purchasing a home in Saskatchewan, would you consider an inspector that's certified from Ontario, Wisconsin, British Columbia, or Arizona? Absolutely not! Consider an inspector who's certified by Saskatchewan, in Saskatchewan, for Saskatchewan people such as you!
Frequently asked questions
When considering a Home Inspector, an Inspector that's looking out for you and your needs is a key element. We are certified by the Saskatchewan Building Officials licensing exam, Class 1. This means we have the same certification your municipal inspectors have that are employed by municipalities and the cities like Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, etc. We have taken the same course and the same examinations that they have to in order to approve building permits, renovation permits, etc.
What are your certifications?
We are Class 1 Saskatchewan Building Official certified. We are also certified as a Drinking Water Quality Technician by Health Canada. I have an Incomplete BaSc. Environmental Health Science degree. When I began in the trades over 20 years ago, I have experiences in HVAC, general construction, plumbing, gas fitting, fireplace installations and servicing, Public Health Inspections and Water Treatment Sales and Service.
Why should I trust you with the biggest purchase of my life?
Simply answered, we have you as our client as our biggest priority. Certifications and experiences are different for every inspector. We are looking at a moment in time with your potential property purchase, not all things are apparent in nature. With that in mind, we do offer an optional post-possession inspection as a peace of mind.
Why should "I" as a prospective home buyer choose you?
Good question! We can't influence your decision when shopping for a home nor can we influence you to choose a realtor to work with. We can only earn your trust in your process of home buying. We do this with experience and knowledge including having your interests as a priority.
I'm looking at a home with a fireplace, can you do the inspection?
Short answer, no. Only Inspectors that have the W.E.T.T. certification can inspect fireplaces, we can still inspect the rest of the property though. This is important for your potential home's insurance. We can certainly recommend an inspector or point you in the right direction as this certification also requires many more hours of installations and servicing that we have in order to qualify.
How long does the average inspection take?
Inspection times vary significantly. The average inspection for us is 4 to 8 hours including the walk through. In our walkthrough, we point out issues the property has but won't waste time with the obvious. Issues such as rodent infestation, wiring, plumbing, etc. We won't get hung up on window dressings, etc.
Does your company include reports?
Absolutely! Reports are emailed to you in a timely manner depending on the inspection. For example, since the Building Code book is hundreds of pages in length, not every "Code" is memorized due to the nature of the Canadian Building Code. We do at times refer to the Canadian Building Code and that can take a bit of time to generate a report for references. On average, the turnaround time for reports are 3 - 5 business days. This also includes the water analysis if requested from the Provincial Lab.
Who owns the report?
Our clients own the report for their records. It is shared with your realtor as well to help finalize the sale of the home. Only you as our client can choose who else to share the report with. We do maintain a copy for our records as well.
Do you have a list of "trusted" plumbers, HVAC techs, etc.?
Absolutely. Even though we work with a series of plumber's, etc. throughout the province, we only share their information with you, not the other way around. This way, you can make the "Sound Investigative" choice on who to call for future work, etc.