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Q: HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN IN BUSINESS?
A: Home inspection companies are easy to start but difficult to maintain.
We have seen many come and go. Shuswap Consulting Services has been in
business since 1996 and have performed over 2,500 commercial and residential inspections.
Q: WHAT ARE YOUR INSPECTORS' QUALIFICATIONS?
A: The industry is now regulated in BC. Ensure your inspection company is licensed. Shuswap Consulting holds licence #47140 with Consumer Protection BC. Only members of the Canadian Association of Home &
Property Inspectors (CAHPI BC) can use the designation Registered Home
Inspector (RHI) in British Columbia.
Glenn Hill is an RHI with CAHPI BC. He also holds a national certification. He was originally a member of the
American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) in British Columbia which was replaced with our own Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI) and has
since served on the Board of Directors of CAHPI. Glenn is also a
Registered Professional Forester, has a Level 1, BC Building Code
Officials certification, is WETT certified to do wood stove inspections and has completed the Carson Dunlop Commercial Inspection Course. He
also holds a diploma in Urban Land Economic from UBC in Real Estate
Appraisal.
Q: CAN I FOLLOW ALONG AT THE INSPECTION?
A: If a company discourages you from attending the full inspection, don't
use them. We actually encourage you to attend. This is a valuable learning
experience for most home buyers. It is the perfect opportunity to ask
specific questions about the condition of the home. Also, when defects are
identified, the inspector can discuss these so that you understand what
repairs are required.
Q: DO YOU DO REPAIRS?
A: No. We specialize in building inspections. We consider it a conflict of
interest for a home inspector to perform repairs. We offer an unbiased
opinion on the condition of the home. We accept no referral fees from
anyone.
Q: HOW MUCH DOES AN INSPECTION COST?
A: Our typical fee for a home inspection is around $400. Less for townhomes, mobile homes or condominiums.However, some factors
will affect the fee. If you are comparing home inspection firms, the fee
charged should not be the sole deciding factor, unless of course the level
of service offered is identical. We suspect the house you are buying is
not the cheapest house, but rather a house that you feel represents good
value. We urge you to choose your home inspector the same way.
Q : HOW LONG DOES AN INSPECTION TAKE?
A: A typical home inspection typically takes between 2 and 3 hours. Some
older and/or larger homes can take longer. As a courtesy to the vendor,
they should be informed of the time involved once the inspection is
arranged.
Q: DO YOU PROVIDE A WRITTEN REPORT?
A: Yes. Our report is ready for you within 24 hours of the inspection. We
use a comprehensive report writing system from Carson Dunlop, a leader in
home inspection report sytems, that our clients have found to be essential
in assisting them in their decision to purchase. It is also a valuable
reference during your ownership of the property. It includes a summary of
the condition of the home, nine reports dealing with the major systems of
your home, and our recommendations.
Q: CAN WE ASK YOU QUESTIONS AFTER THE INSPECTION?
A: Certainly. We would be glad to answer any questions you might have
after the inspection.
Q: WHAT DO YOU LOOK AT?
A: We inspect the major systems of the house. These include the roof,
exterior, structure, electrical, heating, cooling, plumbing, insulation
and interior. Our goal is to identify any existing major problems that
would affect a typical purchaser's buying decision. We will add
significantly to your knowledge of the home, but still cannot tell you
everything about the house. All home inspections are entirely visual. No
destructive testing is performed. The inspection and report will put you
in a much better position to make your decision. |
