Most people are unaware that the Home Inspection industry currently is NOT government regulated and that not all Home Inspectors are properly qualified.

When selecting a Home Inspector there are a few simple questions you can ask that will help you to ensure you are hiring a professional:

• Ask for the Home Inspector's background

• What Home Inspection training have they taken?

• Are they an active member of any Home Inspection associations?

• Do they carry full errors and omissions insurance? What does that cover?

• How long does a typical inspection take? Be wary of the 1 hour inspectors. A detailed inspection should take between 2-4 hours to perform.

• What standards of practice do they work to?

• Does the inspector have any designations like National Certificate Holder?

• How long have they been conducting Home Inspections?

The Home Inspection industry has an effort underway to become self-regulated and through the Canadian Association of Professional Home Inspectors (CAPHI) inspectors can become National Certificate Holders. This program is being endorsed by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Provincial Associations also have their own designations. A Home Inspector with any association designation has gone through rigorous training and has proven to work to a certain set of standards-these are they inspectors you should seek out.

A Pillar to Post franchisee can offer their clients the following:

• Detailed computer generated reports complete with colour pictures (no handwritten reports that are hard to decipher) that are printed onsite at the time of inspection.

• Tag all major shut off's in the house.

• A seasonal checklist.

• A home filing system for household expenses.

• Cost estimate guide.

• Discount coupons from Sears.

• Test all appliances in the deal

• Provide information sheets on systems specific to the house being inspected (ie: Septic, wells, HRV's)

Jay Gregg is the owner of the local Pillar to Post franchise and has the following qualifications: National Certificate Holder #NCA00307, Associate Member-Ontario Association of Home Inspectors, Certified Pillar to Post Home Inspector, WETT certified for basic visual inspections, Certified radon tester, certified indoor air quality tester.

For more information contact Jay at 519-940-4912 or visit his website at www.pillartopost-orangeville.com

Or contact Tammy Woods, Royal LePage RCR Realty, Sales Representative for more information about what to expect with a home inspection and should you do one?