Additional Inspection Types

In addition to our regular Buyer's Home Inspection (click "Inspections" on the menu), we also offer the following six types of inspections -

PRE-LISTING (Seller's) HOME INSPECTION:
While pre-sale home inspections are common, inspection requests from the homeowner/seller are a reasonably new concept. Driven by the “insane” real estate market in Toronto a few years ago, they have become more and more common throughout the province.
A pre-listing inspection is completed by the home owner before they list their home or during the listing process, and is sometimes recommended by their real estate agent. There are numerous advantages to having a pre-listing inspection done:

It allows the seller to see their home through the eyes of a skilled, experienced home inspector, who will not have the “attachment” to the home that the homeowner may have.
It will allow the seller to correct any deficiencies that are identified during the inspection. Some buyers may get hung up on the number of smaller issues, and this gives the homeowner time to correct them.
It may help the homeowner/seller to more accurately price the home. If the deficiencies are declared, then it can be stated that this was factored into the asking price.
An inspection will notify you of any safety concerns that may dissuade a potential buyer, allowing you time to correct them.
It may encourage a firm deal, especially if the inspection was done by a reputable local company with years of experience and a known reputation for honesty and integrity.
It may leave the buyer with the feeling that the homeowner/seller is making a gesture of forthrightness, adding some comfort to the prospective buyers’ opinion of the home and the sale process.
The buyer may appreciate that the homeowner/seller has paid for this inspection to reduce the need for the buyer to have a similar inspection done. This may also help in completing the sale, with one less obstacle to address.

 ALL-TECH EXCLUSIVE: ON-SITE REVIEW
A home inspection is typically done for the contracting client, therefore the contents are for their exclusive use. Every home inspection has a clause stating that the responsibility for the contents is exclusive to the client and not transferable to a third party. While an All-Tech Pre-Listing Inspection is detailed and comprehensive, nothing beats being able to talk to our team of professionals. That in mind, with the homeowner's permission, we offer an “On-Site Review” of the homeowner/seller’s inspection to the buyer. During the review, we walk through the inspection with the buyer and then transfer the report to the buyer. This gives them peace of mind as they have had a chance to talk to the inspector, personally. The buyer can then contact All-Tech with questions or requests for trade assistance after the sale. While there is a fee for an On-Site Inspection Review, it is substantially less than the full cost of a conventional home inspection.

HOME OWNER MAINTENANCE INSPECTION:
Why a Home Maintenance Inspection? Think of this as a check-up for your home. With today’s busy lifestyles, the homeowner often does not have time to do annual maintenance work, and some areas may get missed. If you are contemplating getting some repair work done, this type of inspection can be vital. Our team of skilled, experienced inspectors, who are all retired/former home builders/contractors, have no vested interest in selling you something; you will get an honest opinion on the condition of the home and its operation. This may help in negotiating with companies attempting to sell you service and/or products.
   Seniors find this service especially helpful. They are often preyed upon by unscrupulous sales persons/companies to do maintenance to their home that is either not needed or, if needed, not to the degree of work they recommend, and/or not at the cost quoted.
     During the inspection, you will get the chance to walk with the team members ask questions and get an unbiased opinion on your home. The client is asked to prepare a list of concerns they have, before we arrive at a home maintenance inspection; this, so that the concerns can be discussed at the beginning of the inspection. Recent invoices, documenting any repair work that has been done, should be available for viewing, so that we can confirm the work was done correctly.
   A home maintenance inspection is essentially the same as a standard home inspection with an additional three lists provided. Along with the customary report, you will receive:

A Required Items List, outlining areas that need immediate attention, (along with a list of three or more reputable local trades to contact for quotes and further evaluation;
A Deferred Items List, which include the things that should be dealt with soon;
A Future Maintenance List, outlining areas that should be monitored but that are not urgent.

If you feel that your home needs energy upgrades, for a small additional fee, during the Home Maintenance Inspection we can do a Thermal Imaging Scan of all windows and doors to advise on their condition, and whether repair or replacement is recommended.

TARION ONE YEAR WARRANTY INSPECTION
In Ontario, new home buyers are protected by a new home warranty provided by Tarion Warranty Corporation, a provincial administrative authority that oversees new home builders and how they operate within the province. Your Tarion Warranty has five parts to it. The original PDI, a 30 day inspection list, a one year and a two year report along with the full warranty of the structure only that covers this for seven years. The First year inspection has shown to be the most important after the PDI.
     The builder’s package can be a bit daunting and you should take all the time you need to understand the process. Once your new home is ready for occupancy, your builder is required to complete a Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) and there are a number of forms for you to complete. Reputable builders will take their time, often upwards of 3 to 4 hours, going over the home so that you understand how it operates. The onus is on you, as the new owner, to take note and identify any incomplete, missing, damaged or non-operational items in the home before the builder hands it over to you. The PDI is “very important,” as it sets the bench mark for any repairs needed. It can be difficult to demand repairs after the fact if the issues were not noted to the builder during the PDI.
    We advise that you get the Tarion New Home Warranty Guide and a copy of their Tarion Pre-Delivery Check List Guide before you attend your PDI. For the most part, new home builders are reputable and want you to be satisfied, especially at the outset. We do not do these PDI Inspections. The home is new and there are a percentage of builders who resist a home inspector present for a PDI, while they still actually own the home. Click here for a “New Home Walk-Thru Booklet,” put out by John MacDonald Architect inc. This is an excellent guide in understanding how to complete your PDI.
     In our experience, new home buyers often miss the following items during the PDI.

Pay attention to the ceilings, look for cracks or any unevenness.
Doors should fit well and locks should be tight; neither should rattle.
Drywall should have no noticeable seams or fasteners popping out.
Walk the entire floor and ensure there are no uneven areas or squeaks.
You should not see any ridges in the floor or flooring like tiles.
Check all sinks, tubs and showers for “complete” caulking.
Turn each tap on and wait for hot water to arrive, flush the toilets. With your knee, gently press against the bowl of the toilet; it should not move.
Operate every bathroom and kitchen fan and ask your builder to show you where they exhaust to the exterior.

Experience has also shown that living in your home is the best way to understand it and become aware of any “quirks” and areas of deficiencies that may show up over the first four seasons.
All-Tech Consulting Group’s experienced team is available to complete the “One Year Warranty” inspection for homeowners:

confirming that the repairs noted from the PDI and the 30 day inspection have been resolved;
do a complete residential home inspection, confirming everything is functioning as it should and if not, documenting this for the client so they can report this to Tarion and the Builder for corrections and repairs.

This may be the last chance you get to have any deficiencies repaired under warranty. You have one year to complete this inspection and it should be sent to Tarion within the last month of your first year of occupancy.
Please call our office at 613-546-9876 or email alltechconsultinggroup@gmail.com before the eleventh month of your occupancy to book your One Year Warranty Home Inspection.

PROPERTY PRESERVATION, including:
POWER OF SALE PROPERTIES and VACANT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
All-Tech Consultant Group will monitor the home that is under your care, at agreed to, physical, on-site intervals, or via 24/7 wireless monitoring, as preferred by the client. As well, we inspect and repair the property for quick sale, in order to maximize the return on the client’s investment. (For more info click on Property Preservation on the menu, above or click here.)

As an effective tool in building sciences, it has a vast array of uses. A hand held thermal imaging camera in the hands of a trained and experienced operator is a valuable investigative tool. The camera can detect energy loss, verify the integrity of a structure, prevent electrical fires and pinpoint water issues on a roof. To effectively evaluate the home, the camera requires temperature differentials.

We are one of the only home inspectors with a Thermal Imaging Camera in the area. We have been certified for nearly 10 years. It is strongly recommended that the client attend the Thermal Energy Assessment Inspection, so that he/she can see the actual images on the camera and take notes.

THERMAL IMAGING
With the FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera, All-Tech can provide a fully documented report of the problem areas, including pictures.

We are one of the only home inspectors with a Thermal Imaging Camera in the area and have been certified for over 10 years. It is strongly recommended that the client attend the Thermal Energy Assessment Inspection, so that he/she can see the actual images on the camera and take notes.

With the FLIR Thermal Imaging Camera, All-Tech can provide a fully documented report of the problem areas, including pictures.
Once the client has their notes or an All-Tech inspection report in hand, they can proceed with the necessary energy upgrades and maintenance, as per the evaluation. The Standard Energy Efficiency Thermal Inspection fee is $550.00. (Click on "MORE" on the menu for additional info on Thermal Imaging, or click here.)