Home inspections

A licensed home inspector must meet certain education and training requirements, be insured and have a criminal record check.

Check the licence of a BC home inspector.

A home inspection is a visual inspection only. Keep in mind, that home inspectors are trained to recognize signs of major problems; they are not experts in all fields. You may need to bring in expert advice to deal with specialized issues. Remember that home inspectors can help reduce the risk, not eliminate it.

If you are starting your search for a home inspector, here are a few tips for success:

• Do your research! Check to find out if the home inspector is licensed with us. You can also check to see if they have had any enforcement action taken against them.
• Get a minimum of three written estimates from different home inspectors before making your choice.
• Request referrals from past clients.
• Choose an inspector based on qualifications and reputation, not just cost.
• Give yourself time. Consider finding a home inspector before selecting your new home.
• Familiarize yourself with the inspection process and what to expect from your home inspector.
• Request a walk-through after the inspection. You can ask that the home inspector give you a verbal summary of their findings before they prepare the report.
• If the home inspector found some deficiencies, you should try to get three quotes for repairs from independent contractors. The inspector should not give estimates or refer you to a contractor.
• Ask questions. If you have any questions or concerns about the inspection process, try talking with the inspector to clear up any issues.

When you decide to hire a home inspector, they must give you a contract with specific information about the services they will provide. Here is a list of the information that must be in your contract:

• The address of the property.
• Exactly what will be covered by the home inspection? You should know that garages and carports must be included in the inspection.
• Whether or not the inspector will look for mold and asbestos.
• Confirmation that the inspection will be non-invasive. Most home inspections are visual and the home inspector will be limited as to what the inspector can check and see.
• For invasive inspections, what procedures will be used.

Talk with your home inspector to make sure that you understand how the inspection will take place and what will be included. If you review your contract before the inspection, you will be able to make sure that no important areas are missed.

If information is missing, work with your home inspector to correct it.

If you are unable to resolve the issue directly with the home inspector, contact us.

• An opinion on everything your home inspector agreed to look at in your contract
• A list of areas where the home inspector believes you should get expert advice
• A list of areas that were not covered by the home inspection
• The home inspector’s contact information and license information
• The consumer’s name and address
• The address of the property under inspection

If your home inspection report does not have the required information, you have the right to ask your home inspector to make any corrections.

If you are unable to resolve the issue directly with the home inspector, contact us.

If you are not happy with the quality of service you received from your home inspector, the first step is to try and resolve the problem directly with them. You may be able to work together to fix any issues.

Many home inspectors are a member of a home inspection association. These associations can often help with the quality of service complaints that are not covered by our laws. Find out if the home inspector is a member and ask for assistance by contacting the associations directly.

The home inspector associations in BC:

Applied Science Technologists and Technicians of British Columbia (ASTT)
Home Inspectors Association BC (formerly CAHPI BC)
Canadian National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (CanNachi)
National Home Inspector Certification Council (NHICC)
If you feel that you have suffered damages because of your home inspection, you may need to take legal action. If your claim is under $35,000, you may be eligible for a claim in BC Small Claims Court. If the damage is greater than $35,000 you may want to hire a lawyer.

Learn more about Small Claims Court in BC.