WCHI - FAQ

Okay, that was a little Home Inspector humour for you! If you would like to know what a
West Coast Home Inspection is all about... read on!

What is a STANDARD Home Inspection?

A bit of a misnomer, a West Coast Home Inspections Ltd. Standard Inspection is an
extensive professional visual observation of the home's structure, exterior, roof, attic,
garage, basement, crawlspace, plumbing system, electrical system, heat & air conditioning
systems, and interior. I will evaluate the accessible and visual components of the home or
building and report on any items that are significantly deficient or near the end of their
service lives. I will point out positive as well as negative findings, inspect major kitchen
appliances (refrigerator, stove, oven, dishwasher, permanently-installed microwave, &
garbage disposal), and also provide useful information on upkeep and maintenance.

What Kind of Report Do You Provide?

I am proud to state that my report is one of the best in the business and is a true
communication tool! I am not knocking the inspection abilities of those who choose to
use a pre-packaged large-format binder with pages of checklists and hundreds of pages of
house reference material (which I suspect few people ever read), or a skimpy 15 page
narrative - I simply believe that these formats are not the most effective way to convey
important findings to you.

I will provide you with a 30 - 60 page report SPECIFICALLY written for YOUR home,
complete with a detailed summary and clear, colour photos detailing any notable areas. I
collect and compile data on-site, provide you with a verbal summary during our walk-
through, and complete the report at my office, where I can research certain conditions and
provide extra background material as needed. The report will verbally and visually walk you
through your home, and unless we have scheduled a late afternoon inspection, will be
ready the same day.

Should I be Present During the Inspection?

Preferably, yes. It's better for you, and for me, if you can attend the inspection.
However, I recognize that you have a busy schedule and can’t always be there every
minute of the job. Done correctly, an inspection is a tall order and does not end when I
leave the site. I spend as much time AFTER the on-site inspection uploading your
photographs, explaining my findings, and compiling your information where I am able to
research certain conditions and provide technical information where needed.

I do what I can to schedule your inspection around a time that works for you (and prefer
to start between 10AM - 2PM), but as you are spending a great deal of money on a home,
I encourage you to do what you can to arrange your work schedule in order to allow you
at least some time on site. Take a long lunch and drop by the inspection for an hour… just
a thought.

How Many People Can Come to the Inspection?

I know you are excited and think that this may be an opportune time to show the house
to your friends and relatives, but it’s not. Out of respect for the current homeowner I try
to discourage guided tours. During an inspection, the house is put into my care; I am
totally responsible for the house and all of its contents and I take this responsibility
seriously. I would do no less were I inspecting YOUR current home.

You are also paying me a fair fee for a thorough inspection, and I could miss something
important while trying to convince little Johnny that the toys in the house aren't his. I
realize that there might be some unavoidable circumstances which could require me to
bend the rules a bit. I enjoy informality, but the inspection is a serious piece of work which
needs our undivided attention. As such I like to limit the number of people at the
inspection to two.

What kind of Training do you have?

I am a graduate of the Advanced Inspection Training Home Inspectors Program, which is
NATIONALLY ACCREDITED and exceeds the National Certification and Accreditation
Program recently established and adopted by the CMHC. The national certification program
is based on existing occupational standards. In a nutshell, there is no better training
available!

Is a Home Inspection expensive?

No! Compare the cost of the Home Inspection with the cost of a used vehicle inspection
and you will find that the relative cost of the Home Inspection is much cheaper. As a wise
consumer you would pay $125 for an inspection on a vehicle worth $5000, that you DO
get to test-drive. Likewise, I would certainly hope you would pay a few hundred for a
home worth 100 times as much, that you did NOT get to test! Think of me as your
personal test driver!

Further, sellers are often willing to pay for repairs, or to renegotiate the purchase price, on
the basis of my professional findings. This can save YOU, the buyer, much more than the
cost of the inspection.

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. I suspect the house
you are buying is not the cheapest house, but rather a house that you feel represents
good value. I urge you to choose your home inspector the same way, and challenge any
other inspector to provide the level of service, professionalism and value that I provide.

How long does an Inspection take?

A typical home inspection takes between 2-1/2 and 3-1/2 hours. Some older and/or larger
homes can take longer, while smaller Condos less time. As a courtesy to the Homeowner
they should be informed of the time involved once the inspection is arranged.

When do we pay?

Payment is due in full at the end of the inspection; I accept cash, cheque or credit cards
(in advance via my website). Sometimes he-thought, she-thought he/she was going to
bring the cheque book. At any rate, payment is always due no later than when I present
the final written report.

Who gets a copy of the Inspection Report?

Home Inspection reports are confidential. I provide one copy to my client. If a client asks,
I'll provide a copy to their Realtor, Lawyer, Insurer or Banker. I don't provide copies to
anybody else.

Should I have a new home inspected?

YES... Absolutely! Click here!

Do Home Inspectors check for code compliance?

No. Building Codes are constantly being revised, and are very different from what they
were even ten years ago. No house built thirty years ago would pass present-day building
codes. This does not mean that older homes are necessarily unsafe. The purpose of a
Home Inspection, performed in accordance with your inspection agreement, is to
determine the functional condition and safety of a home, as it is at the present time, not
whether it meets past or present codes.

Will further inspection be required?

Maybe; a Home Inspector is a professional generalist. The Inspector's knowledge and
experience are very broad and includes the ability to recognize hundreds of conditions.

Like a general-practice physician who refers a patient to a specialist, a Home Inspector will
sometimes suggest further evaluation by a specialist in the electrical, plumbing, or other
specialized field. It is up to the buyer whether or not to follow this suggestion. If the
seller agrees to make repairs at the buyer's request, for a nominal fee the Home Inspector
can, if the buyer wishes, return to inspect these repairs to ensure they've been completed.

What happens if I want to dispute an Inspection Report?

In the event of any concern or disagreement you may have with my inspection or report,
please call me! I always give my very best when performing an inspection and my primary
objective is your satisfaction. If you are not satisfied, I want to know about it and would
be happy to discuss any issues with you at your home, over a coffee, or over the phone.

If the case is filed in Provincial Court, how do I know that settlement funds are
available should the Court find the Inspector negligent?

You are protected. If, in the unfortunate last-case scenario that a dispute cannot be
resolved informally and ends up in Court, West Coast Home Inspections Ltd. carries full
Liability and Errors and Omissions Insurance. The place of arbitration shall be Abbotsford,
British Columbia, Canada. The language of the arbitration shall be English. Should the
inspector be found negligent the settlement will be paid directly to the plaintiff by the
inspection company's insurance carrier.

I trust I've answered your questions. If you have any others, please contact me!

Kind regards,
Arne Larsen
West Coast Home Inspections Ltd.

Definition: A Home Inspection is a high-liability, in-depth, multi-disciplined technical analysis of the home
conducted under adverse circumstances in front of a demanding audience, requiring the generation of an
incredibly detailed written report prepared in an unrealistically short time frame for an inconceivably low fee.
~ author unknown ~

Things are not always as
they appear!

Frequently Asked Questions