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Home Insepctions for Peace of Mind

Ampwood Home Inspections is a premier home inspection company, providing you with over 25 years experience, dependable results, exceptional customer service and a prominent reputation.

We are dedicated to providing the following services to our clients:

• Pre purchase inspection
• Tarion PDI Inspections
• New construction inspection
• Pre-Warranty Expiration Inspections
• Investor Property Inspections, including multi-unit housing
• Pre-listing inspections

Purchasing a home demands countless consequential decisions but it does not have to be nerve-racking.  Virtually all real estate professionals encourage home buyers to invest in a professional home inspection before purchasing a property. A home inspection is one of the most significant steps in the home purchase process. 

Our inspections are three to four hours and we invite you to join us as we call attention to the positive aspects of your home, as well as any mandatory and ongoing upkeep that will be required to preserve the property’s condition. 

By having a professional home inspection, you will have a more comprehendible understanding of the home you are purchasing so you can make an assured decision. 

We provide the highest quality on-the-spot checklist reporting system available. Each inspection includes a detailed inspection report upon completion, including a Home Maintenance Manual and DVD. Having a detailed home inspection report before you move in will prepare you for any potential problems and set your mind at ease. 

In addition to looking out for your safety, you will be helping ongoing cancer research efforts. From each inspection, Ampwood Home Inspections donates $5 towards the Canadian Cancer Society.

Service Areas Include:

Brampton, Vaughan / Woodbridge, Mississauga, Oakville, Bolton, Richmond Hill, Thornhill, Kleinberg, Georgetown, Toronto.

Regions:
York Region, Peel Region, Halton Region, GTA, Toronto etc.

Call us  today at 905-553-7104 to book your home inspection!

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

It’s the day before the home inspection and you’re wondering how to prepare. The home inspector will be canvassing the home and you want the process to go smoothly. Whether you’re in a new construction home, an older home, or having an investment property inspected, here are a few things to do to prepare for the home inspection.

Make sure the power and utilities are turned on.  A big part of a home inspection is checking to see everything is working properly. Tests will be done to inspect electrical, gas appliances, and plumbing systems, including water faucets, toilets, heating or air conditioning (depending on season), kitchen appliances, lights, and anything else that turns on. Having the utilities and pilot light turned on in advance will ensure that the inspection won’t have to be delayed or rescheduled.

Get the home in working order.  Spend some time walking through the home and check things that you can fix in advance, like making sure light bulbs work (both inside and out), windows open and shut, window screens are installed, and that doors open and close properly.

Clean the house and make it easy to walk through.  The home inspector will be following a checklist and even though cleanliness isn’t on the list, a clean home will make the inspection much easier. The home inspector will be going from room to room, opening doors, checking appliances, and working carefully to review conditions. Vacuuming and dusting can help with the ease of inspection. Even though a clean home is optional, it will make the process go smoother.

Move any obstacles in advance.  If there is stuff to step over or obstacles in the way of maneuvering around the home, make sure to move these things in advance. Anything that is in front of the furnace, water heater, or air conditioner needs to be moved so the home inspector can get up close. Locations like the attic, crawl spaces, and attic will also need to be accessed and unlocked if necessary. Move furniture or clean closets so that the home inspector has a clear path.

Have your paper work of repairs or remodeling handy and show the home inspector.  Just like if you were selling a car, the home buyer will be curious about the repairs and work that have already been done to the home. The home inspector will include information about these items, which is especially helpful when it comes to answering questions about upgrades to appliances, problem areas, or remodeling. The more information about what has been done, the better.

The home inspector will come prepared with everything that’s needed for the inspection, including tools and paperwork. Make sure the home is ready and prepared for a thorough inspection.

What’s the Roof Got to Do With It?

Having a roof over your head is absolutely essential to a livable home. It is also the area of your home that stands to get the most abuse from outside elements. Keeping your roof in good repair and maintaining it over the years will help you when it comes to increasing the value of your home. A good roof inspection will make sure you have an insulated home and prevent eventual structural damage.

In most places a roof should last up 20 years or longer, depending on the materials used and harsh elements from the weather, such as snow and hail. A damaged roof can create problems that you might not be able to see without a roof inspection. Things like roof leaks happen over time, usually toward the end of the roof’s life. A roof in disrepair can create moisture and mold intrusions that silently cause damage. Remember, just inspecting the surface of the roof isn’t enough.

As a home inspector, I do the roof inspection from a few different angles and locations, scanning it from below, using a ladder, and from inside the attic. When I climb up to the roof I am looking at the condition of the shingles or other roofing material, but my inspection doesn’t stop there. The condition of a roof also shows in the attic area or ceiling below the roof space and even around skylights. As for the roof itself, when there is damaged shingles or tar, this could indicate a problem area. Shingles that are cracking, missing, or curled should be further inspected and replaced. With a low sloping roof, you want to make sure water is draining and not pooling up in areas. A sagging roof or discoloration could also indicate problems. 

Water damage from a leaky room can have an unfortunate domino effect. A problem roof is going to affect a lot of things in a house, such as heating and cooling bills, which will rise when there is not adequate insulation. Because the roof is literally the main support structure, its upkeep should be a top priority.

For maintenance of your own roof, make sure to keep it free of buildup from debris and clean and inspect it at least once a year both from the outside and inside the attic. If you suspect you need a new roof or have a problem area, get it fixed sooner rather than later.

Maintenance Checklist for Homeowners

Being a homeowner is liberating, however you must remember that home ownership involves maintenance and repairs as required. It is especially important to maintain the home before and after the winter months, when the home is subject to harsh weather conditions and possible safety hazards.

At least once a year, homeowners should conduct a thorough check to ensure their home is in good order. Below is a maintenance checklist to help you keep track of the items you should inspect and maintain on a regular basis to prevent major repairs and expenses in the future:

1. The roof should be replaced approximately every 25 years, depending on the type of materials used. In the meantime, it is important to examine the roof on a regular basis to look for loose or damaged shingles. You can then repair as required.
2. A leaky roof is uncomfortable and can cause a lot of damage to the inside of your home. It is therefore important to inspect and repair when necessary the flashing around roof stacks, vents, skylights, and chimneys as possible sources of leakage.
3. Gutters keep your house free from leaks and flooding. Examine your gutters regularly, looking for uneven, or damaged gutters, downspouts, hangers, gutter guards, and strainers. Especially in the fall, it is important to clean any debris and leaves from the gutters as required.
4. Trees are an inviting addition to any yard; however the branches growing above and around the house can cause damage. Therefore, it is important to cut back any branches and shrubbery growing too close to the house to prevent damage to its exterior.
5. Keep heating costs down by checking that caulking, insulation and weather-tripping are installed and installed properly. 
6. Before the cooler months arrive, it is important to drain pools, hose bibs, water lines and sprinklers. Draining your water lines is important to preventing broken water pipes and draining the pool is important to keeping it clean and healthy.
7. Especially when the cooler weather approaches, inspecting your heating system on a regular basis can save you mid-winter headaches in case of a breakdown and money in case of repairs.

Regardless of the time of year, inspecting your home on a regular basis is important to saving you money in the long run and keeping you and your family safe. If you are purchasing a home or selling your home, it is important to hire a certified home inspector to conduct a thorough and professional home inspection for you.

Think a New Home is Free of Problems and Repairs? Problems Your Pre-Purchase Inspection can Determine

A new home is supposed to be free of maintenance and repairs right? Actually this popular belief is not true. New homes unfortunately can come with rushed deadlines and the use of substandard materials. It is therefore extremely important to have your house inspected by a professional Home Inspector.

You should always opt for a pre-purchase inspection to ensure your new home was built properly and the necessary safety measures were followed. After all, it would be quite frustrating to find some of your electrical outlets don’t work or your basement is susceptible to flooding during major rain storms.

Below is a list of common new home problems that your certified Home Inspector can help you discover prior to purchase, saving you a lot of money and headaches.

1. Water seepage. If water is found in the basement, it could be a sign of improper grading; meaning the ground adjacent to the home isn’t sloping away from the home as it should. It could also be due to defective gutters and downspouts.
2. Settling cracks in the foundation. Cracks in the foundation are often caused when a new home is built on a hill or landfill. Cracks can cause your foundation to shift and experience further cracking if they are not immediately repaired.
3. Poor attic ventilation. Poor ventilation in the attic can lead to mould and mildew problems throughout the house.
4. Poorly installed attic insulation. It is important to conserve energy and if the insulation in the attic is not properly installed, the rest of the house will lose heat in the winter and cold in the summer. Your home inspector will check that ventilation isn’t covered and vapour barriers are facing the right way.
5. Poor fitted duct work in heating systems and air conditioning units will produce a lot more heat and cold air that only your wallet will feel! It is important to ensure ducts are fitted properly.
6. Poor roof construction and workmanship. Your Home Inspector will inspect your roof to ensure flashing was properly installed and proper materials were used in the overall construction of your roof.
7. Unprofessional brick work. Whether the mortar was poorly applied or other details were done amateurishly, this could be a sign of other issues you have not yet discovered!