Did you know that, by law, when you hire a home inspector, your home inspection contract must contain specific information? Keep reading to learn more.
First of all, itâs important to know that, in BC, home inspectors are required to be licensed by Consumer Protection BC and have to follow certain laws. To learn more about BCâs home inspection sector, explore our website.
When getting a home inspection, youâll want to make sure your contract includes specific information thatâs required by law. Here are three pieces of information your contract must include (for the comprehensive list, check out this section of the Regulation):
1. Whether or not your inspector will look for mould and asbestos
The mere thought of mould and asbestos can strike fear in any homebuyerâs heart, and it can sometimes be difficult to identify potential problems. By including this information in the contract, you can decide whether or not you may need to call in a secondary specialist to look for these kinds of issues.
2. What will be covered in the home inspection
Your contract will state exactly what is covered in the home inspection â make sure you read this section carefully to make sure no important areas are missed! Itâs also important to know your contract is not allowed to exclude garages or carports (regardless as to whether or not theyâre attached to the home). Itâs a good idea to have a conversation with your home inspector about what is included so you have a solid understanding about what will be inspected.
3. That your inspection is non-invasive (or, if invasive, the procedures that will be used)
Usually, a home inspection is a non-invasive (visual) inspection. When you think about it, this makes sense: how would you like a bunch of holes poked in a home you were trying to sell? Because home inspections are typically non-invasive, itâs important to understand there are limitations as to what your home inspector can check and see.
Remember, buying a home is a large investment and itâs important to get all of the information you can prior to making the purchase. Getting a home inspection is a good way to help you make an informed decision. For more information about your home inspection rights and responsibilities, explore our website.
ADDITIONAL READING:
What happens during a home inspection?
Top 5 tips if youâre buying a home
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Hi Doug, thank you for your question. Consumer Protection BC requires that the licensees have both Error and Omission Insurance and Comprehensive General Liability insurance. It is my understanding that there is nothing in our regulations that require Work Safe coverage. Here is a link (look at step 8: set up and maintain liability insurance) with more information relating to home inspector insurance requirements if you’re interested in checking it out. I hope this helps!
I am having a home inspection done at my house, is it mandatory for a CPBC member to have a Work Safe coverage ?
Thx.
Hi, I had a home inspection done at my home when we were away during the time that house was in the market. When we came back from our vacation noticed that one of the outlets that had our bidet seat in master bedroom is not functional anymore. Also, our fridge was pulled out and from what it seemed the board on the side of the fridge was damaged, resulting in tight space to push the fridge back. The fridge now has a large scratch on the paint. This is a 2 years old fridge and very expensive one. When we tried to connect with the inspector company we were treated very impolite and they basically said that the fridge was not moved by then as it is considered an invasive inspection and they will never do that. I done believe that as no other person viewing our house during that time needed to move the fridge. Now, it is our guess against their words. I like to find out the statement we are told about the fridge moving being invasive is actually true based on their trainings and licensing. What is the best way to find that out?
Hi Kamelia, thanks for reaching out to us here. Your home inspection contract should include confirmation that the inspection will be non-invasive. Most home inspections are visual and the home inspector will be limited as to what they can check and see. This information should be in the contract you signed with the home inspector. If it’s not in your contract, I would suggest working with your home inspector to find out where that information was shared with you. If you can’t resolve the issue with the home inspector, you can try contacting a home inspection association – which many home inspectors are a part of. They can sometimes help with quality of service issues. If you are seeking reimbursement for damages to the fridge, however, you may need to take legal action. If your claim is less than $5000, you can try to resolve it through the Civil Resolution Tribunal. Here’s a link to more information on that process: https://civilresolutionbc.ca. I hope this helps and best of luck!