What are important qualifications for a home inspector in Canada?

A home inspector is mainly hired by individual buyers or real estate agencies to carry out a home inspection. The home inspector needs to write up a home inspection report and submit it to the concerned client.

 

The main job of a home inspector is to ensure that the condition of the house complies with all the residential property regulations of the province. The inspector is responsible for checking for any safety hazards, system malfunction and issues regarding the infrastructure.

 

A typical inspection can be an exhilarating task as it requires taking note of every detail. This can extend from a few hours to several days’ work. Besides, home inspection not only includes examining the property but also communicating the issues with the client. So a home inspector needs some specific qualifications to carry out their jobs efficiently.

 

When hiring a home inspector, a client should usually look for the following skills and qualifications:

 

Expertise

A home inspector should be able to take measurements correctly, understand the architecture of the house, and follow the proper regulations to offer an expert opinion on the condition of the house.

 

Data Entry

During a home inspection, the inspector needs to document both the flaws and perfections about the property. Moreover, they have to adjust these documents with follow-up inspections after alterations are made to the house. So a home inspector must have knowledge and experience with data entry.

 

Strong Communication Skills

Clients have very little understanding of the engineering of a house when purchasing one. It is important for the home inspector to communicate with the clients in a manner they understand. The inspector must know how to interpret the reports so that people without backgrounds in construction can understand.  

 

Attention to Detail

Most of a home inspection job is to identify each and every issue of the house that can raise future problems. Even missing a single detail can be fatal. So, the most important skill for a home inspector is to have attention to detail.

 

Certification

While many countries require various certifications for licensing a home inspector, there are no such requirements in Canada. Alberta and British Columbia are the only two provinces in the country that require home inspectors to attain an inspection license.  

 

Home inspectors can attain a license through the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Authority (BPCPA). There are also classes and training sessions available to prepare you to take the licensing exam.

 

A home inspector needs certain qualities such as being organized, having an eye for the details, and preferably an educational or training background related to construction. They must also be knowledgeable about engineering, residential regulations in their province, and have a very strong communicating and writing skill.

 

Because home inspectors do not need certifications in most provinces in Canada, it is wise to look into the inspector’s qualifications, skills and experience when hiring one.