Not an Expert? What Gives?

It’s hard to believe I’ve been doing this whole home inspection thing for over four years now. Since March 2021, I’ve written more blog posts (and visited more homes around Halifax and central Nova Scotia) than I can count—covering everything from home inspection and maintenance to the occasional personal reflection.

If you were curious (or bored enough) to look for the most common words I use, there’s one you’d barely see on my site: “expert.” And that’s intentional.

Much like my logo designing skills, I am not an expert.

Why I’m Not an “Expert”
​Do I have enough education and experience to be confident in what I do? Absolutely! But home inspectors are generalists, not specialists. And there’s nothing wrong with admitting that.

Yes, I know more about electrical systems, plumbing, roofing, and HVAC than the average homeowner—but I’m not, and never will be, a licensed electrician, plumber, roofer, or HVAC technician. I also won’t match the deep, specialized skill of someone who does just one of those trades every day.

Nobody Can be Everything
Think about it: it's impossible for anyone to be a master electrician, licensed plumber, experienced roofer, HVAC technician, and structural engineer all rolled into one, at least not at a price anyone would be willing (or able) to pay. Some people suggest hiring 5 different specialists to each do a detailed inspection. Beyond the cost, it would be a logistical nightmare (with my career background in logistics I would know!) If anyone has successfully scheduled five or more trade specialists (six in rural properties when you consider septic systems) to show up on the same day and time, I'd love to hear about it as I've never seen it happen. 

Setting Realistic Expectations
One common theme I've noticed when reading complaints about home inspectors online is that expectations often weren't set clearly from the start. Here's the truth even if it's not popular to say: we can't make guarantees. Yes, every inspector, including me, will miss something. Not something obvious like an active leak, exposed wiring or missing shingles, but things like squeaky hinges, missing cabinet screws or slight imbalances in air or electrical loads. 

Referrals to Specialists are a Good Thing (Usually) 
When a home inspector recommends you consult a licensed contractor, engineer, or other specialist, it's not an excuse but rather a sign of being thorough and responsible. I'd rather see a home inspector who freely admits when something is beyond the scope of a general inspection than one who pretends to know everything. 

That said, it's also one of my pet peeves when home inspection reports simply say "consult an electrician, consult a plumber" over and over without explaining why. Clients deserve to know what triggered that recommendation as well as a starting off point when contacting a specialist. 

Even though inspectors aren't experts in every field, our training and experience help us spot issues most clients (and often even seasoned homeowners) would miss. At the end of the day, our role isn't to be the ultimate authority on every system: it's to equip clients with the knowledge and tools to make informed, confident decisions about their homes.