|
While this has never been asked of me, at least as of November 2025, an increasing number of inspectors now offer to defer payment for a home inspection until the closing date, often called “pay at closing.” While I understand why this option might seem convenient, especially during the hectic process of buying a home, I’ve chosen not to offer it for several important reasons.
1. The inspection is for YOU, not the “deal” A home inspection is an independent assessment meant to protect your interests, not the transaction’s. When payment is tied to the closing, there’s an implied connection between the inspection and the deal’s success, or between the inspector and real estate agent(s) that can create unnecessary pressure or perceived bias. I prefer to keep the inspection process completely separate from any real estate dealings so you can be confident that my only focus is giving you clear, honest information about the property. 2. Delayed payments create unnecessary complications Closings can take weeks or months, and occasionally they don’t happen at all. If the deal falls through, inspectors are often left waiting indefinitely or chasing down payment. By collecting payment at the time of inspection, I can keep my business simple, efficient, and focused on providing great service rather than managing delayed accounts or paperwork. 3. It helps keep prices fair for everyone Pay-at-closing programs typically involve third-party billing services that charge extra fees to the inspector. Those costs often get passed back to clients through higher inspection fees. By avoiding those programs, I can keep my rates below the industry average for all clients and continue investing in better tools, training, and reporting. 4. It reflects the professional value of the work Home inspections are performed before closing for a reason: they provide essential information you need to make decisions about one of the largest purchases of your life. Payment at the time of service simply reflects the fact that the work is completed and delivered at that point, much like an appraisal, a survey, or any other professional service in the homebuying process. Of course, I am always happy to answer any of my client’s questions with no time limit, but an actual home inspection is completed when the report is delivered. I believe in keeping things simple and transparent. When you hire me, you get an honest, thorough, and unbiased inspection with a clear, straightforward payment process. No extra fees, no delays, no hidden costs and many of our standard inspection fees are listed on our website for all to see.
0 Comments
As a home inspector, I’ve started to notice a growing trend during recent inspections: an excessive number of air fresheners throughout homes. A recent inspection had me note a total of 14 air fresheners in the small basement area alone. While everyone wants their home to smell pleasant, it’s important to understand that air fresheners are not a solution: they’re a temporary cover-up at best. What Air Fresheners Really Do Air fresheners don’t eliminate odours; they mask them. Whether it’s a damp basement, mould growth, pet odours, or poor ventilation, the real problem remains hidden behind a cloud of artificial fragrance. This can make it harder for potential buyers or even inspectors to identify serious issues that require attention. Why This Matters in a Home Inspection When I walk into a home and find multiple air fresheners in nearly every room, it raises a red flag. It makes me wonder:
Potential Health Concerns Beyond masking problems, heavy use of air fresheners can also affect air quality. Many contain chemicals like phthalates, benzene, or formaldehyde, all of which can irritate the lungs, trigger allergies, or cause headaches, especially for children or anyone with asthma or sensitivities.  This is an AI generated exaggeration, but not far off what I have observed in some homes. Address the Source, Not the Scent
Instead of reaching for another plug-in or spray to eliminate the bad smell, consider solving the root cause of the odour: Improve ventilation: Use bathroom fans, kitchen range hoods, or consider installing mechanical ventilation like HRV/ERV systems. Even a stand alone air purifier is an improvement, even if not ideal. Control moisture: Use dehumidifiers (especially in the summer!), seal foundation cracks, or improve drainage around the home. Clean regularly and naturally: Baking soda, vinegar, and activated charcoal can neutralize odours without chemicals. Have professional inspections: If you’re unsure of the cause, a home inspector can help identify where the problem is coming from or in some cases can direct you to who to contact or next steps to take. A fresh-smelling home is great, but a healthy, well-maintained home is far better. Air fresheners might create a pleasant first impression, but they are not a substitute for proper maintenance, ventilation, or repairs and do not resolve the underlying issues that cause unpleasant odours in the first place. It's now Autumn and October is just days away. While it is one of my favourite months (Halloween is second only to Christmas in our house) it is also prime season for mouse infestations here in Nova Scotia. When temperatures drop, these small rodents start looking for warmth, shelter, and food. Any guess what offers all three? October is Mouse Move-in Month Mice are incredibly adaptable creatures, but like the rest of us they are not fans of the biting Maritime cold. As the fall chill sets in, mice start scouting for a cozy place to nest. We have generally older homes in our province and it takes just a 6mm round hole for a mouse to squeeze through: something most homes have in an obscure location. They can also enter through gaps around utility pipes, foundation cracks (especially block foundations), poorly sealed doors and garage door gaps.  They may be cute, but are also dangerous vermin to homeowners. Signs You Might Have a Mouse Problem
One reason why I am not a dedicated pest inspector is that it's really hard to detect mice in homes. While literally every commercial building I have worked has had visible mice or rats at one point I have never seen one during a home inspection. I have however seen lots of evidence to suggest there is a high probability of unwanted house guests. Here are a few signs:
Tips to Keep Your Home Mouse Free Living in Nova Scotia means enjoying four distinct seasons, but that doesn't have to mean sharing it with rodents. Here are some quick tips to keep mice out:
Final Thoughts As a home inspector, I constantly preach to my clients the importance of being proactive and taking action before issues happen. When it comes to keeping rodents out the advice remains the same: the best way to get rid of mice (as it is with any pest) is to prevent them from entering your home in the first place. Have a warm, safe and mouse-free autumn season! Being a home inspector often means developing some detective skills. I’ve always liked how Mike Holmes would say, “I see XYZ and am going to store that in the back of my mind.” I do this on almost every inspection. Something I can’t immediately identify or explain will often become clearer as the inspection progresses. That said, there are some things that—even with modern tools and AI searches—remain surprisingly difficult. One of the biggest? Determining the age of an appliance. You’d think such a simple question would have a straightforward answer. But ask any home inspector, and they’ll tell you: many manufacturers seem to go out of their way to make it as difficult as possible, using cryptic codes that feel like they were designed by a professional codebreaker. Here are a few examples from well-known brands: Lifebreath (Heat Recovery Ventilators) Since 1995: The manufacturing date is encoded in the first six digits of the serial number.
GSW (Water Heaters) The first two digits indicate the year, and the next two indicate the week of the year.
Venmar (Heat Recovery Ventilators) Residential: The 5th and 6th characters are the year, and the 7th and 8th are the month.
These are some of the easier examples. Others are so cryptic I could spend literal hours researching them. In those cases, I rely on other clues—like the type of refrigerant used, the presence of a QR code, or how faded the label is—to make an educated guess. Sometimes, home inspections are less about having all the answers right away and more about knowing how to find them… even if it means a bit of detective work. Why it Matters Knowing the true age of appliances and systems isn’t just trivia: it can influence repair decisions, replacement planning, and even negotiation power when buying or selling a home. If an appliance is nearing the end of its lifespan, it’s better to know now than be surprised later with an unexpected breakdown. A good home inspector isn’t just looking at what’s there today: they’re helping you anticipate what might be coming tomorrow.  Look! A Unicorn! It actually has the manufacturing year listed! 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. At our core, we believe that respect, safety, and inclusion aren't just buzzwords — they’re the foundation of good business. We feel it's important to be open about what it means to be a LGBT-friendly business and why that matters in the home inspection industry. It’s Not About Politics. It’s About People. Being LGBTQ+ friendly doesn’t require a rainbow logo or grand gestures. It simply means treating every client and colleague with dignity, courtesy, and fairness: regardless of their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. For Inside Edge, that means:
A Safe and Healthy Home Is for Everyone Home inspections are personal: we inspectors are stepping into someone’s space, often during a major life transition and everyone deserves to feel safe and respected during that process. We may not have the lived experience of being part of the LGBTQ+ community, but we listen. We educate ourselves. We try to be allies in the way we show up for our clients and in the way we run our business and strive to improve with every inspection. I play hockey with a LGBTQ+ focused group here in Halifax known as Halifax Mussels and have learned that the term “ally” is not just a meaningless phrase but involves speaking up and/or taking action to defend the LGBTQ+ community.  I love hockey and that it's finally becoming more inclusive to all. Why It Matters in Our Industry
The housing and real estate industries haven't always been free of discrimination, and I have been critical about how the home inspection industry is generally lacking in diversity compared to society at large. While things have improved, stories still surface of LGBTQ+ individuals being treated differently during the buying or selling process. We want to be part of the movement that says: not on our watch. As a home inspector, my role is to deliver professional, unbiased evaluations of a home. Who our clients are is never relevant to how we do our work. Actions Speak Louder Than Labels I don’t call myself an ally for the sake of appearances: we just want everyone who contacts us to know that you’re welcome here. Your identity doesn’t change the quality of service we offer, and we do not and will never discriminate based on race, religion, national origin, political affiliation or sexual identity. Our experience of living in a diverse community strengthens our commitment to being the kind of business you want to work with — one that’s fair, respectful, and grounded in integrity. We’re proud to be a small part of your journey, and we promise to bring not only our technical expertise but also our commitment to inclusion and kindness into every inspection we do. |
Archives
November 2025
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Inside Edge Home Inspections Ltd.
Halifax, NS 902-209-9921 [email protected] Proudly Serving the HRM & Central Nova Scotia |
|