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When my family purchased our home (and before I became the home inspector you know and love!), I would never have considered signing on the dotted line without having an independent inspector evaluate the property first. Yet over the years, I've met many homeowners who were hesitant about home inspections or questioned their value altogether.
What I discovered was that many people had either experienced a poor inspection in the past or knew someone who had. In some cases, inspectors lacked the technical knowledge needed to identify significant issues that might not be immediately apparent. In others, they failed to communicate their findings clearly and effectively, using industry jargon that few members of the general public know or understand. There is also considerable misunderstanding among first-time homebuyers about what a home inspection actually includes, and, just as importantly, what it does not. Here are a few of the most common criticisms I hear about home inspections and my perspective on each. "Home Inspectors are More Interested in Staying on the Good Side of Agents!" Ask most inspectors about this potential conflict of interest and they will deny it exists. Unfortunately, my experience suggests that it can happen far too frequently. Over the years, I've heard fellow inspectors privately express concerns about being labeled a "deal killer" or "alarmist" for reporting significant defects. The pressure to maintain positive relationships with agents can be real, particularly for inspectors who rely heavily on broker or agent referral networks. At Inside Edge Home Inspections, our philosophy is simple: our responsibility is to our client not to any transactions. While we certainly appreciate referrals from real estate professionals and others in the community, our reputation has been built on providing trusted, unbiased, and independent home inspections. Any agent or organization expecting us to soften a report or overlook concerns in order to help facilitate a sale is simply looking at the wrong company. A home inspection should provide you with the information they need to make an informed decision. Nothing more. Nothing less. "Just Hire an Electrician, Plumber, Roofer and/or Structural Engineer for an Hour Each" I hear this one all the time and while it's true that a team of specialists could provide a more in-depth assessment of their respective areas of expertise, especially on specialized homes such as older properties. However, coordinating multiple tradespeople to inspect a property: often within a short conditional period, on evenings or weekends, and at a reasonable cost is simply not practical or even possible for most buyers. Home inspectors are generalists by design. We evaluate the entire home as an interconnected system, considering how its major components work together and influence one another. While we are usually not electricians, plumbers, roofers, or engineers, we are trained to identify concerns across a broad range of building systems and recognize when further evaluation by a specialist is warranted. For most homeowners, a professional home inspection provides the best balance of value, convenience, and insight. It serves as a comprehensive overview of a property's condition and helps prioritize any areas that may require additional investigation. "I Can't Trust Home Inspectors: There are no Regulations in Nova Scotia!" This criticism is understandable. Nova Scotia remains one of several jurisdictions where home inspectors are not regulated and with no plans to do so. We tend to think of Canada as being more regulated than our neighbours to the south when in reality it is the opposite, with only British Columbia and Alberta being the exceptions. While many reputable inspectors also support higher professional standards and accountability within the industry, the reality is that anyone can market themselves as a home inspector regardless of their training, experience, or qualifications. This lack of regulation can make it difficult for consumers to distinguish between highly qualified professionals and those with limited knowledge or experience, often referred to as "fly by night" or "drive by" inspectors. The good news is that the marketplace tends to be unforgiving and I can tell you firsthand inspecting homes is both mentally and physically demanding. It requires a deep understanding of residential construction, building systems, communication, report writing, risk management, and customer service. Despite appearances, it is not an easy or high paying profession, and many individuals who enter the field without the necessary preparation do not remain in business for long, with current estimates being about 80% or more of new inspectors in Nova Scotia not making it 2 years. At Inside Edge, our company was not built overnight. Before launching, I spent years developing the knowledge, experience, and systems necessary to deliver the level of service I believed homeowners deserved. I strongly believe that clients should never have to pay for a professional who is still learning the fundamentals at their expense. You only get one opportunity to make a first impression, and from day one, our goal has been to build a reputation based on thoroughness, professionalism, and trust. A quality inspection isn't just about finding defects: it's about providing the knowledge and confidence needed to make informed decisions about one of the largest investments you'll ever make.
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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. As home inspectors, we’re trained to notice the big issues—foundation cracks, roof damage, electrical problems. But one of the most insidious threats to a home’s integrity often hides in plain sight: rust. This reddish-brown menace might seem minor at first glance, but left unchecked, it can cause serious structural and safety problems. I could talk for hours about rust, but this blog is all about getting to the point in a way all homeowners can quickly understand. What Is Rust (in 10 Seconds) Rust is the result of a chemical reaction between iron, oxygen, and moisture. When metal components are exposed to water or high humidity, oxidation sets in. This corrosion process weakens the material over time, compromising its strength and durability. Common Places Rust Shows Up In home inspections, rust can appear in several key areas:
Rust isn’t just cosmetic. Over time, it can compromise load-bearing structures, create leak points, and even present electrical hazards when it invades panels or conduit. In some cases, it’s a symptom of bigger issues like poor ventilation, drainage problems, or past water intrusion. What Inspectors Should Do When you spot rust, document it clearly with photos and descriptions. Note the location, severity, and whether it appears to affect structural integrity. Recommending further evaluation or replacement by a specialist (such as a plumber or structural engineer) is often the best course. Rust may seem like a small thing, but it’s often a sign of deeper problems. As inspectors, identifying it early—and knowing when to flag it for further evaluation—can save homeowners from costly repairs and help maintain a safe, durable property.  This is not unusual to see except this is from a brand new home I inspected. There has been a lot of construction in the Halifax area over the past few years, with many new homes and apartment buildings opening for occupancy this year. With that hopefully comes long overdue opportunities for first time homebuyers in the market. Like any first-time buyer, when we bought our first home it become apparent that the wish list was just that, and many tough decisions had to be made to secure the home we were looking for. Unicorns Don’t Exist Despite the fact it is the national animal of Scotland, Unicorns are not real. So is the idea that you will find the perfect home. Let me dispel that myth right now: I have inspected homes of all types, and every single one is them has one thing in common: they aren’t perfect! I recently had a client who was buying an older home which could best be described as a fixer upper: as a home inspector I rightfully pointed out that while the home may not be aesthetically pleasing, the four major systems (roof, electrical, plumbing, HVAC) were all in great condition and have been well maintained. These homes are often passed over when with a little TLC they can make a great new home!  You can see stock photos like this all over the internet but in reality this doesn't depict the average home! Remember to Use Facts, Not Emotion I tend to be a bit animated when doing inspections, mainly because I love what I do. There is a surprising amount of subjectivity in a good inspection, which is why I am not worried about an AI takeover anytime soon. Ultimately, however, I am interested in hard facts as much as possible. I always look for Electrical: Is it grounded? Is the panel properly installed and labelled? Plumbing: Is the area known for lead pipe? Does the home use modern materials? Roof: What type of material? Are there any missing shingles or pieces? Any signs of leaks? HVAC: What type of heating or cooling system? How old is the unit? Is there evidence of proper maintenance? One of the biggest challenges as a home inspector is to balance between using past experiences and knowledge to draw from, and understanding that every home is unique. One of the best-looking roofs I ever inspected had an active leak and the worst…. did not. Same with sewer inspections: the best looking sewer line I checked was 50 years old while a 1 year old line had a partial blockage! While it can be a challenge, it is important to evaluate facts and know what your bottom line is.  To Repeat, This Roof Was NOT Leaking! Don’t Underestimate Maintenance Costs
One important quality of a good home inspector is to maintain impartiality and avoid real and perceived conflicts of interest. In addition to insurance, property taxes and other fixed costs, one of the "joys" of home ownership is having to deal with system breakdowns. Plumbing leaks? HVAC not heating? Lights flickering? That’s now your responsibility and usually nobody teaches you how to do those things. My passion is helping home occupants from all walks of life live in a safe and healthy home but I especially like helping new homeowners. It motivated me in my first job as a fresh faced 16 year old and it motivates me to provide the best inspection services possible. While I did not start our home inspection company until 2021 (I wish I would have started years earlier but that’s another blog post!) my interest in homes goes all the way back to my childhood. I used to love helping my father do construction projects and got my first job at a home improvement retailer whose name rhymes with Rent.  This is the actual building I worked out of, starting in High School. During the almost 7 years I worked at that company, I got to learn a lot about all aspects of home construction. I was lucky to have worked in almost every aisle in the store at one time or another and even spent plenty of time on home construction sites in the early 2000s (I was inside many of the homes under construction on Portland Hills Drive and Lakeshore Park Terrace in Dartmouth, for example) and got to see homes at various stages of construction but I digress. I have always enjoyed hearing stories from long time homeowners and contractors and relished the opportunity to expand my knowledge. One thing I heard repeatedly was that, without fail, those who were working on or just completed home renovation projects commented on how they were always more expensive and time consuming than they could have ever dreamed. I heard more than one sad story of a DIYer getting in way over their heads and having to restart a project from scratch at great expense. Since that time, I can only imagine it has gotten exponentially worse, particularly with the explosion of home renovation shows that make renovations look like a snap! Spoiler Alert: they aren't!  Not a view you ever want to see in real life! Tearing Out Walls – Not Just a Simple Sledgehammer
I tend to bemoan that nearly every show seems to want an “open concept” home, where many interior walls are removed. The show makes it look so easy: a few swings of a sledgehammer, a few minutes of cleanup and voila! In reality:
I am certainly not saying to never ever remove walls: in many cases this may be the best choice. However, don’t think for a second it’s a simple 1-hour job! Don’t Forget the Law It is not required to upgrade your home to modern building codes, however, if you choose to do major renovations any new work completed must meet the latest building codes. In Halifax you can refer to the M-200 bylaw, however, every town and municipality is different so check with local authorities. Plumbing, Electrical and HVAC There is a reason these professions are so expensive to hire and becoming a plumber, electrician or HVAC technician requires extensive field and classroom training: the systems involved are complex, and one mistake can be very costly. While I have done basic plumbing repairs, I always leave the big jobs for the professionals. One small error can lead to major water damage. HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) systems require careful balancing that even skilled contractors can struggle to get right. Most homes are designed with zones and tearing down walls can cause an HVAC system to become unbalanced and inefficient. As for electrical, I consider my knowledge of electrical systems to be my strongest area as a home inspector, but I am not in any way an electrician. I know how to identify most hazards and educate home occupants, but I also know that electrical loads must be carefully balanced in a home between the two 120V service wires and would never attempt to modify the electrical system. As a homeowner, I have increased my skills in doing repairs myself (I recently did successful renovations to the front porch) but I always stop and consider if a project is beyond my skill level. Saving money sounds great until a mistake costs far more than just calling in a professional the first time. One of the most interesting things about being a home inspector is how there is always something new to learn. As generalists, we simply aren’t experts on everything, and any home inspector who claims to know everything is one to avoid. That doesn’t mean that the desire to learn more isn’t strong! One term I learned recently is patina. Of course, I already knew it by the more commonly used phrase copper corrosion. This is simply how copper turns from orange/brown to green and contrary to most scary articles online, is rarely a concern. In fact, I recently recommended for the first time in my years of business, an evaluation of excess patina to be investigated by a plumber. Here is the world’s most famous example of patina in action: When one thinks of the Statue of Liberty in New York City, we all think of the iconic green color. The simple fact is that the green is NOT what the designer had in mind and the picture on the left is what it would have looked like 100 years ago when it was new: the copper has corroded on the surface giving this green color. As the statue has been monitored and maintained for over 100 and has shown no signs of structual compromise, this can be true for copper water supply lines but a 100 year old copper line should definitely be inspected by a qualified plumber!  This is about the minimum amount of corrosion I would need to see to suggest a plumber double check the pipes. Congratulations on taking the step to becoming a homeowner! I know both as a home inspector and a homeowner (well, technically the bank still owns it, but you get the idea), owning a home is a wonderful milestone, especially in this crazy market! It also comes with its fair share of responsibilities and potential headaches that all the shiny real estate brochures tend to gloss over. As a seasoned home inspector, I've seen it all – from minor issues that could have been easily prevented to major problems that could have been costly to fix (think six figures!). To help you navigate your new role as a homeowner, here are four essential insights that I wish every new homeowner knew: Regular Maintenance Saves Money in the Long Run Many homeowners underestimate the importance of regular maintenance. Simple tasks like cleaning gutters, changing HVAC filters (furnace filters need to be replaced every 3 months), and inspecting caulking around windows and doors may seem insignificant, but they can prevent costly repairs down the line. While easier said than done, try to create a maintenance schedule and stick to it to keep your home in top condition. With the snow gone and warm weather on the way, now is the perfect time to plan out a summer maintenance schedule like I just did, and hopefully the rain will stop so I can continue to get more done. Know Your Home's Systems Understanding how your home's systems work can save you from headaches in the future. Take the time to familiarize yourself with the location of:
Know when and how to perform basic troubleshooting, and always have emergency contact information for professionals in case of major issues (trust me: emergencies never wait for your schedule to clear!).  This stock photo looks nice but a flooded home is a nightmare! (Over) Budget for Repairs and Upgrades
Owning a home inevitably comes with repair and maintenance costs. Create a budget for both expected and unexpected expenses, including repairs and upgrades. Prioritize projects based on urgency and budget constraints and remember to set aside funds for emergencies. Being financially prepared can alleviate stress when unexpected issues arise. Spoiler from a homeowner and home inspector: repairs and renovations almost always cost a lot more than you budget for and the cheap option usually ends up being the costliest. Stay Proactive Don't wait until a minor issue becomes a major problem. Stay proactive by addressing maintenance tasks promptly and addressing any issues as soon as they arise. Ignoring small problems can lead to bigger headaches and expenses down the line. Whether it's a leaky faucet or a cracked foundation, tackle issues head-on to preserve the integrity of your home. I learned this one at an early age working at a home improvement retailer and saw the many faces of distressed homeowners who did not act proactively or tried to cut corners with cheap DIY "fixes". Being a homeowner comes with its challenges, but with proper knowledge and preparation, you can navigate the responsibilities with confidence. By staying proactive, investing in inspections (*ahem* particularly from a Certified Professional Inspector like me!), understanding your home's systems, and budgeting for maintenance and repairs, you can ensure that your home remains a safe and comfortable haven for years to come with minimal surprises. Happy homeownership! |
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Inside Edge Home Inspections Ltd.
Halifax, NS 902-209-9921 [email protected] Proudly Serving the HRM & Central Nova Scotia |
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