|
Most home inspection websites have a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section covering the basics: What is a home inspection? Can I attend? (Absolutely!) How long does it take? (Most inspections are around 2 to 2.5 hours on site, depending on the home.) Do home inspectors tell you whether to buy a house? (No, that decision is always yours.)
Those are important questions, but over the years I've noticed there are a few interesting questions that almost nobody asks. Here are some of my favourites: Why Don’t You Offer Short Term Radon Tests? In other words: "Why don't you offer the quick 48-hour test?" The simple answer is that I don't believe it provides my clients with the most reliable information. Although I have the training to perform radon testing, Health Canada recommends long-term testing—ideally between 3 and 12 months, with a minimum of 90 days during the heating season—to accurately determine a home's average radon level. Radon concentrations naturally fluctuate from hour to hour and day to day based on weather, barometric pressure, ventilation, and how the home is used. Short-term tests can sometimes be useful in limited circumstances, but they should never be considered a substitute for a properly conducted long-term test. They also require strict "closed-house conditions," meaning windows must remain closed and exterior doors opened only as necessary. In the middle of a Nova Scotia summer (which is when the bulk of inspections are performed), that's not always practical or comfortable. While a 48-hour test is generally better than no test at all, it can produce misleading results. A falsely low reading may provide an unwarranted sense of security, while a high reading often needs to be confirmed with a longer test anyway. Rather than offering a service that may not provide meaningful answers, I prefer to recommend testing methods that give homeowners the most accurate information possible. What Does “Independent Home Inspector” Mean? People sometimes assume that being an "independent" inspector means being opposed to real estate agents. That couldn't be further from the truth. Many real estate professionals throughout Nova Scotia are dedicated advocates for their clients, just as I strive to be for mine. We often work together toward the same goal: helping buyers and sellers make informed decisions. Being independent simply means that I work for you, not for a real estate brokerage, contractor, or any other third party with an interest in the transaction. My responsibility is to provide an objective assessment of the home's condition without pressure to make a report more favourable (or more alarming) than the facts warrant. Whether I'm performing a pre-purchase inspection, a pre-listing inspection, or a maintenance inspection on the very same home, my observations and recommendations are consistent. The condition of the house doesn't change based on who hired me, and neither should the report. What’s the Most Interesting Personal Items or Décor You Have Seen in a Home? Honestly? Nothing I'd ever talk about. One of the things I take most seriously as a home inspector is respecting my clients' privacy. While I'm trained to carefully examine the home's systems and components, I'm equally careful to look past people's belongings. My focus is on the house, not the people living in it. In fact, if there were a way to temporarily make every piece of furniture and personal property disappear during an inspection, I'd be thrilled. It would certainly make my job easier! Several years ago, I read a news story about an inspector who found a homeowner's long-lost personal belongings while searching an attic. Many people saw it as a heartwarming story, but it raised an important professional issue for me. Home inspectors should avoid moving, opening, or searching through personal belongings unless it's absolutely necessary to inspect an accessible component of the home. If personal property prevents access to an area, I'll discuss it with the homeowner before proceeding rather than simply moving their belongings myself. Trust is Everything Inviting a home inspector into your home requires trust. Whether you're buying, selling, or simply maintaining your property, you're allowing someone you've likely just met to spend several hours examining one of your biggest investments. I never take that responsibility lightly. My goal is to provide an honest, thorough inspection while treating every home, and everything in it, with respect. I strive to leave nothing behind except a detailed inspection report and, hopefully, no evidence that I was ever there beyond the photographs needed to document the home's condition and occasionally some loose attic insulation. At the end of the day, home inspection isn't just about finding defects. It's about earning trust, providing clarity, and helping people make informed decisions with confidence.
1 Comment
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. When most people hear "home inspection," they immediately think of buying or selling a house. It’s a fair association, given that inspections are often a standard part of real estate transactions. But here's the truth: home inspections are much more versatile and valuable than that. Whether you're a homeowner, a landlord, or even just a curious property investor, a home inspection can be a proactive tool to maintain or enhance your property. Let’s dive into why home inspections aren’t just tied to real estate deals and explore the benefits for homeowners outside the buying and selling process. The Myth: Home Inspections Are Only for Buyers and Sellers This myth likely stems from the fact that most home inspections occur during the buying process. Buyers want to know what they’re getting into, and sellers sometimes conduct pre-listing inspections to address potential issues in advance. It also doesn’t help that other home inspectors use cliches such as “helping you make an informed buying decision” or “we work for buyers and sellers” and marketing buyers and sellers inspections as if they are any different from each other (they aren't). While these scenarios are common, they don’t define the full scope of what home inspectors do.  That's a sign I could get used to seeing! Why This Myth Persists
The real estate industry heavily markets home inspections as part of the buying process. Unfortunately, this narrow focus leads many homeowners to think inspections are irrelevant unless a transaction is involved. The reality? Home inspections are a vital service for anyone who owns or cares for property. They’re an investment in your home’s longevity and your peace of mind. I have shared with more than one client that I provide valuable information that is relevant long after a deed has changed hands and use a long term, systematic approach. When Should You Schedule a Home Inspection? If you’re wondering when to schedule a home inspection, here are some guidelines:
I founded Inside Edge because I believe every homeowner deserves to know their property inside and out and desire to empower home occupants to maintain a safe and comfortable home for their family. Remember, whether you’re buying, selling, or staying put, our thorough and unbiased home inspections will be the exact same, and will provide the insights you need to make informed decisions. Contact us today to learn more! I don’t get a whole lot of messages outside of potential clients looking for a home inspection, but when I do, a common theme is from prospective new home inspectors looking to get into the industry for the first time, usually as a mid-life career change. I always love talking about my journey and what led me to forming my own home inspection company. There is very little information online about how to become a home inspector and I am happy to answer any questions someone may have. Let me start by saying: Being a Home Inspector is NOT Easy Money! I have been asked occasionally what I think of my local competition. The answer is simple: my passion is helping homeowners have a safe and healthy place to live by offering high quality services at affordable (but not rock-bottom) prices. However, if another local home inspector can better fill that need, they have my full support. My biggest pet peeve is when someone enters the industry looking to get rich quickly and tarnishes the reputation of the home inspection industry as whole by cutting corners and acting in a dishonest or unethical manner. If there is one thing that I want to make crystal clear, it is that doing home inspections is NOT, in ANY way, a path to riches! Like real estate agents, many people see that a home inspection costs an average of about $500 along with the relatively low barriers to entry and think they just found a cheat code to get rich. You could even substitute “Home Inspector with the phrase “Real Estate Agent” and not much would change. Let me say it again: this is not a path for the lazy to get rich quickly! While accurate data is hard to find, at least in Halifax, for home inspectors, based on data from the Nova Scotia Realtors Association and my own knowledge I would estimate the median income for a home inspector in 2023 was less than $5,000 a year! There is a LOT of Potential Overhead I give anyone who wants to become a home inspector a simple piece of homework: get a quote for E&O (errors and omissions) insurance in Canada while asking them what they think would be a reasonable quote for a year of coverage. The answers are always the same: $500 a year is a reasonable expectation. E&O insurance for even a part time new home inspector (in other words almost all home inspectors due to the fluctuating nature of the industry) runs about $6,000-$7,000 annually, paid 100% in advance. We are presently about 400-500% more expensive than our American counterparts and that’s not getting into the high deductibles and many exclusions! I tend to believe that many home inspectors spend more than they need on equipment. However, the fact remains that to perform a quality inspection you need a lot of expensive equipment. I would estimate all my equipment is about $6000 and that is on the low end. Thermal cameras, drone and sewer scopes are very expensive pieces of gear and while not required, are essential to complete a thorough assessment. I also haven't gotten into the education and opportunity costs: sure, you can start a home inspection company without taking any formal education or training but that is a quick way to go out of business, fast. There is a lot of diverse knowledge required to be successful and it requires a combination of studying and hands on experience. The Fail Rate is Sky High in This Industry If you research the various home inspection schools, you will see grandiose claims about how you can “make $100,000!” The simple fact is that most students in both Canada and the United States who start a training program do not complete it, and very few last more than 2 years let alone ever hit six figures at any point. Too abstract? I did the homework for you and here is some sobering data for those who think they have what it takes to beat the odds and strike it rich: in the 2-year period around when we launched in 2021 (1 year before, 1 year after), there were a total of 33 other home inspection businesses registered and launched in Nova Scotia. As of my writing (May 2024), only 6 (yes, SIX) are still in operation. In other words, only 18% made it to 3 years. A Final (Positive) Note I chose to become a home inspector because I am a)really skilled at doing quality inspections and b)extremely passionate about what I do, not because it is the way of making the highest income possible. The freedom of being an entrepreneur makes up for the hard work and long hours, especially when I genuinely enjoy working in the industry. Providing relief to a worried homebuyer or information to someone nervous about the largest financial decision of their life provides a deep sense of satisfaction. I highly recommend you do your own research before going down the road to becoming a home inspector to make sure you are aware it isn't all sunshine and roses all the time. The simple fact is that flashy advertisements for home inspection training programs never even hint making a average income requires a lot of hard work, sacrifice and even a good bit of luck.  If you only want lots of these, think of another career path! |
Archives
July 2026
Categories
All
|
RSS Feed
|
Inside Edge Home Inspections Ltd.
Halifax, NS 902-209-9921 [email protected] Proudly Serving the HRM & Central Nova Scotia |
|