Bruce Hunter is a veteran home inspector often called in to find what other inspectors may have missed. He has some words of advice for anyone looking for a home inspector.
"Hire your own gun," he said. "If you are going to buy a half-a-million dollar house or whatever these days, don't limit yourself to a cheap short inspection of a couple of hours and a checklist. Spend a couple of hundred dollars more and get a thorough report that's going to tell you the true condition of the property,"
Vancouver lawyer Frank Eadie has successfully sued a home inspector over errors in an inspection. He has more words of advice.
He says read your home inspection contract carefully before you sign it because many limit the home inspector's liability to a return of his fees.
"So if his fee is $400, if you prove that he's liable all you get is $400 which is totally inadequate if you are talking about a serious situation."
His advice is not to hire a home inspector who insists on that clause being in the contract.
"Because what are you buying? You are not buying really very much," Eadie said.
He believes the provincial government should outlaw that clause now that every inspector must carry $1 million worth of insurance.
There is another issue when you're seeking compensation: often these cases are too small for lawyers to take on--even ones that have cost a home owner as much as $100,000.
But that could change. Starting July 1 new fast track court rules will make suing for amounts under $100,000 faster and cheaper.
"I'm going to be more inclined to take those cases under $100,000 once these new rules come into effect than I would have been before because I think I can handle them in a manner that is beneficial for the client," Eadie said.
And there is another development. Right now, four organizations represent B.C. home inspections, each with different standards. The government hopes to have a single standard within two years.
But the Better Business Bureau's Mark Fernandes says checking standards and qualifications is only a first step.
"If you want real peace of mind you want to be able to get some referrals," Fernandes said.
And he advises being there during the inspection so you can see what is checked and what isn't on the home you want to buy.
And a final bit of advice before hiring an inspector from an inspector himself?
"[The] most important thing to look for in those documents is what the inspector does NOT inspect and make sure you get those [items clarified] before he does his work so you know the limitations," Hunter said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Chris Olsen.
