A home inspection is an objective evaluation of the readily accessible major elements of a home following recognized industry standards of practice; it is visual in nature; and it is non-destructive. A written report documenting the inspector’s findings accompanies each HouseMaster Home Inspection.

Homebuyers (and condo buyers) hire a home inspector to gain a better understanding of the condition of the property they are purchasing.

Home sellers get a pre-listing home inspection (or “pre-inspection”) to confirm the state of the home they are selling, plan for their sale, and often provide the inspection report to potential buyers as part of a real estate transaction.

Homeowners may conduct a home inspection (or “home maintenance inspection”) as part of a regular home maintenance routine to help plan and prioritize home repairs and renovations.

Buyers of new construction benefit from a home inspection by documenting deficiencies found in a newly built home or condo for reporting to the builder or a home warranty program. Timely reporting of defects found in new construction is crucial to having these issues repaired or remedied. For many warranty programs, most defects fall out of coverage if not reported within one year of occupancy.

A typical HouseMaster Home Inspection covers nine important areas of focus, including all functioning or visible major elements and systems, plus hundreds of associated components, and is conducted following recognized home inspection industry standards. These areas of focus include: Roofing and Attic, Exterior Elements, Foundation and Substructure, Interior Elements, Heating System, Cooling System, Interior Plumbing, Interior Electrical and Built-In Kitchen Appliances. Not all home inspection companies follow the same standards of practice and do not inspect all of these areas of focus. More details about how HouseMaster inspects these areas can be found here.

HouseMaster also offers additional ancillary services that go beyond the scope of a standard home inspection. Some of these additional services include: mold testing, indoor air quality assessments, asbestos testing, radon screening, thermal imaging/infrared camera scanning, WETT (fireplace) inspections, well and septic inspections, pool and spa inspections, multiple dwelling inspections and commercial property inspections. Call our office to discuss details about the services available in your area.

It is a misnomer that a home inspection is a pass-fail test. No home is all good or all bad—all homes have defects. So no home “passes” or “fails” a home inspection. Instead, we deliver our inspection findings in an organized and easy-to-read inspection report that is divided into sections based on the major elements of a home. Each section is broken down into different components, or line items, that are then rated, based on their present condition and receive comments about any defects found and recommendations for repair or correction. Customers and real estate professionals find this format easy to understand and helpful in making an informed purchase decision.  A sample HouseMaster inspection report can be found here.

There is no one-size-fits-all price for a home inspection. To offer customers our best available price, our estimates are made-to-order based on the specifics of the property being inspected. When booking your inspection, please provide the following information to receive an accurate quote*: the approximate age, total square footage of the finished space (including basement), number of extra apartments or kitchens, any additional services (like mold or radon testing), and any available promotions or discounts. Please contact our office at  to receive your fastest quote, or complete our Request Quote form above, and we’ll get in touch with you!*Pricing and scheduling estimates are based on information provided by the client/customer. The inspection company may adjust the service fee or schedule, if the information provided differs from the subject property or scope of work.

A home inspection is one of the most useful tools in a buyer’s toolkit when purchasing a home. Ensuring that you’re prepared for this important step will help the inspection run smoothly and help you understand how to interpret the results. Here are some tips to keep in mind:

1. Be realistic. No home is perfect. All homes have deficiencies. The aim of a home inspection is not to find a defect-free home—they don’t exist!  The purpose of a home inspection is to help you make an informed decision and plan for the future. We’re here to help put it into perspective!

2. Get the paperwork out of the way. Please take the time to check your initial confirmation email, and review and sign your inspection order agreement in advance of your appointment time. You can also conveniently pay online at the same time. Completing this paperwork before the big day will allow your inspector to focus on the important work—your home inspection!

3. Help set the stage. A home inspector can only inspect the visible and readily accessible areas of a home. Help ensure things are ready for your inspection by making a request to the seller to unlock or clear access to any inaccessible areas, like attics and crawlspaces, and to turn on any disabled equipment or utilities, like heat, water, gas or electricity, so a full inspection can be completed.

4. Come prepared. In Toronto, our typical appointment takes about three hours, longer for homes over 3,000 sq. ft. Please schedule enough time for a thorough home inspection, and wear comfortable shoes and clothing, so you can accompany your inspector throughout the process. Making arrangements for someone to watch your children or pets is also a good idea.  

5. Review the findings. There is a lot of information to absorb and consider in any home inspection. Don’t get overwhelmed. Plan to set aside some time after your inspection to review the inspection report with your real estate professional and prioritize the findings into a list of immediate concerns or safety issues and another list of items that are less pressing and can be deferred. For a standard inspection, you will receive your report within 24 hours, if not sooner.