A home inspection in Ontario is usually a condition in your offer, which means it is your way out if the news is bad. Most reports are full of small items. These are the findings that should make you stop and think.

Foundation and structure

Large or growing cracks, water staining in the basement, doors and windows that stick, or floors that slope. Ask the inspector whether it needs a structural engineer before you decide.

Water and moisture

Musty smells, stained ceilings, or a damp basement. Ask where the water is coming from and whether grading, eavestroughs or a failed drain are the cause.

A roof at the end of its life

Curling or missing shingles, and the age of the roof. Many buyers are fine replacing a roof, but not if it comes as a surprise after closing.

Electrical

Older homes in Burlington, Oakville and Hamilton can still have knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring. Both can affect insurance, so call your insurer before you waive your condition.

Heating, cooling and plumbing

The age of the furnace, air conditioner and water heater, and whether the water heater is owned or rented. A rental contract changes what you are buying.

What to do when the report is bad

You have three choices: ask the seller to fix it or adjust the price, get a specialist quote before the condition expires, or walk away. Which is right depends on the cost and on how much you love the house. I help my buyers put a rough cost on each item first, because a long report is not always a bad house.

If you’re buying and want someone in the room for the inspection, call or text me at 289-206-6430 and I’ll be there.