Living in a century home is a romantic proposition: The high ceilings, hardwood trim, large fireplaces, plaster walls, and decorative ceilings are all features that are rare in a more modern home.  Anyone who appreciates antiques or old cars knows that there is something special about the old designs.  These homes are also commonly located near the downtown areas and are in very established neighborhoods with large trees and expansive parks. Who wouldn’t want to live in an old home? Century homes certainly have their charm, but it is not all roses owning one. Before you purchase a century home it is important to have the right expectations. Common Deficiencies Older homes come with older mechanical systems, much of which will be at its end of life. 100+ year old plumbing and electrical have served its time and may need to be updated. These types of projects are potentially expensive and invasive in order to retrofit an older home to modern standards. If the electrical ...

You have bought your dream home, BUT you had to by-pass the home inspection so you could make an offer without conditions just to get it!   Although it is not a good idea, unfortunately in today’s market this is what is happening. The good thing for you is, it's not too late!   You can still get that home inspection after the sale has gone through.   No, it won’t change the fact that you are the new owner of the home and any problems are now your responsibility…..it will give you a heads up as to what potential problems you may encounter.  If you are aware of what may arise, at least you will be able to budget for the repair and plan ahead.  Knowledge is power and knowing if you are going to have problems will definitely give you the upper hand. There is no difference between the home inspection that will be done after the purchase compared to before.  The professional you hire to do your inspection will review and check everything the same way. ...

Forest fire smoke can affect your health. Persons with respiratory or heart conditions, such as asthma, can experience worsened symptoms during minor and severe smoke events. During severe smoke events even healthy individuals can be affected and may experience irritation of the eyes, throat and possibly shortness of breath. Everyone – and in particular those with pre‐existing respiratory or heart conditions – should monitor their symptoms and seek medical care if symptoms worsen. Who is at risk? Those with pre‐existing heart and respiratory conditions such as asthma are most at risk; however, everyone can be at risk during a severe smoke event and should monitor their symptoms. Take appropriate precautionary measures and seek medical care if symptoms worsen. How do I protect myself? During a severe smoke event: Reduce or avoid strenuous outdoor activities – especially if you experience symptoms such as coughing and throat irritation. Children, the elderly and those with...

Some of the most common problems a building inspector might find are the result of amateur renovations. When buying a property that has been renovated the first thing to determine is whether the renovations were done professionally or by an amateur.  If the work was done with permits the vendor will likely provide proof by presenting the building permit or certificate of completion. City Hall also keeps records of all renovation or building permits and copies of these can be obtained. Are all non-permitted renovations problematic? Very often home renovations have been done by the home owner or an amateur contractor without a building permit. Non-permitted renovations mean that no municipal building code inspectors checked the work and some potential, and possibly significant, problems may exist. On the other hand, not all non-permitted renovations are sub-standard. Very often it is the same builders doing permitted and non-permitted work. As home inspectors we find that jobs ...

Inspect it All  performs Mould Inspections in Southern Saskatchewan. Contact us for more information It’s a well-known fact that mould tends to grow in homes and especially in the bathroom. The damp and low-light conditions in the bathroom allows mould to thrive if these conditions remain the same. The good news is that controlling the moisture in the bathroom and cleaning it frequently will greatly reduce mould growth. Below are several key tips for preventing and removing bathroom mould. How to prevent mould: Keeping the humidity levels below 55%. Since mould thrives in moist conditions, it’s important to keep humidity under control. Ventilating the bathroom after a shower or bath by turning on a fan or by using the bathroom exhaust fan. Opening a window also helps let steam out. Drying wet surfaces, such as mirror, tiles, glass and walls, using a towel or squeegee, after every shower or bath. Cleaning the bathroom surfaces and items (such as the floor, ceili...

Air conditioning units are prone to water leaks and, consequently, water damage. The good news is that performing several maintenance tasks periodically can help to greatly reduce the risk of water damage.  Here are the most common causes for A/C leaks with tips on how to fix and prevent them without professional help: The drain line is clogged  The drain line is a pipe which collects the condensed water that the A/C unit has produced and transports it outside the house. Sometimes, the drain line gets clogged with algae, dirt, mineral deposits and even mould or mildew, causing water to overflow into the home.  If the drain pipes are clogged, a wet-dry vacuum can be used to suck out the water and debris from the outdoor drain pipe.  To prevent drain lines from clogging, a mix of half warm water, half bleach should be poured into the pipe once every 4 to 6 months. Installing an overflow shut off device on the drain line should be considered. The device auto...

When hosting outdoor parties in the backyard, safety should be the top priority, especially when using open flames for lighting or ambiance. Fire sources such as candles, portable outdoor fireplaces, sky lanterns, patio (tiki) torches and fire pits can start a fire if they’re not used carefully.  Here are some practical tips to prevent fires during outdoor parties: If there are children and pets at the party, they should always be supervised and kept at least 1 meter away from open flames. If the scene is decorated with burning candles, they must be kept in sturdy candle holders to help prevent candles from being tipped over. More than half of all candle fires start when objects that can burn are too close to candles. Flammable objects should be kept far away from candles and any other open flame. We strongly recommend using battery-operated flameless candles and patio torches instead of their more dangerous, open-flame counterparts. An adult must always supervise portab...

It’s never too late to take some extra measures to protect your home, especially those who reside in flood-prone areas. If this is your first spring in a new home, ask around the neighbourhood to find out if the area has ever had issues with flooding during heavy spring rainfalls. Occasionally, improper home maintenance may be the culprit in a basement flood, so take the proper steps to prevent an expensive mess in your home! The first place to start is with your roof and eavestroughs. Take a look at your home’s system and make sure things are functioning as they should. Gutters should be free of debris and correctly connected to downspouts to ensure that water is efficiently flowing from the roof. Also ensure that downspouts are carrying water far enough away from your home (about two metres is a good rule of thumb) and depositing it on a surface that slopes away from your foundation. Check the storm sewers on the street near your home, clearing them of any debris. If you ha...

For the 70 per cent of Canadians who own a home, it is a place to live, raise our family, and it connects us to our community. Due to Canada’s tax system’s Principal Residence Exemption, when we sell our homes, any increased value or “capital gains” are not taxed. This generous tax break matters to Canadian homeowners. Collectively, we have about $3 trillion in home equity and our homes are often our largest financial asset. However, starting with our 2016 income tax returns, there are some changes in how homeowners qualify for the Principal Residence Exemption. Until now, the Canada Revenue Agency has not required Canadians to report on a home sale when during tax season. If you sold your home in 2016 or later, you will need to complete a Schedule 3, Capital Gains of the T1 Income Tax and Benefit Return in order to report your sale. The good news is that, in terms of taxes, nothing has changed. The same tax benefit is available to anyone who sells their home, provided the...

The process of buying a home can be emotionally and physically challenging for many people. During the euphoric stage of making an offer, it’s easy to overlook potential home problems. Especially when you’re consumed with more important issues, such as whether or not the dining table will fit. During this sensitive time, only seek guidance from trustworthy home inspection professionals with years of experience. And feel free to use the following home inspection checklist to identify any potential red flag areas in what you hope to be your new home. Foundation Issues Most experts will tell you that cracks are the red flag to watch for when it comes to foundation issues. We’d agree. While smaller cracks found in concrete generally point to foundation settlement, larger cracks often indicate a more serious problem concerning the structural integrity of your home. Freshly Painted Walls Just as we’re recommending you add freshly painted walls to your home inspection checklist, th...

You’ve likely landed on this page because you’re either thinking of making an offer on a home or you’ve just made one. As a potential new homeowner, you owe it to yourself and your pocket book to understand what you’re really getting yourself into. Protecting your investment is the number one reason why you need a home inspection. When performed by a certified professional like Inspect it All , a home inspection offers an incredible wealth of information. The primary purpose of a home buyer’s inspection is to examine the condition of your potential new home. The job of your home inspector is to point out any relevant details and potential problems a new homeowner may be concerned with. Additionally, your home inspector should offer helpful advice regarding specific home care as well as general maintenance. If you have questions during your home inspection, ask your inspector! Although the exact length of your home inspection will vary based on the type and size of your residence...

Most modern cleaners contain dangerous chemicals that could cause health problems to sensitive individuals. Many of these cleaners also contribute to indoor and outdoor pollution. Luckily, there are various inexpensive alternatives to home cleaners that are less likely to damage one’s health and the environment. Here are some of them: All-purpose cleaner:   this solution is made by mixing ½ cup of white vinegar, ¼ cup of baking soda and ½ gallon of water. It can be used to clean, deodorize and disinfect surfaces. For dirtier surfaces, only white vinegar should be used, but a spot test should be performed first. Tile cleaning:  First, a paste of ½ water and ½ baking soda should be applied to the grout. After waiting a few minutes or up to 2 hours (for very dirty grout), the grout can be scrubbed with water. Oven cleaning: Use a solution with 1 teaspoon of borax, 1 tablespoon of dishwashing liquid and 2 cups of hot water. Once the solution is applied, it should be w...

When a condo is bought and sold a condo inspection is highly recommended to alert both buyers and sellers to the condition of the property in question. The condo inspector’s role is to enter the condo and analyze all of the major operational and structural elements of the property which usually spans three hours for detached single homes, and two hours for condominiums, but can depend on the size, age, and complexity of the property. I always encourage clients to attend the inspection as an opportunity to hear verbal feedback from the inspection, as well as a last opportunity to be within the condo before waiving conditions for a more prolonged duration than the viewing.  Typically, the participant requesting the inspection will be provided a detailed report of findings with written and visual components. Below I’ll discuss some myths regarding condo inspections as well as how to select a trained professional that can advise you on one of the biggest purchases of your lifetime...

Water damage is one of the most common and costly repairs for homeowners to deal with, leading to increased maintenance costs, decreased property value, and a decline in indoor air quality. It can strike indoors as well as outdoors, and the longer you leave it the more expensive it will be to fix. Water damage needs to be taken care of as soon as possible to avoid the occurrence of mildew or mold, which are not only unsightly but have been known to cause considerable health hazards. This article provides information on identifying and eliminating excess moisture that could potentially lead to water damage in the home. THE BATHROOM The first place to inspect is the bathroom. Bathrooms have a number of areas where water commonly causes problems, but you have to look carefully. The most common areas are tiled shower stalls and tub enclosures. Moisture behind tiles, unless severe, is not usually visible. Ceramic tiles are quite waterproof, so the problem area is the grout betwee...