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• What exactly is a Licensed
Professional Engineer (P. Eng.)?
The Professional
Engineers Ontario (PEO) licenses Ontario's 64,000 professional
engineers, and sets standards for and regulates engineering practice
in the province. It has a statutory mandate under the Professional
Engineers Act to protect the public interest where engineering is
concerned. Rigorously educated, experienced and committed to a Code
of Ethics that puts the public interest first, licensed professional
engineers can be identified by the P.Eng. after their
names.
To obtain a license to practice professional
engineering, an individual, at a minimum, must satisfy all of the
following requirements, (in the following sequence):
1. Four
years of University level engineering education at a Canadian
University accredited by PEO and successful completion of an
accredited engineering degree.
2. Four years of professional
engineering experience.
3. Successful completion of the
Professional Practice Examination administered by PEO.
By
law a Licensed Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) is the only one who
can legally render an opinion on the structural stability of an
existing building. Not every home inspector is a Licensed
Professional Engineer. Make sure you request a "Licensed
Professional Engineer" (P. Eng.) when you need a home inspection.
By law no individual can use the term engineer in any way to
describe themselves unless they are a P. Eng. Be very wary of anyone
who uses the term engineer and is not a P. Eng.
• What are the inspectors
qualifications?
Your property inspection will be
conducted by a Licensed Professional Engineer (P. Eng.) who has
graduated from the civil engineering program at the University of
Waterloo. Our inspectors are also associate members of the Ontario
Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI). The "Pro" in our name really
does mean that you will be dealing with a true professional.
• What is a home
inspection?
Our home inspection will give you a
professional unbiased overview of the home you are interested in
purchasing or already own. It will inform you about the positive and
negative technical aspects of the home and can help reduce the risks
of unforeseen repairs and costs in the future.
• Why do I need a home
inspection?
Before buying a home or building, it is
critically important to identify problems that may exist and repairs
that will have to be made. This enables you to plan financially. And
it avoids expensive surprises such as a leaky roof or unstable
foundation. A quality inspection can provide a basis for planning
and budgeting the next 5 years of ownership. At the very least, an
inspection provides peace of mind. It's comforting to know that the
home or building you're buying is safe and sound, and the largest
investment of your life is a sensible one, based on being well
informed.
• Who requires a home
inspection?
Home sellers, purchasers, and current owners
can benefit from a Home Inspection. The majority of purchasers
nowadays retain the services of a home inspector to ensure the house
they are interested in is sound. In fact a home inspection is
usually a condition of sale of the home. Many wise sellers also
retain a home inspector so that they can make any necessary repairs
in advance, which helps to speed along the entire
transaction.
Current home owners can also benefit from a home
inspection, particularly if it is a newly built home under warranty.
Deficiencies can be documented by the inspector prior to the
warranty expiration. In addition, owners of older homes often hire a
home inspector to educate them about the current condition of their
home and any repairs that may be needed, so that they can budget
properly for the next several years.
• What does the home
inspection cover?
Our inspection process covers all
major systems including the roof, structure, exterior, interior,
insulation, electrical, heating, cooling, and plumbing.
• Can I follow the
inspector during the inspection?
You are strongly
encouraged to attend the inspection. This will allow the inspector
to verbally communicate to you his findings during the inspection,
and allows you the opportunity to ask as many questions as possible.
In addition you can become very familiar with the technical aspects
the home including the maintenance requirements of the house.
• How long does an
inspection take and do I receive a report?
A typical
home inspection will be between 2 and 3 hours in duration. In
addition to the inspectors' verbal report during the inspection, we
use a comprehensive written reporting system to communicate our
findings. The report will contain the findings and results of the
home inspection, including necessary repairs. The report is
completed on site and you will have it at the end of the
inspection.
• What if the home
inspection report reveals problems?
If the engineer
finds problems in a building, it does not necessarily mean you
should not buy it, only that you will know in advance what type of
repairs to anticipate. Also, a seller may be willing to make
repairs, or lower the selling price because of the problems
discovered by the engineer. If your budget is tight, or if you do
not wish to become involved in future repair work, you may decide
that this is not the property for you. The choice is yours.
• If the report is
favorable, did I really need a home inspection?
Definitely! Now you can complete your purchase with peace of
mind about the condition of the property and its equipment and
systems. You may have learned a few things about your property from
the home inspection, and will want to keep that information for your
future reference. Above all, you can rest assured that you are
making a well informed purchase decision and that you will be able
to occupy and enjoy your home with peace of mind.
• Can I inspect the
building myself?
Even the most experienced building or
home owner lacks the knowledge and the technical expertise of a
professional engineer. Our engineers are well versed with the
critical elements of construction and with the proper installation,
maintenance and inter-relationships of these elements. Above all,
most buyers find it difficult to remain completely objective and
unemotional about the building they really want, and this may lead
to a poor assessment.
• Are you
insured?
Our company carries errors and omissions
insurance.
• What does an inspection
cost?
Our fees are amongst the most affordable in the
industry and start from $ 300.00. Please remember a home is a very
major purchase and the home inspection fee charged should not be the
deciding factor for which home inspection company you select.
Remember all inspectors are not created equal and do not have the
same levels of education and experience. Licensed Professional
Engineers are bound by the highest possible ethical standards and
are quite simply the top professionals available in the technical
realm. No other home inspection "qualification" can compare.
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