A series about a young family’s search for that first resale home.
It was home inspection time, and we were feeling a bit of trepidation.
Yes, we’d finally found a place to call our own, but the practical business of having it inspected seemed to eclipse some of the happy glow. After all, the sale was conditional on passing an inspection, so what would happen if it failed?
Fortunately our agent, knowing time was of the essence in a hot real estate market, had set up a home inspection almost immediately after our offer was accepted.
So two days after putting in that offer, on an overcast Saturday morning, Craig, Tilly, our real estate agent and I met the inspector at our almost-home.
Going with a referral
The reference for our inspector came from a trusted source — an important fact because legislation passed by the Ontario government last year to regulate the profession has not yet come into effect.
Our inspector certainly lived up to his reputation. He and his colleague were very methodical, spending close to three hours going over the house. We were especially pleased that before launching into the full inspection, they did a cursory one to ensure that a full assessment was even warranted.
In the comprehensive inspection, they found many things that would need our attention, things we had missed going through the house ourselves. Fortunately, most of these are minor. For instance, the bathroom fans need a cleaning, there’s a small tear in the screen door, and an electrical junction box is missing its cover.
Rebate offsets the expense
The major expense, which we expected, is that the 18-year-old furnace needs replacing. Given the rebate programs currently available through Enbridge, we will replace the furnace right away with a higher efficiency model. As the inspector pointed out, if we put it off, the furnace will likely go in the middle of some January night.
Besides, a more efficient furnace will save us some money on heating bills and help reduce the greenhouse gases that are causing climate change.
Because the rebate program requires the homeowner to complete two approved upgrades, we will make another energy-efficient investment, possibly purchasing an Energy Star freezer which will allow us to save money by buying food in bulk.
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We also learned of an unexpected issue that will need fixing immediately. The inspector discovered that the dryer and furnace vents are dangerously close to the deck and not up to code. This is also on our priority list.
Other to-dos include replacing a number of windows, but we will hold off on that for a few years as it’s not urgent.
Despite the issues, anticipated and not, that the inspection turned up, we were very glad we got a home inspection and will rely on the thorough report provided as we work through the house’s issues. The cost for inspection was $450 and it was definitely money well spent.
Keeping a lid on spending
Since submitting our final paperwork to our mortgage broker, we have been in touch with both a real estate lawyer and an insurance broker. We are just deciding which company to go with for home insurance.
As well, we are making sure all of our finances are in order for our closing date, which means that, while I loving looking at new couches, I can’t put anything on credit or accrue any debt because our mortgage approval could be impacted by even minor shifts in our financial status.
A long road lies ahead, littered with moving boxes, piles of paperwork, and a couple of costly repairs, but we are optimistic and dreaming of a backyard for the summer.
