Frequently Asked Questions

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Higher Level Home Inspection offers both pre-listing and pre-purchase inspections. Both have the same cost, $399 + taxes. Both also come with a full, professional report with pictures and explanations of the defects. This is available both to view online, and to download as a PDF to have in your records forever. This fee can vary with significantly older homes (70+ years old) and larger homes (based on square footage). Quotes are ALWAYS free. 

A typical home inspection takes around 3 hours to complete. This number can go up or down, based on condition of the home, size, and age. 

I do my best to provide accurate analysis of my findings and give you the information you need as a kind of "checklist" of things to do once you take possession. Many of the items will be minor maintenance items to take care of once you move in, but some may require more urgent attention.

A home inspection can uncover any potential issues with the property and provide you with valuable information about the condition of the home. There is no such thing as a perfect home. Even brand new builds can have many issues, big and small.  This can help you make an informed decision about your purchase or sale and avoid any surprises down the road. 

A home inspection is a performance based review of the homes major systems, and how they work together. I inspect the major systems of the home, and point out minor cosmetic details along the way. The inspection is not meant to be a catch all of every small drywall defect and poorly cut trim piece, it is meant to catch the major issues that should be addressed soon after, or sometimes before possession. A home inspection includes the exterior, roof, basement, foundation, insulation, electrical, heating and cooling, plumbing, windows and doors, interior, and attic. Some of the previously outlined components can only be inspected where visible and or readily accessible. I do my best to see as much of these systems as I can! For a more detailed outline of each of these components, please refer to my detailed outline page. 

A pre-listing inspection is a great tool for sellers to use before listing their property. It covers all of the same systems as a pre-purchase inspection. It helps to give the seller a list of items that a home inspection would find in a pre-purchase inspection, and gives the seller a chance to fix the items before listing to potentially boost market value, and make for a smoother selling experience. 

Yes. Due to the rising cost of fuel and vehicle maintenance, I do charge 1$ per kilometer, plus tax.  This is only charged on a one-way trip. I do waive the travel surcharge for properties within 20km of Russell. Travel surcharge only covers the cost of fuel and maintenance, and is not intended to turn a profit.

Yes! One other major aspect of a home inspection is pointing out safety issues. Something such as a large opening in a handrail can let small children fit their heads or entire bodies through, resulting in a nasty fall. Stair treads too high or uneven, missing handrails, self closing doors between garages and homes are all issues I look for. 

A limitation is something that prevents me from fully inspecting 100% of the systems above. It includes such things as being unable to see the entire foundation surface, due to being covered by drywall, or wall finishes covering plumbing and electrical runs. It would be unreasonable to expect someone to pull off drywall to inspect every inch of the plumbing and electrical.

No. Unfortunately I cannot ever "pass" or "fail" a house. It is my job to point out the issues I find, explain them in the simplest terms possible, and direct you what to do with the information.