Even the smallest items you buy can usually be returned if there is a problem. Of course, larger, more expensive items, like appliances and cars, come with extensive multi-year warranties. However, it is impossible to get a guarantee on the largest purchase you probably will ever make. When you buy a home, it is up to you to make sure it is in good shape because it will be up to you to fix it. That's why you need a home inspection.

A home inspection will expose any issues that you should be aware of before buying. Most homes, once they pass a certain age, will need some sort of attention, especially in Toronto and the GTA, where there is a very wide variety of housing styles, ages and locations. Your home inspection report will tell you exactly what your home will need. In other words, a home inspection takes away the unwanted surprise of an unforeseen problem.

However, just because you decide to get a home inspection doesn't mean you will not have ?surprises? in the future. Unfortunately, home inspection is an unregulated profession. There are no minimum standards for home inspectors and no legal requirements in Toronto, the GTA or anywhere in Canada. Anyone can call themselves a home inspector, regardless of their qualifications ? or lack of qualifications.

So the problem for homebuyers is not whether to get a home inspection, but how to find a reputable home inspector. Fortunately, there are a few resources for homeowners to help them find a good home inspector. A number of industry associations exist that offer different levels of accreditation to home inspectors. Home inspection associations can be regionally based, such as in Toronto and/or the GTA, provincially based or national.

Membership in an association does not mean a home inspector has met any standards. Most home inspection associations do not allow members to advertise their membership in the association until the member has reached a certain level of qualification. This does not stop many home inspectors from advertising their membership anyway or at least telling you that they belong to a reputable industry association.

If a home inspector indicates that they are registered with an industry association, through either advertising or word-of-mouth, homebuyers should contact the industry association to determine the inspector's standing within the association. It might sound like a lot of work, but keep in mind how important your new home is and how costly it can be to repair.

The size and importance of your purchase also means that membership in an industry association should not be your only criterion for finding a good home inspector. You should get at least three references from any home inspectors on your shortlist of candidates, just like you would when dealing with any other company or individual for the first time. Call the references and ask as many questions as you can. Some of the things you may not remember to ask include the location of the home inspected and the size of the home. These are important questions because they help you to understand an inspector's area of expertise. For example, even if a home inspector is well qualified, if she only inspects homes in Toronto, she may not be the best person to inspect a country home.

There are a number of other steps you can take to make sure your home inspection is done by the best person for the job. More than many other professions, experience is important for home inspectors. This is not to say that new or inexperienced inspectors can't do a good job, but, generally speaking, the more homes an inspector has inspected, the better she will be a spotting certain problems. An experienced home inspector will be more familiar with local factors that might influence an inspection. For example, if your home happens to be in a damp or low-lying area, an inspector who has worked in the area before will have an understanding of the circumstances around your home and will conduct the inspection with it in mind. In the same scenario, an inexperienced inspector might not be familiar with the damp conditions and may not pay particular attention to your home's waterproofing.

The home inspection experts at Allmax Home Inspections have the experience, qualifications and industry association accreditation that will help you understand fully the condition of your house.