As a preferred supplier with Brookfield Global Relocation Services for Borden ON, we guarantee to provide you a quality service that helps military personnel through every step of their relocation process. Our objective is to make relocation as easy and cost-effective as possible, while ensuring all you and your family’s needs are met. We like the transferee to be involved in every step of the process so that they know they needs and wants are number one right from the start. We are a Cross Canada Network of IRP DND Relocation specialists who are experts with the Brookfield Integrated Relocation Program (IRP) and all of the paperwork involved. Whether you are buying or selling, we guarantee we will make the transition into your new home smooth and stress free. If you are interested in this service, please contact us immediately for a consultation regarding meeting your families Real Estate needs.
Military families posted to CFB Borden will often choose one of the neighboring communities to relocate their family to. The town of Angus, located in the Township of Essa has had a close relationship with Borden since it was opened as a training base in 1916 to train units for Canadian Expeditionary Force. The original camp constructed at Borden was built by the Barrie and Collingwood companies of the Simcoe Forresters.
Borden was also the first flying station of the Royal Flying Corps of Canada and was also used by the RCAF as a training area. During the 1950’s the flying was moved to other locations, such as; Trenton, Cold Lake and North Bay. Borden eventually became a mainly training facility for the Canadian Armed Forces.
Real Estate has increased in value a steady rate in the Angus Borden area due to investment in infrastructure and the building of new schools. Angus recently just opened a new high school which was a welcome addition to military families with teenagers living in the area. Borden used to have its very own high school but it was closed during a period of downsizing and the education was turned over to the Simcoe Board of Education, who bused the children of military families as far away as Midland if they required schooling in French.
Brookfield GRS has been awarded the contract to provide Integrated Relocation Program benefits to Military Personnel transferred to bases across Canada. As part of the DND Relocation program there are approved service providers who are authorized to participate in the IRP program.
Bill Forsyth is the most experienced Realtor in the Borden Angus area and knows the pros and cons of the various neighborhoods in the Angus Borden real estate market. When purchasing a home in an unfamiliar location, it is very important to work with a Realtor who knows the area extremely well. Bill and his daughter Jenna will provide the facts and the knowledge to ensure you choose the neighborhoods that would be best suited for your family, these are areas that are most likely to appreciate in value. Bill and Jenna will provide the latest information on schools and your new community, and put you in touch will any professional help to make your move as easy and stress free as possible.
Your Realtor is an approved member of Brookfield Global Relocation Services and Transferease Relocation Inc., the trusted leaders for domestic and international relocations throughout the world. TransferEASE is a relocation company whose objective is to offer corporations and their transferring employees a professional, comprehensive approach to the move through more effective means of communication, a better understanding through exchange of information and a commitment to action Brookfield GRS provides services to both corporate and government clients with offices on 5 continents, including 28 military base locations and 4 regional offices across Canada.
Information on How the Brookfield Integrated Relocation Program (IRP) works for you:
Government entities authorize their employees to relocate. Brookfield GRS administers their relocation according to one of 3 different directives/policies:
Royal Canadian Mounted Police IRP Policy
Canadian Forces IRP Directive
National Joint Council IRP Directive
Whether you are with the Canadian Forces, the Government of Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, or relocating for career reasons, you can trust the experience and resources Linda Knight provides.
As a preferred supplier with Brookfield Global Relocation Services for Borden ON, I guarantee to provide you a quality service that helps military transferees through every step of their relocation process. Our objective is to make relocation as easy and cost-effective as possible, while ensuring all you and
This is a list of problems, in random order, that I have encountered during a home inspection and some are important enough to change a buyers mind.
Visible signs of water running through a basement. Although most new home buyers will not encounter this problem, you would be surprised at how many older homes may have this problem. Personally I think this problem would prevent me from buying that home every time.
Visible structural movement of masonry or poured concrete walls. Unless the structural movement was caused by being hit by a vehicle, this is again one of those deficiencies that would make me walk away. If there are problems with a home’s foundation then it will cause problems with the whole house.
Galvanized plumbing is mainly found in century type homes and can be a major headache. The biggest problem is that many insurance companies will not insure a home which has galvanized plumbing installed. One reason is the it is already long past its life expectancy and could fail at any time. Some home owners have all visible galvanized replaced but leave it in place in service chases up to first and second floor fixtures.
No Building Permit for Renovations can be very detrimental to the sale of a home. Depending on the size of the renovation and the amount of plumbing, electrical and HVAC work done, the financial implications can be quite daunting to a home buyer. No permit indicates that none of the home systems were inspected prior to covering with finished product. The cost of removing drywall and / or flooring to replace or repair any of the systems would probably be greater than the cost of the original renovation.
Vermiculite insulation is present in many older homes and may or may not contain traces of asbestos. Although there was only one mine in Libby, Montana, which produced the contaminated insulation, it was sold under many Trade names. You cannot tell if a particular batch of vermiculite has asbestos without laboratory testing. An attic full of asbestos would be considered a Class Two hazard and is expense to have removed. Read more …..
Aluminum wiring was commonly used in place of copper in the early 1980’s due to high price of copper. Many insurance companies will not insure a home that has aluminum wiring due to its susceptibility to corrosion which causes heat and could potentially cause a fire. Many home owners go to great lengths to try and hide the fact that there is aluminum wiring. Usually any accessible aluminum wire is replaced with copper. Read more…..
60 amp Services are not acceptable to most insurance companies in Canada. Many older homes, especially cottages which have been turned into four season homes, will often have a 60 amp service unless it has been upgraded. I have inspected many homes that have a 100 amp service panel but are supplied by a 60 amp switch. The size of the panel on the wall is not the governing factor, the size of switch controlling the power coming in determines what amperage is available.
Pony Panels connected to bus bars in main panel . You are not allowed to take a electrical feed directly off the bus bar in the main panel. The feed for the sub panel must come from a breaker to provide protection for the feed. Many older panels are found to have had one or two pony or service panels hooked directly to the bus bar which is not permitted.
Sump pumps are sometimes hooked directly into municipal drains. This may be permitted by the municipality in exceptional circumstances but is typically not allowed. Some municipalities have hefty fines if they find someone discharging sump pump into municipal drain.
Reversed polarity on wall outlets is quite common when homeowners do their own electrical wiring. Since electrical outlet now have holes in back of outlet where you can just insert the bare electrical cable the amount of reversed polarity deficiencies has increased dramatically. When using the outlet screws to secure the wire most people figured out that the black wire went on the dark screw and the white wire went on the light screw, but when using the push in the hole method, it became a 50/50 crap hoot. Unless you have a electrical tester you would never know the difference. When a circuit has reversed polarity the light fixture socket where the bulb screws in would now become live and if you touched it while screwing in a light bulb you would get a shock.
Basement stairs not protected on open side. Most people are completely un-aware that when your basement is un-finished your basement stairs is allowed to have an open side. Technacally as soon as you finish part of your basement you are required to protect the open stairs with wall, partial wall or guards to within 600 mm of floor. Height of guards or wall is to be a minimum of 900 mm. Also when basement is finished you should have a 3 way light switch which can be operated from either the top or bottom of stairs.
Extension Cords used as permanent wiring. The electrical code does not allow extension cords to be used as permanent wiring. 70% of garages I go into have an extension cord powering the auto door opener. Recent changes in Ontario requires outlets to be installed for each door for new construction, which makes sense and you have to wonder why it took so long, it’s not like they just invented the auto door opener.
There are many Associations for Home Inspectors to belong to in Canada and the U.S. Most Home Inspection Associations require their members to follow their Standards of Practice and follow their Code of Ethics. These are both available on every professional home inspection association website.
The typical Standards of Practice are the typical minimum standards of performance and will also define and clarify the purpose, terms, conditions, exclusions related to the home inspection. The Standard Code of Ethics usually lays out the home inspectors duty to act in a fair, honest and unbiased manner when conducting a home inspection. This is where a Realtor giving business to a “favorite home inspector” because of “favorable reports” would be considered unethical.
Typical Standards of Practice do not vary much between Associations, although some try to influence potential clients by calling their Standards “National Standards” or other inflated titles. Every home inspector basically looks at every visible item in your home and notes deficiency and will usually suggest a corrective action. Some home inspectors offer extra services such as Thermal Imaging or Mould Testing. Experience is still considered the biggest asset a home inspector can have.
Wikipedia defines a home inspection as: ” A home inspection is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. Home inspections are usually conducted by a home inspector who has the training and certifications to perform such inspections. The inspector prepares and delivers to the client a written report of findings. The client then uses the knowledge gained to make informed decisions about their pending real estate purchase. The home inspector describes the condition of the home at the time of inspection but does not guarantee future condition, efficiency, or life expectancy of systems or components.”
This is a Standard “Boiler plate” type of description that most professional home inspectors have included in their Pre-Inspection Agreement which they will require the client to sign before conducting the inspection. The Pre-Inspection Agreement will usually stipulate what and what not is included in the inspection. Having a client sign a Pre-Inspection Agreement does not protect a home inspector from negligence in performing their duties though.
A Professional Home Inspection will usually start of the roof, which in Canada, can only fully be inspected for about nine months of the year, due to ice and snow coverage. Veteran Realtors will usually have the dates available when the roof was last re-shingled when applicable. The Exterior of home is then visually inspected with attention being paid to grading and any probable water concerns. The cladding, windows, doors, exterior electrical, exterior decks and patios are all inspected for deficiencies and pictures are taken of any issues or problems noted.
The basement is the hub of your homes systems and this is where you should pay close attention to what your home inspector is looking at and ask questions about anything you are un-sure of. You heating, a/c, plumbing, hot water, structural, electrical systems are typically located in your basement and this means that a lot of money you are investing is located there.
Another important feature involving basement inspections is the famous, “Do It Yourself” renovation. The majority of home owners do not obtain a “Building Permit” for basement renovations. This immediately tells the home inspector that the framing, electrical, plumbing and insulation etc was never inspected prior to being covered with drywall etc. This common occurrence can have huge ramifications to the home buyer, such as; problems in future with Building Department, incorrectly installed plumbing or electrical which may require changes or replacement. A great example of this is when homeowner uses steel framing but does not use proper grommets or hold offs for electrical cable. To repair this the entire wall would have to be opened up to install the electrical cables correctly. Some homeowners will tap of bus bars on main panel rather than upgrade service panel which again can be an expensive repair to bring panel up to electrical code requirements.
Plumbing is another area where “Do It Yourself” home owners excel at. Illegal venting and lack of venting are frequent offenders. Hooking up sump pumps into municipal drains can get you a hefty fine from your municipality if caught. Whether plumbing, heating or electrical deficiencies, it seems some home owners are only restricted by their imaginations when installing or modifying a homes systems.
The list of deficiencies your home inspector may find in any home is too long to detail. This is why hiring an experience home inspector is a great investment decision when purchasing a home. The home inspection fee is worth the Peace of Mind you will receive after reading your report. Just one identified deficiency in any of homes major systems would most likely save you a lot more money than you ever would pay for a home inspection. The Home Buyer always has to keep in mind that Home Inspectors are not psychic and cannot un-cover a deficiency if the Home Seller is actively covering up or hiding deficiencies. Even water leaks in basements can be hidden by patching and fresh paint and if they don’t declare their knowledge when listing their home, the home buyer may be in for a nasty surprise in the Spring.
Many people are complaining about the use or value of the SPIS. This form, promoted by the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA), the seller’s property information statement (SPIS) continues to be a source of never-ending business for litigation lawyers and endless grief for unlucky buyers and sellers who are being swept into the bottomless pit of lawsuits because they used it.
CAVEAT EMPTOR – BUYER BEWARE An educated consumer is a smart consumer!
Following the example of British Columbia, Alberta and Quebec, Ontario has just completed a four month policy project to determine the outlines for a model to be used in Ontario.
Expectations are that the Ontario Government will follow its model of using a Delegated Administrative Authority. The DAA model still allows the government to control policies but the costs are paid by the user fees. As noted in the OBOA journal, once these DAA’s are created they rarely ever go away. Anyone with any experience with the government can understand how they would love to control something but not have to pay for anything. Just another form of hidden taxation which seems to be the current way that governments are now using to take our money but not have to account for it. Or maybe just cancel some gas plants and blow a billion dollars plus out the door of taxpayers money.
The main items that will be addressed is the requirement for a Home Inspector to carry insurance, the standard Errors & Omissions coverage and Commercial General Liability insurance. Prior to entering into practice a Home Inspector will have to passing “industry standard” examinations and/or field tests. There will also be requirements for ongoing Professional Development. This may include mandatory annual testing and continual education requirements.
Status of Home Inspector Licensing
Currently there are no plans to proceed with licensing Home Inspectors in Ontario. There was a bill in the Ontario Government which died when parliment was Progued. According to various sources the Ontario Government is only interested in licensing Home Inspectors if they pick up all the costs involved which would included Government Officials who would be paid to supervise the Home Inspection licensing process. So it would appear that the Government wants to appear to be pro-active, as long as it costs them nothing. Reminds me of the Tarion debacle where they were to be stripped of their responsibility of inspecting new homes, ( apparently they never did any of the required inspections ) but after Proroging Parliment just allowed everything to return to status quo. Not much good news here for Home Buyers.
The Canadian Standards Association (CSA) is currently in the process of creating a Standard on Home Inspections CSA A770. This standard will be developed in conjunction with Stakeholder input in the following Categories; Consumer/User Interest; General Interest; Home Inspectors; Regulators and Service Industry.
Once the CAS A770 Standard is created the Provinces Delegated Administrative Authority will begin its implementation. Most CSA Standards typically take about 18 months to create so the new rules affecting Home Inspectors in Ontario will most likely be in effect sometime during 2014.
The Liberals face an Election this year which may bring about a change in Government. Hopefully the next Government will put a higher priority on protecting Home Buyers when making one of their most expensive purchases in their lifetime.
During the past 9 years of performing home inspections in Barrie, home buyers typically ask the very same questions over and over again. Many clients are unsure of the actual purpose of a home inspection and also what information they will receive. Did it pass? Is the most common question clients ask when we conclude a home inspection. Here are the Questions and Answers that I provide as the Barrie Home Inspector.
Q. #1What is a home inspection? A. A home inspection is an objective visual examination of the physical structure and systems of a house, from the roof to the foundation. If a problem or a symptom of a problem is found the
Hire a Professional Home Inspector
home inspector will include a description of the problem in a written report and may recommend further evaluation.
Q.#2Why Should I Get a Home Inspection? A. For most families buying a home will be the biggest investment they will make. Protect yourself against unpleasant surprises such as buried oil tanks, structural problems, poor workmanship and potential failure of any of your homes major components.
Pre-inspection inspections are becoming more popular for consumer savvy sellers. The are presenting their home in the best possible light as they have already identified and repaired all those nagging little maintenance issues which show up in every home inspection.
Q. #3 What if the Home Inspection Report reveals a lot of problems?
A. Every home has problems. Anything built by humans is prone to errors. Most of the time problems found during a home inspection are minor in nature and simply require maintenance. Major problems may require a professional contractor and price re-negotiation.
Q. #4 What is inspected or “Covered” in a Home Inspection?
A. A home inspection is a visual nondestructive examination of the readily accessible systems and structure of your home from the roof to the foundation. It is not a warranty or insurance program but a means to help you understand the condition of the home you plan to purchase. The inspection includes but is not limited to the following items: Exterior, Roof, Crawlspace, Attic, Electrical System, Heating and Air Systems, Interior, Insulation and Ventilation, Plumbing and Fireplace. VISIT LINKS ABOVE FOR ACTUAL DEFECT PICTURES OF INSPECTIONS
In Ontario the Barrie Home Inspector provides WETT Inspection services as part of the Home Inspection process. Most insurance companies will require an inspection by a WETT Certified Technician prior to insuring your home.
Q. #5 What a Home Inspection does not include?
A. A home inspection does not include protection against future failures of any of the buildings systems or components. The home inspection does not identify concealed or latent defects or existence of hazardous materials or air quality. Your home does not pass or fail a home inspection, it is simply a list of items that require repair, replacement or maintenance as discovered by a trained professional. Most professional home inspector’s do not provide estimates for any work required to repair deficiencies.
Q. #6 Who should attend the Home Inspection?
A. The Buyer should attend the Home Inspection and stick to the Home Inspector like glue. This is valuable information about your new home and you should avail yourself of the Home Inspectors’ Expertise and Knowledge. Remember, your Home Inspector gets paid whether you buy the house of not, and will provide you with all the information you require to make an educated decision.
If you are buying an older home that has had many additions or renovation etc. it might be a wise decision to have the home owner available to answer questions about what and how the work was done. I have found that some home sellers are a wealth of knowledge about the history of some homes.
Q. #7 What about add-on options to Home Inspection?
A. Many “Rookie” inspectors choose to supplement their home inspection income by selling “third party” add-ons. This include any or everything that can be insured, with the Home Inspector receiving a commission for every policy sold. This type of product may or may not be right for you, this is a personal decision and the product should be carefully reviewed prior to enrollment.
Q. #8 Who should I hire as my Home Inspector?
A. Anyone planning to buy a home should research their local home inspectors. You should be looking for one with a lot of experience and a background in the building industry. Phone some inspectors and ask them about their background, how long have they been doing home inspections, ask for some referrals from previous clients and above all ask them what professional training they have. Some home inspectors have only part time college courses and online diplomas for their professional pedigree.
When inspecting older homes there are typically Electrical Issues that are discovered. Many of the electrical issues are from a Home Owners Attempt at DIY Electrical Wiring. If your home was built in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s there is the possibility of Aluminum Wiring being installed in your home.
Always remember: Caveat Emptor = Buyer Beware
Call Roger Frost at 705-795-8255 or Toll Free at 888-818-8606 for information on your home or to book a Home Inspection
Why you need a Home Inspection! Your new home purchase will most likely be the biggest investment that most families will make. Prior to committing to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on the new home, be sure you know what you are getting into. Hire a competent home inspector to review the house and ensure there will be nasty surprises in your future home.
Why Choose Barrie Home Inspections
Your new home will be inspected by a Certified Building Code Official with the Ontario Building Officials Association who has inspected over 8,000 homes. A Free Thermal Imaging scan of home is included with every home inspection. This can help find Missing Insulation, Hidden Moisture and Electrical Hot Spots. As a Certified Master InspectorRoger has the Knowledge and Experience to provide his clients with Peace of Mind when purchasing a new home.
Call Roger today to discuss the different Types of Home Inspections and what will work best for you and your family.
Professional inspections are a thorough visual inspection of the house and property, taking as many as three hours. Inspectors come from an unbiased, third party organization which means that you can trust them to give their honest assessment of a home. It’s very important that you contact an inspector right away once a offer to purchase is accepted. Most Realtor’s include a “five day home inspection clause” which allows time for the home owner to arrange an inspection prior to signing “home inspection waiver”.
Many real estate experts will advise new home buyers to find their own home inspector. This allows you to discuss your inspection expectations prior to attending the home inspection. Although Realtor’s will typically refer a “Home Inspector”, you never really know what that relationship entails, and in this “dog eat dog” mentality to close the deal that some Realtor’s have, you might not be fairly represented.
Your Home Inspection report should be both comprehensive and detailed. Every deficiency in your home should be documented and a detailed explanation of required remediation if required. The “Barrie Home Inspector” includes from 80 to 120 pictures of most home inspections. Your report will have an “Overview of area” and a picture which depicts the deficiency. The detailed Summary at the end of the report gives the Home Owner a detailed list of items that require maintenance, repair or replacement.
The “Barrie Home Inspector” always recommends that you personally attend the Home Inspection and follow him around the entire house. This enables you to see the context of the deficiency in relationship to that particular houses systems and discuss the required action to correct. At the end of the inspection you will review all pictures of deficiencies and either discuss the action required or return to the site of the deficiency to review your options for correction. You will then be given access to an online report with a PDF copy of your report for your files.
Remember, an educated consumer is a smart consumer.
