Senwi House Inspections

What kind of inspection report should you insist on?

2012-01-17T18:38:00.000-08:00

OK, I have advised that to try to lower your potential liability in buying into multi-family-dwellings as much as possible you need to: 1) Make sure you have the Condo inspected 2) Make sure you choose an inspector who takes the time to perform a thorough evaluation of not just the purchase unit, but also the building envelope/exterior, roof, parkade, and all common mechanical areas. 3) Most

How can I reduce the potential liability of buying a Condo

2012-01-13T20:57:00.000-08:00

In my last post I was prompted to comment on the liability that can be present when buying multi-family-dwellings after reading two articles from the Vancouver Courier. I will now try to give provide the reader tools for a thorough due diligence process to hopefully avoid a large portion of the potential liability that exists with these purchases. My number one piece of advice is to have the

Risk associated with the purchase of Multi-Family-Dwellings in Greater Vancouver

2012-01-11T13:58:00.000-08:00

I recently came across these Vancouver Courier articles (Condo Pitfalls & Condo Nightmares). They do a fairly accurate and thorough job of discussing the pitfalls that buyers face when buying condo style apartments and townhouses in the Vancouver region. We have found that too many buyers in the market today do not truly understand the liability they face when buying into multi-family. We often

Property Disclosure Statements

2012-01-04T13:21:00.000-08:00

Global TV ran a news story last night (link) regarding a couple that bought a house that had been previously gutted by fire. The problem was that this had not been disclosed by the previous buyer and the buyer is now saddled with a $200K bill to repair even though it is obvious that the previous vendor would have been aware of this damage. The problem with property disclosure sheets (PDS) is

Building Envelope and Mechanical Equipment study - Bill 8

2011-07-16T16:10:00.000-07:00

The Strata rules are being changed to require all Strata organizations to perform regular assessments of the buildings contained in the Strata. This will include an engineering study of the building enclosure (exterior, roof, parkade) and all mechanical equipment. The study will need to project out 30 years, the costs to maintain and replace critical components of the building. The next step

Using the right materials in the right areas for the right purpose

2011-07-16T13:42:00.000-07:00

"Materials of intrinsic excellence cannot escape from the wretchedness if they are placed or made to function where they do not belong by a designer who has neither knowledge nor good sense." - Eugene Emmanuel Violet-le-Duc

House Exterior Cleaning - Pressure Wash Services

2011-06-23T10:21:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned on a recent post regarding roof maintenance, this is the time of year that I see contractors come out of the wood work with their pressure washers unleashing havoc on unsuspecting home owners.Many contractors offer services to pressure wash the exterior walls on homes. This is especially prevalent on stucco homes. In the worst case scenario, the contractor will even add a soap

Cedar Roof Maintenance - Pressure wash services

2011-06-23T09:27:00.000-07:00

It is about this time every year that my blood starts to boil, not because it is so hot (like that is going to happen this year), but because I see the vast deluge of contractors out offering pressure washing services to unsuspecting home owners who want a better 'looking' home. In the last week alone, just in my neighborhood, I have seen two contractors pressure washing roofs (one shake and one

Home Inspections

2011-05-05T22:37:00.000-07:00

Have you had an excellent or horrible home inspection? Lets us know.We want to know what YOU think makes a good home inspection and what it is you hope to achieve by hiring a home inspector.Comment on this post or send us an email at inspector@bchouseinspections.ca

Home Inspections and Infrared Cameras

2011-03-14T08:22:00.000-07:00

Ever since Mike Holmes broadcast his first 'Holmes Inspection' program, home inspectors across Canada have been clambering to buy the cheapest Infrared (IR) Cameras and offer 'IR services' as part of their inspection process.Now any press for the home inspection industry is generally a good thing, but I am afraid the Mike Holmes inspection show has done more harm than good, in that it portrays

Why does SENWI take so long?

2011-02-13T09:10:00.000-08:00