People ask me all the time. “What exactly are you doing in my house for three hours?”
Fair question. Your paying good money for home inspection Calgary. You should probably know what your getting.
Here’s the thing. Most people think I just walk around with a clipboard. Checking boxes. Like some kind of building report card.
That’s not even close to what actually happens.
Real talk? Proper home inspection Calgary is me trying to figure out everything that could go wrong with your house. Everything that could cost you serious money.
I’m checking every major system. Looking for safety issues. Trying to spot problems before they become disasters.
Calgary’s housing market has been crazy competitive. Makes thorough inspections even more important.
Last week I caught an electrical panel that was literally melting behind the cover. Family had no idea. Could’ve burned there house down.
That’s the kind of stuff we’re looking for.
Why You Actually Need Home Inspection Calgary
Look, I get it. You’ve already paid for a lawyer. A realtor. Probably a mortgage broker.
Now someone’s telling you to spend another 600 bucks on an inspection. Feels like everyone’s got there hand in your pocket.
But here’s what happened to my neighbor last year. Bought this cute house in Inglewood. Figured it looked good so why bother with inspection?
Three months later? Her furnace dies.
Then she discovers the electrical’s not up to code. Insurance company’s giving her grief. Plus the basement has moisture issues causing mold.
Total damage: 18,000 in repairs.
Home inspection Calgary would’ve caught all of that for maybe 500 bucks. You do the math.
The Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors keeps track of this stuff. They say about 86% of inspections find something wrong.
That’s not because houses are garbage. It’s because houses are complicated and stuff breaks.
What Makes Someone Qualified for Home Inspection Calgary
Not everyone with a flashlight and business card should be poking around your investment.
Real inspectors need actual training and certification.
I’m certified through the Alberta Professional Home Inspectors Society. But that’s just the starting point.
You’ve got to keep learning. Building codes change. Technology changes. Construction methods change.
Plus, and this might sound obvious, you want someone who’s actually worked on houses. I spent time in construction before I started inspecting.
Makes a difference when you’ve actually installed electrical. Done plumbing. Framed houses.
You know what good work looks like. And what shortcuts cause problems later.
Technology Changed Everything
When I started doing this, I basically had a flashlight. A voltage tester. A clipboard.
Now? The equipment’s incredible.
Thermal imaging cameras are like having X-ray vision. I can see heat patterns through walls. Spot electrical problems before they cause fires. Find water leaks that haven’t even started dripping yet.
Professional moisture meters tell me exactly how wet something is. Not just “feels damp.”
Super helpful in Calgary where we get those weird warm spells in winter. Causes condensation issues.
Digital documentation means I’m taking photos of everything. You get a report with pictures of every problem. So you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Advanced equipment catches about 40% more problems than old-school visual inspections. Worth the investment when your talking about a 600,000 house.
Here’s What Actually Happens During Home Inspection Calgary
Foundation and Structure: I’m crawling around your basement. Fun times. Checking for cracks, water issues, proper support.
Foundation problems are expensive to fix. Better to know upfront.
Electrical Systems: Panel condition, proper wiring, safety features. I see way too many DIY electrical jobs that are basically fire hazards waiting to happen.
Plumbing: Water pressure, drain function, visible leaks. Plus checking if someone did something stupid like mixing old galvanized pipes with new copper.
Causes corrosion issues.
HVAC Systems: Furnace condition, ductwork, ventilation. Your heating and cooling systems are expensive to replace. You want to know if there on there last legs.
Roof and Exterior: Shingle condition, flashing, gutters, siding. Calgary weather’s hard on roofs. New roof runs 15,000 to 25,000.
Takes me about 3-4 hours for a typical house. I’m documenting everything with photos and notes. So you get a complete picture.
Bar graph showing that 86% of Canadian home inspections find an issue.
Calgary Weather Makes Problems Worse
Our climate’s tough on houses. We’ll hit -30 in January. Then somehow it’s +15 in February.
What’s the problem?
Houses expand and contract. After a few years stuff starts to break.
Freeze-thaw cycles are murder on foundations. Small cracks become big cracks. Big cracks become water problems.
Heavy snow loads stress roofs. I see a lot of roof damage from our weird weather.
Drainage issues matter more here because of spring snowmelt. Poor drainage around foundations can cause serious problems.
The Alberta Building Code accounts for our climate. But older houses might not meet current standards.
Different Types of Home Inspection Calgary
Pre-Purchase Inspection: This is the big one. Your buying a house. You want to know what your getting into.
Most thorough inspection because you can still walk away or negotiate.
Pre-Listing Inspection: Smart sellers get these done before listing. Find problems early. Fix them properly. Avoid deal-killing surprises during negotiations.
New Construction Inspection: Even new houses need checking. Builders are human. Mistakes happen.
Better to catch problems while you can still make the builder fix them.
Smart Home Technology Assessment: Newer houses have smart thermostats. Security systems. Connected appliances.
I need to check if this stuff actually works properly. Technology fails. Expensive technology fails expensively.
What You Get When It’s All Done
My reports aren’t some generic checklist. You get:
Interactive digital format you can read on your phone.
High-resolution photos of every problem.
Clear explanations in normal English. Not technical jargon.
Priority ratings so you know what’s urgent and what can wait.
Maintenance recommendations based on what I found.
Plus I encourage people to stick around for the last 30 minutes. I walk through the major findings.
Way better than just emailing you a report and disappearing.
The Industry’s Growing
Market projections show the inspection industry hitting 2.73 billion by 2033. Because people are finally understanding that a few hundred bucks for inspection can save thousands in repairs.
About 80% of buyers now get inspections. Used to be maybe 50%.
People learned the hard way that skipping inspections is expensive.
Plus real estate’s gotten more expensive. So the stakes are higher. When houses cost 600,000+, you can’t afford to guess about condition.
How to Pick Someone Who Actually Knows What There Doing
Not all inspectors are the same. Here’s what you want:
Professional Certifications: Look for actual credentials. Not just someone who watched YouTube videos.
Local Experience: Calgary houses have specific issues. You want someone who knows local construction methods. Local problems.
Modern Equipment: Thermal imaging, moisture detection, proper testing equipment. If they show up with just a flashlight, find someone else.
Comprehensive Reporting: You should get detailed photos and explanations. Not some generic checklist.
Good Reviews: Check what other people say. Happy customers usually mean good work.
Why It’s Actually Worth the Money
Professional home inspection Calgary costs maybe 500-700 for most houses. Compare that to:
New furnace: 4,000-8,000
Roof replacement: 15,000-25,000
Foundation repair: 8,000-20,000
Electrical upgrade: 3,000-12,000
Major plumbing work: 2,000-8,000
You find one major problem? The inspection’s already paid for itself ten times over.
Plus you get negotiating leverage. Find 5,000 worth of issues? That becomes your starting point for price discussions with the seller.
Smart Technology Complications
Modern houses have more technology. Which means more stuff that can break expensively.
Smart thermostats. Automated security systems. Connected appliances. Energy management systems.
I need to check if this stuff actually works. And if it’s installed properly.
Smart home technology’s great when it works. Nightmare when it doesn’t.
The City of Calgary has requirements for some of these systems too.
Why I Started Singh Home Inspections
Look, I started this business because I got tired of seeing people get screwed over. Especially with home inspection Calgary services that didn’t really inspect anything.
When I was house hunting myself, I felt like every inspector was different. Different knowledge levels. Different care levels.
Some were great. Some were… well, let’s just say I learned what not to do.
So I got certified. Bought the real equipment. Started learning from every single inspection.
I’m not gonna pretend I’ve been doing this for decades. I haven’t. But I’m local. I care about getting it right.
Don’t Let Hidden Problems Ruin Your Investment
Buying a house is stressful enough. You shouldn’t have to worry about expensive surprises after you move in.
Proper home inspection Calgary gives you the information you need to make smart decisions.
We serve Calgary, Airdrie, Cochrane, and surrounding communities. Professional, reliable service that actually protects your investment.
Your about to spend more money than you’ve ever spent on anything. Doesn’t it make sense to know what your actually buying?
Ready to Know What Your Really Getting?
Contact Singh Home Inspections:
- Phone: (403) 861-7100
- Email: info@singhhomeinspections.ca
Because surprises are only fun on birthdays. Not after you’ve bought a house.