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economist suntribune july 6 1983 c13 home of the week located iri untonviiles bridie trail area this hbmesits on one of 1 the largest lots in the area and has a mature garden its at 35 v if femdell circle and is listed with johnston and daniel realtors at ts459doo features include a bay window in the living robmj french id6prsin the dining room and an eatin kitchen with a walkout to a patio the family room also has walkout as well as a brick fireplace the laundry room is on the main floor theres also a j study and in the basement a recreation room with wet bar- brick j fireplace a threepiece washroom and a sauna upstairs- the master bedroom includes a walkin closet a whirlpool tub and a makeup area there are three other bedrooms upstalrsvfor nidre- information about this home contact marjdrie kahgast 477r0075 invest in inspection before closing canadian home buyers spend a mere 20 minutes opening cupboards and try ing out faucets before deciding a given house is worthy of a sixfigure invest ment for a 160000 house thats about five minutes of serious thought for each 40000 worth of investment little wonder that a growing number of home buyers wary ofsuccumbing too quickly to the charms of their dream home subject it to a thorough inspection by a professional home inspector before signing on the dotted line there has been a real growth in home inspection services in ontario said on tario real estate registrar cora dela cruz as the market grows more complex these services have become very popular i find consumers are becoming better educated about housing issues all the time and more cautious one southern on tario couple was ready to sign an offer to purchase a lakefront home when they suddenly remembered stories they had heard of marshy ground in the area they hired a former engineer who in spected the home and reported the cou ple would need at least 12000 to correct several cracks in the foundation either that or live with a basement full of water every spring the couple bought the house anyway but armed with their inspection report they negotiated a new price from the sellers ideally dela cruz said house hunters should line up a qualified inspection ser vice long before they tour their first open house although most companies can ar range inspection within 24 hours notice last minute arrangements could mean delays or rushed choices however no matter how rushed they become the registrar warns home buyers to consider carefully any inspec tors recommended by real estate salespeople or brokers she points but that inspectors who regularly get business through par ticular real estate brokers or sales representatives arc in effect working for the people selling the homes rather than the buyer some might be tempted to do inspec tions that put the houses in a favorable light she says its a risk of bias you can avoid by finding your own inspector tlie best recommendations are often those of friends and neighbors local builders or engineers associations are other good sources many home inspec tors are trained engineers or architects or former builders if necessary simply get the names of a few firms from the area phone book but be sure to ask the companies for references from past customers and check them its vital toask a lot of ques tions dela cruz says home inspectors are not licensed or registered by the provincial govern ment and so do not need any particular qualification in order to advertise their services all he more reason to check references carefully at the outset make sure the inspector looks at everything including the electrical and heating systems the foundations roof and plumbing system and dont overlook the chimney a chimney in poor repair is a fire hazard and can cost thousands to replace most good companies spend at least two to three hours on the site costs vary throughout the province and range up to about 300 for the average home however many buyers eager to save money forego the inspection altogether strangely enough deia cruz says many people think they can walk around a house and know whether its sound people who have finished a base ment or painted a kitchen a few times suddenly see themselves as structural engineers dela cruz cautions these buyers against false economy you may save a few hundred dollars but have to spend thousands on repairs or renovations later if you uncover major structural defects after you move in your recourses arc limited in ontario con sumers who purchase a new home from a builder registered with the ontario new home warranty plan pay a small premium and are covered under the plan which insures the home owner against major defects for five years buyers of older homes faced with a problem can contact their regional con sumer service bureaus in ontario for ad vice and possible mediation however the best defence may be a good offence arm yourself with a pro fessional inspection report at the outset the registrar recommends and be choosy about which inspection firm you hire shop around and be par ticularly concerned about the inspec tors qualifications most firms will provide a verbal sum mary of major findings on the spot followed a few days later by a detailed written report if the company guarantees the accuracy of its findings get it in writing when youve found a suitable proper ty your next step should be to ask your lawyer to make the offer conditional upon obtaining a satisfactory report from a home inspector of your choice someone wholl spend more than 20 minutes reviewing the object of your 20year commitment a ministry brochure on buying a home is available for a free copy contact the consumer information centre at 555 yonge st toronto ontario m7a 2h6 416 9631111 or toll free at 1800268u42 ontario residents with an 807 area code may call the 416 number collect the ttytdd line for the hear ing impared is 416 9630808