Registered Property Inspectors Could be Bad For You!

If you ever bought a property (as an investment or for personal use), chances are you hired a property inspector. What could be smarter than have a specialist inspect and advise you on any potential problems? And who is better - a registered inspector with lots of certificates and memberships in inspector's organizations or just a licensed guy? Well sometimes the answer could surprise you.

For a peace of mind, Matthew Burke of St. John's area hired a registered home inspector."We wanted to have a quality home inspection done so we’d know what we were walking into,” he said. “We didn't want to get hit with the unexpected surprises of $1,000 here, and a lot more money … potentially."

But shortly after moving in, Burke says they got a big surprise.“We have water damage all on the studs throughout the entire basement." The home inspector didn't see it. Estimates for fixing either run into the tens of thousands of dollars.

"We were in shock, at first,” Burke said. He called his lawyer, and his real-estate agent. “Everybody kind of directed me in the same area,” Burke said. “Call back the home inspector and give them an opportunity to see what we're talking about."

The inspection was performed by a company called Pillar to Post. Its inspectors are registered and carry insurance for errors and omissions. After re-inspecting the basement, Pillar to Post sent Burke a letter saying the company accepts no responsibility. "They believe they provided an adequate report, and that that's it. There's nothing further to be done."

Burke wanted to take it further, and take Pillar to Post to court. His lawyer suggested he contact Mike Guihan, the provincial vice-president of CAHPI — the Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors. Guihan also sells his services as an expert witness when home inspections go bad. But when contacted by Matthew Burke, Guihan refused the job. The inspectors from Pillar to Post are also member of CAHPI. Guihan says it's a conflict of interest to testify against fellow members.

Burke believes there is irony in his situation. If he had hired an unregistered inspector, Guihan and CAHPI may have helped him with his claim. Instead, he says, the registered inspectors have closed ranks and left him holding the bill.

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