Author: Geoffrey Darwent

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12 Jul

Hidden Defects Let me say first that normal wear and tear is not considered a latent defect.  Regardless though, if you receive a complaint from the buyer about discovered issues after the purchase you must reply in kind and acknowledge receipt of their complaint.  Ask the Buyer to provide a written letter with the facts.  You need to know about the evidence being used against you.  This is a requirement as per the Civil Code of Quebec, Section 1739. It may also be in your interest to ask the buyer permission to visit the property with your expert to further assess the...

03:54 / Montreal Real Estate
20 Jun

About That Condo You Are Moving Into Inspecting condos is part of what I do.  As such, I find that many who decide to purchase a condo do so without full knowledge as to how a condominium operates and how you are affected by its governance.  So, here is some information I would like to share with you so that you enter your new digs with eyes wide open. A condominium or condo is a type of real estate ownership which consists of both commonly owned and privately owned areas.  The Co-Owners Association is the collective body formed by the constituent owners...

00:25 / Montreal Real Estate
10 Jun

Mold Loves Humidity In general, mold loves humidity! Humidity levels in your home should be between 40 to 60%.  More specifically, between 20 and 40% during the winter months and less than 60% during the rest of the year. This percentage reflects the amount of moisture in the air. However, checking your humidistat level is not enough in maintaining a healthy indoor environment. Humidifiers contain water and as such, are a potential place for microbial growth.   Many homes have a humidifier attached to their furnace which releases humidity during the heating season.  There is a waterline that feeds the humidifier when...

14:41 / Uncategorized
31 May

Trust Is Gold Whenever I find myself in doubt, I hear my father’s booming voice, “Honesty is the best policy”.      Like in most fields and or specialties, what we knew when we started and what we know now is a reflection on the things we learn along the way.   We learn from the continuing education in our related fields of expertise and we also learn from the ongoing hands on work experience.  This invaluable combination hones our skills enabling us to provide a valuable service to our clients. As an inspector, we are trained to detect things that are not right...

03:20 / Montreal Real Estate
26 May

Inspecting A Home As A System When inspecting a home as a system, we need to understand that these components are part of a system.  Plumbing components for example, could affect the roof negatively if the vent stacks for plumbing that travel through the ceiling, into the attic and out through the roof, are not sealed and or insulated properly.   Let’s say we are in the middle of winter and heat is escaping into the attic through an improperly sealed venting stack.  The warm air comes in contact with the cold attic air and forms condensation.  The condensation will accumulate into...

22:30 / Montreal Real Estate