Wouldn't It Be Better To Know The Energy Efficiency And The Fungal Level Of The House You Consider, Before Buying It?
Why should I worry about comfort level, energy efficiency and indoor air quality of the house I plan to buy?
Is it wise to buy a house without knowing its energy efficiency level, while this efficiency level will affect directly your level of comfort and your heating, ventilating, cooling and hot water costs?
Is it wise to buy an existing house without knowing its indoor air quality? Was there water damage in the past that has caused inside walls mold growth?
Wouldn't it be wiser to call upon the services of a consultant in energy efficiency and of an indoor environment professional to get a competent and impartial opinion, before concluding the transaction?
Buying a house is one of the most important decisions in your life, emotionally and financially. Surely, you will want to have as much information on that house as possible before buying it. Choose to make a wise decision by having the energy efficiency of the house measured and the indoor air quality checked.
Testing indoor air quality helps determine the Indoor Air Quality Index (IAQI) of a house on a scale of A = Sterile to E = Alarming. It is also an efficient way to identify the presence of molds inside walls.
If There Is A Pre-Sale Energy Efficiency Evaluation, Do We Still Need A Pre-Sale Inspection?
Yes. The energy efficiency evaluation and the pre-sale inspection are complementary. One doesn't replace the other. The pre-sale home inspection is essentially preoccupied with structural integrity and possible hidden defects. The pre-sale energy efficiency evaluation focuses on measuring and determining objectively the energy efficiency of a house, and on comparing results to other buildings similar in age, size and location. The energy efficiency evaluation also include:
- A full written report on the energy performance of the house
- A label describing the EnerGuide rating registered with the Government of Canada
- Judicious, impartial and independent tips and suggestions
- Advice from a licensed competent and independent energy efficiency consultant,
accredited by Natural Resources Canada and Agence de l'efficacité énergétique of Québec
Is Pre-Sale Inspection Enough?
At this time, there is no mandatory certification for home inspection and no legal obligation for a home inspector to follow a training course or to write exams. Anybody may claim to be a home inspector. Moreover, most home inspectors will keep their involvement to a visual inspection of the house or building. They will not provide any information on indoor air quality or on the actual energy efficiency of the house.