Home Inspection

Buying a Home With a Wood Stove or Fireplace: What Is a WETT Inspection, and Why Do Insurers Want One?

Buying a home with a wood stove or fireplace? According to WETT, WETT (Wood Energy Technology Transfer) certifies professionals, not appliances — there's no "WETT certificate" for a stove, just an inspection report by a WETT-certified inspector. Many Ontario insurers require a WETT inspection before insuring a home with a wood-burning appliance. Here's what WETT is, what it covers, the misconception, levels, cost, and what to do at offer stage.

Foundation Cracks: When Should You Worry? Vertical, Horizontal and Stair-Step Cracks Explained

Found a foundation crack while house-hunting? According to InterNACHI, cracks under 1/4 inch (about 6mm) with no displacement generally aren't a structural threat, while 1/4 inch or wider warrants a licensed engineer. Thin vertical cracks are usually shrinkage; horizontal cracks (lateral soil pressure) and stair-step cracks (differential settlement) are the red flags. Here's poured vs block foundations, crack types, GTA causes, and repair costs.

Galvanized Steel Plumbing in Older Homes: Should You Worry About Water Pressure, Quality and Insurance?

Buying an older home with galvanized steel plumbing? Galvanized supply pipe is common in pre-1960s homes, lasts about 40–50 years, and corrodes from the inside — cutting water pressure, discolouring water, and releasing lead built up from old lead service lines. According to Square One Insurance, some insurers require replacement, raise deductibles, or decline coverage. Here's the era, the risks, insurance, and repipe costs.

Buying a Home With Aluminum Wiring in Ontario: Insurance, Safety, and the Right Fix

Worried about aluminum wiring in an older GTA home? According to ESA, aluminum branch wiring isn't illegal, but connections loosen and overheat, so many insurers won't cover the home until it's inspected and remediated with ESA-approved connectors (COPALUM / AlumiConn) and a certificate is provided. Here's the era, the risk, the right fix, and the insurance logic.

Conditions in an Ontario Offer: Financing, Inspection & More

A guide to the common conditions in an Ontario purchase offer: financing, home inspection, status certificate, and sale-of-property (with escape clause) — plus conditional vs. firm offers and how the deposit is handled.

What Does ‘As Is’ Mean in an Ontario Real Estate Contract?

An "As Is, Where Is" clause means the seller is selling the property in its current, actual condition and will not make any repairs or improvements before closing. The burden of any existing problems, and the cost of fixing them, shifts to the buyer. What it does not mean is that the seller can hide

Well Water & Septic Tests Before You Close on Rural Property in Ontario

Two things drive the diligence: well water testing (both quality and quantity) and a septic system inspection. Quality means checking for bacterial contamination — E. coli and total coliforms — which Ontario's local public health units test for free. Quantity means confirming the well actually yield

Some Homes You Can Buy but Can’t Insure: Oil Tanks, Old Wiring, Kitec, and Other Insurance Red Flags

In Ontario, a mortgage usually can't close without home insurance. Certain features make insurers decline or demand remediation first: underground/outdoor oil tanks, knob-and-tube wiring, aluminum wiring, Kitec plumbing, sub-100-amp panels, end-of-life roofs, and more. Here are the insurance red flags and why you should confirm coverage during your conditions.