Is it a bad idea to have it inspected in winter?

Should winter inspections be avoided? The cold season can indeed present drawbacks, but they are counterbalanced by some advantages, in particular in terms of insulation control, indicate experienced inspectors, who suggest workarounds and precautions to be taken.

Sylvain Sarrazin
Press

In the fall, many brokers advised their clients not to wait until spring to put their property on the market, as current conditions should remain very favorable to sellers. Readers of Press reacted by arguing that pre-purchase inspections were risky during the winter, unpleasant surprises that could await buyers once the blanket of snow had melted.

We therefore contacted two approved inspectors to ask them the question: conducting a winter inspection, is it so risky? The answer is swimming a bit between two waters.

For Danny McNicoll, it is first of all a question of distinguishing between winter and snow cover, since snowfall can be reduced during certain segments of the season, as seen in December in certain regions. He also highlights the marked differences between geographic areas, because while the roofs are clear in Montreal, they could well be buried under a thick layer of snow in the Saguenay.

“If there starts to be snow on roofs, terraces and grounds, it creates visual limitations and, indeed, a buyer might not benefit from the benefit of an inspection in the summer,” says M McNicoll, who is vice-president of the Quebec Association of Building Inspectors (AIBQ).

Even light snow cover can prevent the inspection of the roof, the terraces or the checking of the slopes of the ground for the flow of water. “It’s very limiting. Even if we clear a small area of ​​the roof, that does not necessarily give a good representativeness for the whole ”, he specifies. Inspector for 30 years, Denis St-Aubin abounds, adding that in some cases, foundations can be difficult to control, as can flat roofs where snow accumulations are more important.

Additional inspection

So should a buyer keep their pennies warm as long as the snow stays in place? Not necessarily, because opportunities can pass under their noses, and inspection deadlines cannot be postponed once the promise to purchase has been formulated. In addition, steps can be taken to alleviate the disadvantages of these visual limitations.

“We could look at whether, during the sale, recent photos show the condition of the roof, if the seller has invoices for interventions, if there are still guarantees, lists Mr. McNicoll. But from the moment an element has not been visible during the inspection, it is the buyer’s duty to have his shingle checked afterwards. ”

If a very serious anomaly were discovered after the snow had melted, there could even be a question of a hidden defect, provided that the other conditions characterizing such a defect were met, such as the fact that the price would not have been the same. or that the sale would not have taken place if this element had been brought to the attention of a purchaser.

To facilitate a consensus between the parties, Mr. St-Aubin, who is also president of the AIBQ, points out the possibility of carrying out an additional inspection before the deed of sale is notarized – which generally occurs several weeks. or months after the agreement, allowing time for the snow to melt. “According to the contractual agreements, if the deed is notarized in the spring, we can offer an additional service with the visit of the external components made accessible and make an appendix to the report,” he said.

The advantages of cold

For Mr. St-Aubin, “every season has its secrets” and winter, despite the limitations it may impose, has the power to reveal defects that are difficult to detect at other times of the year.

“We are able to have information on heat losses that we would not otherwise see,” says McNicoll. An inspector could examine for signs, such as icicles or an accumulation of ice at the edge of the roof, a sign of potential water infiltration in the attic. Frost on the decking or nails in this same part of the property is also not a good sign. If trained and equipped with a thermal imager, the inspector will be able to detect insulation faults.

“Real attic ventilation anomalies or unsealed windows are things that we see more with winter conditions,” adds Mr. St-Aubin.