Identify problems in development before they become costly. A technical inspection of your property every 5 years to plan your work, protect your property's value, and sleep soundly.
A home doesn't age all at once. Roofing, fenestration, plumbing, electrical — each component has its own wear curve. Regular preventive inspection lets you anticipate expensive replacements instead of being forced into them.
<15yrs
Recent home
Inspection as needed, especially before GCR/APCHQ warranties expire.
15–30yrs
Maturity
Preventive inspection recommandée tous les 7 ans.
30+yrs
Active aging
5-year cycle recommended. Components nearing end of life.
50+yrs
Close monitoring
Every 3 years. Structure, foundations and systems deserve close monitoring.
Why do it
Five concrete reasons not to wait.
Preventive inspection isn't a luxury — it's a management tool for your most important real estate asset.
Anticipate major work
Roof at 18 years, windows at 25, balconies at 30 — knowing what's coming lets you plan financially instead of reacting in an emergency.
Preserve value
Documented maintenance increases resale value and shortens time on market. The report becomes proof of good stewardship.
Avoid future hidden defects
Detecting a problem in development (incipient infiltration, evolving crack) costs less than fixing it after secondary damage.
Prepare a future sale
Doing the preventive 12 to 24 months before listing gives you time to fix anything that would scare off a buyer or lower the price.
Renew your insurance
Insurers increasingly require updated building condition reports, especially for 40+ year-old homes with original electrical or plumbing.
Before major renovations
An inspection ahead of a renovation avoids site surprises — discovering a structural problem after opening the walls is expensive.
What is covered
The same rigour as the pre-purchase inspection.
The preventive inspection's technical content is identical to that of a pre-purchase, compliant with the AIBQ Standard of Practice. The difference is in the report's purpose: not to decide whether to buy, but to plan and maintain.
Structure & foundations
Crack monitoring, movement, perimeter drainage.
Roof & attic
Remaining useful life estimate, ventilation, infiltrations.
Exterior envelope
Cladding, fenestration, sealing, signs of wear.
Plumbing
Water heater, distribution, drainage, valves.
Electrical system
Panel, grounding, obsolescence, current compliance.
Furnace/heat pump condition, air exchanger, distribution.
Drainage
French drain, sump, check valves, signs of iron ochre.
Interior components
Floors, ceilings, stairs, windows, signs of moisture.
Limits and transparency
What the preventive inspection doesn't do.
Like every visual inspection
The preventive inspection remains a non-destructive visual examination. It does not replace a specialized expert diagnosis for an active problem. Here are the clear limits:
No destructive examination — no opening of walls, floors or ceilings
Does not replace a contractor for performing the identified work
Specialized tests separate — radon, iron ochre, vermiculite, air quality and electrical thermography are offered separately
No property valuation — for market value, consult a certified appraiser
Not a warranty — a problem can develop between inspections, especially for components near end of life
Frequently asked questions
Preventive or pre-purchase? And other questions.
What's the difference between preventive and pre-purchase?
The technical content is essentially the same — what changes is the purpose. The pre-purchase serves to decide whether to buy as part of an offer to purchase with a tight deadline. The preventive serves to maintain and plan your own property. The preventive report places more emphasis on priorities, remaining life estimates and recommended work sequencing.
How often should I do a preventive inspection?
It depends on the home's age. For a home under 15 years old, as needed (typically before warranties expire). Between 15 and 30 years, every 7 years. For 30+ years, every 5 years. For 50+ years, every 3 years. These cycles can be shortened if you identify specific problems or are preparing a sale.
My home is recent — is this really useful?
Yes, but at a specific moment: before the builder warranties expire (GCR for new residential construction in Quebec covers 5 years on major defects, 3 years on hidden defects, 1 year on apparent defects). A preventive inspection 4 to 5 months before a warranty deadline gives you time to raise valid claims.
What does it cost par rapport aux économies potentielles ?
A preventive inspection costs a fraction of curative repair. Detecting an incipient roof infiltration before it damages insulation, drywall and structure can be the difference between hundreds and several thousand dollars of work.
Is the report useful for my insurance?
Increasingly so. Several Quebec insurers request an updated building condition report, especially for 40+ year-old homes with original electrical service, lead or polybutylene plumbing, or aging roof. Our report is structured to meet these requirements.
How long does the inspection take?
Between 2 and 4 hours on site depending on floor area et l'accessibilité. For a standard single-family home, count 2h30 to 3h. You receive the full report within 72 hours.
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