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Where we work
Home inspector in Vancouver
Across the bridge most days: character houses on the west side, Vancouver Specials in the east, and condo towers everywhere in between.
What we see in Vancouver homes
- Character and heritage houses. Pre-1940 houses in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, Grandview and Strathcona often have older foundations, balloon framing, converted suites and pockets of original wiring. Nick’s heritage restoration background is most useful here. See character and heritage homes.
- Vancouver Specials. Built from the mid-1960s to the mid-1980s: flat-fronted, low-pitched roofs, main living upstairs. Common issues include aging roofs, original windows, and downstairs suites.
- Oil tanks. Common in older houses across the city. We recommend a scan where the house’s age or evidence points to one.
Condos in Vancouver
Many buildings from the 1980s and ’90s have been rainscreened, and some haven’t. Newer towers bring window walls, heat pumps and in-suite HRVs. Inside the unit we pay closest attention to windows, balcony doors and anything below a bathroom, and the strata documents show what the building is facing. Buying a presale? See presale and PDI inspections.
A typical finding here
Knob-and-tube wiring visible in the basement
Observation: Porcelain knobs and cloth-insulated conductors run through the basement ceiling framing near the front wall. Newer wiring was spliced into one circuit at a junction box.
Implication: Original wiring of this age has insulation that becomes brittle, and splices into it are a common point of failure. Some insurers restrict coverage.
Recommendation: Have a licensed electrician evaluate the extent of the older wiring and quote replacement. Prior to subject removal if insurance is a concern.
Questions we hear in Vancouver
Is knob-and-tube wiring a problem in older Vancouver houses?
Some pre-1950 houses still have sections of it. It isn’t automatically unsafe, but it is old, often modified, and some insurers ask about it. We report where it is visible and recommend an electrician’s evaluation.
What should I know about buying a Vancouver Special?
They are solidly built but many are now 40 to 60 years old. Roofs, windows, the original heating system and any downstairs suite are usually where the costs are. The report puts those in order of timing.
Services in Vancouver
Neighbourhoods
- Kitsilano
- Point Grey & Dunbar
- Kerrisdale
- Shaughnessy
- Mount Pleasant
- Grandview-Woodland
- Hastings-Sunrise
- Downtown & the West End
Or call or text 604-315-9600
Send the address. We’ll take it from there.
Most inspections are booked within a day or two. If you’re in a subject-removal window, say so.