We engaged this firm to inspect a mobile home which we knew had one significant issue, and wanted to ensure there were no other big-ticket items. We were selling the mobile home, which I explained up front. This firm uses an inspection software package with three categories: Safety Hazard, Major and Minor Defect. The category of Major Defect has the following definition: MINOR DEFECT A condition of a system or component that renders it non-working, non-performing, or non-functioning, and may be repaired, corrected or replaced by a professional contractor or the homeowner. MAJOR DEFECT A condition of a system or component that renders it non-working, non-performing, non-functioning or unsafe, and requires a professional contractor to further evaluate and repair, correct, or replace. SAFETY HAZARD - ATTENTION REQUIRED Common safety issues found in home inspections include electrical problems, asbestos, radon gas, carbon monoxide, lead-based paint, mold, and structural problems that may present a safety hazard. These require immediate attention. The report showed 5 minor defects (including a tree overgrowing a small part of the roof where there were no gutters to collect leaves) and 20 major defects. The major defects included such items as a refrigerator, bought as a 'dent and scratch', which the report indicated correctly worked well. How is a well-functioning refrigerator 'non-working, non-performing, non-functioning or unsafe'? Similarly, wear-and-tear on kitchen cabinets and floors (in a 50-year-old mobile home selling for $70,000) were considered major defects. I would have said most of the items on this 'major' defect list were minor, were I buying the property rather than selling it. Clearly, this software package needs to have a fourth category for 'Cosmetic Issues or Defects', with perhaps a checkbox for those which might be expensive to replace and those which were inexpensive to replace. Furthermore, the inspector was clearly not familiar with older mobile homes. His comment about the 'unlevel' floor was clearly wrong, as it was due to homes of this era being bult on two stringers rather than three, as modern mobile homes are now built. This was confirmed by several mobile home levellers contacted about it. So was his suggested fix wrong. It would have behooved him to have done a little research before suggesting a fix that was not possible. His wording on this item was alarmist, and he ignored that fact that the mobile home had been drywalled for the previous 8 years and the drywall showed no cracking or distress, evidence that there was no more settling, as he had judged. He did not note the trailer was level, end to end, and across the middle, but dropped off by a small amount outside the two stringers. He tended to make judgements about some of the 'defects' rather than providing a description of the problem. His judgements were not always correct, at least in the case of 50-year-old mobile homes. When queried about these 'major' defects such as the refrigerator, the inspector became defensive, said that he'd had people complain and needed to 'cover his rear.' We were not looking for CYA, we were looking for honesty in a house inspection. We weren't seeking to hide defects, but to have an accurate assessment of the mobile home. While very helpful and ready to inspect on short order when we were engaging the firm, when requesting the included reinspection of the items we repaired prior to the sale, the opening comment was that they could not come back for two to three weeks, because they were so busy. That would certainly have delayed the sale of the home, which we were not pleased with. In the end, when they realized this was a short list, they came back in a couple of days, and the pending offer we had was able to be completed. It would help to use software that is more reflective of all the possibilities, and with the capacity to consider context. Wear on a new million-dollar house might be a bigger issue that a mobile home that is 50 years old. We had a number of people surprised at the litany of small things considered 'major defects' in this report. Perhaps it's great to have a long list of trumped-up 'major defects' if you're buying and want to wheedle down the price, but as a seller, it's quite unhelpful. I would not hire this company again, and certainly would never do so as a seller. read more

We hired Fortified Home Inspections to do a pre-inspection on our home before we sold it. Kevan, the inspector, was meticulous and took his time to carefully go over our home to look for any deficiencies or issues. He took lots of pictures and also spent time explaining to us how to resolve the issues he spotted. He then sent us a detailed, professional report, with pictures, of what he found. We addressed any issues prior to listing but also left the inspection out for potential buyers to review. We sold our house after one day of showings and I credit part of that to the inspection Fortified Home Inspections provided us. This is our 5th home and we've used a different home inspector each time, as we have never met one we were satisfied with enough to use again. Next time we will just call Kevan as he knows what he's doing and we were very happy with him. read more

March 13, 2015 To Whom It Concerns, Recently my wife and I obtained the services of Mr. Kevan Rapley of Fortified Home Inspections. Kevan was, in our opinion, polite, thorough, knowledgeable, and respectful in making his way through what has become our home. We enthusiastically endorse his services as a Professional Home Inspector. There was never a time during our entire dealing with Kevan that we felt like we had to "watch our backs" as it were; he was up-front with the process, honest and accurate with what he discovered, and issued us a Home Inspection Report that we are confident is complete. During Kevan's visit with us, he was careful to not damage our home in any way - he removed his shoes, moved his equipment and ladder around carefully, was not invasive, and did not mind taking the time to explain what he was looking for, and why. We ourselves learned some new things about our home that we never would have even thought to consider. Kevan also possessed a variety of specialized equipment and methods that gave us a look at our home in ways we never could have seen it. This too, for us, along with his certification and education, marked him as a professional. I know that, should we ever be contemplating a move or the purchase or sale of a house again, we will be calling Kevan! Sincerely, K & R Kaechele P.S.: Check out their website: www.fortifiedhomeinspections.ca Or their email: info@fortifiedinspections.ca Or call Kevan at 780.919.9464 read more

This inspector was knowledgeable & concise. We would recommend Kevin & use his skills again if required.