Secrets Of A Mike Holmes Inspection

Secrets Of A Mike Holmes Inspection - Edmonton Commercial, Home Inspectors and Building Consultant | Admirable Inspection Services

mike holmes inspection

Ask 10 different home inspectors about Mike Holmes Inspections and you will get responses varying from positive, indifference and outright hostility. Why…. you ask? Mike Holmes Inspections is a company under the Holmes umbrella and a new reality TV show starring Mike Holmes following up after another home inspector allegedly does not do a proper home inspection. While this make for good entertaining TV and good marketing for Mike Holmes Inspections it distorts the truth about how visual home inspections are performed.


What Is The Impact Mike Holmes Inspections Has On Home Buyers And Home Inspectors?

Mike Holmes Inspections is a company under the Holmes umbrella and a new reality TV show starring Mike Holmes following up after another home inspector allegedly does not do a proper home inspection. While this make for good entertaining TV and good marketing for Mike Holmes Inspections it distorts the truth about how visual home inspections are performed.

A proper home inspection performed to the Standards of Practice is a “visual inspection” only.  Home inspectors are not allowed to move furniture, cut holes in walls and  do an invasive inspection of any sort. To perform any of these invasive procedures a new contact must be entered into by the home inspector and the owner of the home. It is rare to have an invasive home inspection contract agreed upon because of the high costs associated. A typical home inspection is around $500, while an invasive home inspection would start in low to mid thousands and go substantially higher from there.

Ask 10 different home inspectors  about Mike Holmes Inspections and you will get responses varying from positive, indifference and  outright hostility. Why….  you ask?

The Positive Impact Of Mike Holmes Inspections

In my opinion the largest impact the show has is, what could happen if you don’t get a home inspection. Mike Holmes is heard saying several times “run, don’t walk away” from a home with some serious foundation or structural issues. Public awareness brought to home inspection industry is invaluable. Awareness that a home inspection should not be skipped is just as important as hiring a competent home inspector. Media focus on the home inspection industry will make the industry much better in the long term.

Mike Holmes is also asking questions that home inspection clients should be asking of their potential new home inspector. These pointed questions will raise the level of service provided by home inspectors and is a win win for both home buyers and home inspectors. Home inspectors that are already offering a good service will raise the level of service to match and home inspection companies that are not competent will be forced to improve  their service or go out of business.

Focus on the home inspection industry will also likely cause new legislation, better inspector training, and possibly standards raised  to meet the new expectations set.

The Negative Impact Of Mike Holmes Inspections

Mike Holmes performs invasive inspections on homes that could never be performed by a home inspector. Home inspections are “visual inspections” only and while inspectors are trained to look for clues that can lead to major structural damage. Even with the use of infrared cameras it is possible that some clues are covered over by the seller. Or just not exposed to the naked eye or infrared cameras due to climate conditions.  Its only after Mike and his crew tear out walls and ceilings that huge issues are visible and Mike can state that the previous home inspector missed an important defect. And in reality some of the issues found in his show would never be found without an invasive inspection.

This creates doubt and confusion in the home inspection industry and that explains the hostility that some home inspectors have towards Mike Holmes. If consumers would like to pay extra for an invasive home inspection there are plenty of qualified inspectors available that could perform the task. The reality is that most homes purchased never see a home inspection.  Or the home inspection client is looking for the lowest price possible as there is lots of closing costs as well as the purchase price of the home to cut budgets short.

Other issues include difference in climate from Ontario ( the only place Holmes Inspections is filmed) to Alberta. Issues that Mike is pointing out in his show do not apply to other parts of Canada. This can create conflict between home buyers and home inspectors when clients are asking to address issues that do not necessarily apply in their local region.

 

Conclusion

Mike Holmes Inspections is bringing awareness to an industry that is in need of some public exposure. This will result in better service and better trained home inspectors for home buyers.

Home buyers must be prepared though for the extra costs associated with an invasive home inspection or  know that a properly trained home inspector can find all issues with a visual home inspection. Home buyers must also be aware that the reality show is sensationalized to create better ratings, and market Mike Holmes  many other products and services.

mike holmes inspection