This article originally appeared on OttawaCommunityNews.com. View the original article in full here.
BY MEGAN DELAIRE
Perry Campbell launched his Metcalfe branch of A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections in May after making the decision to change careers and become a self-employed home inspector.
Perry Campbell launched his home inspection service in May, 2015, and he has already seen a few things that would make any homeowner with a sense of self-preservation cringe.
“There are a lot of people that do their own renovations, but aren’t knowledgeable when it comes to structure and electrical,” Campbell said. “You find a lot of safety issues with the do-it-yourself jobs during inspections.”
Campbell, a Metcalfe resident since 2002, ended his career as an operations manager for a freight forwarder and began training with A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections in 2014. He said his decision to open a home inspection franchise was inspired partly by his own experience renovating his home, and by what he identified as a need for more home inspection services in Metcalfe.
“You have to really look at everything because there’s so many things that can be hidden in the home,” he said.
Now a certified home inspector, Campbell is currently the only staff member operating out of his location, though he said he would like to expand one day. Many of his clients are house hunters who want to ensure that their potential new homes are safe and sound before signing a deed.
“I look at the plumbing system, making sure everything drains properly and flushes properly. I look at the electrical system, just to make sure that it’s operating correctly and there are no signs of incorrect wiring,” Campbell said. “That’s a big safety thing. I look at the foundation as well, and the structure, just to make sure everything appears safe.”
If Campbell spots something in a home that needs to be addressed the next step is to refer the client to specialists who can weigh in on the issue.
His branch of A Buyer’s Choice Home Inspections serves Barrhaven, Manotick, Gloucester, Osgoode and Metcalfe, but Campbell said he and the operators of other branches in Ottawa have been known to work together to help a customer if one location doesn’t offer a specific service that person needs.
Campbell stressed that home maintenance is a year-round commitment that homeowners need to be prepared for. With winter looming, he said there are several things homeowners can do to keep the cold out and the heat in.
“They need to make sure that they get their furnace maintained, get it checked,” he said. “And make sure as well that the insulation is not blocking the vents and that the attic is insulated as well.”
But his main message is for any prospective homeowner who wants to make his or her purchase worthwhile.
“Get a professional in to have a look at the home,” he said. “They identify many issues that a lot of people don’t realize when they’re buying a house.”