If you need a home inspector in Scarborough, look for someone who knows the area’s housing: post-war bungalows in Wexford and Dorset Park, 1960s to 1980s side-splits and two-storeys in Agincourt, L’Amoreaux and Malvern, older homes near the Scarborough Bluffs, and the condo towers around Scarborough Town Centre. Golden Home Inspections inspects all of them. Your inspector is Certified/Registered Home Inspector Yama Nehan, with about 15 years of home inspection experience and a place among the top home inspectors in Ontario. Every inspection follows the InterNACHI (NACHI) Standards of Practice and ends with a written report with photos. To book in Scarborough or nearby Pickering, Markham, or North York, call 647-704-7100.
Key takeaways
- Most Scarborough houses are 40 to 70 years old, so wiring, plumbing, drainage, roofs, and basement moisture get extra attention.
- Homes near ravines and the Bluffs need a careful look at grading, retaining walls, and signs of slope or foundation movement.
- Ontario does not currently license home inspectors through provincial legislation, so check certification, experience, standards of practice, and insurance before you book.
- A home inspector cannot confirm whether a basement apartment is legal; ask the City of Toronto about permits.
- Book as soon as your offer is accepted, because conditional periods in Toronto are often short.
What does a home inspector check in Scarborough?
A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive review of the home’s major systems. Golden Home Inspections checks the roof, exterior, grading and drainage, foundation and structure, basement, attic and insulation, electrical, plumbing, heating and cooling, windows and doors, and interior finishes, plus smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. For the full scope, see our guide to what a home inspection includes in Ontario.
How do Scarborough home types compare?
The age and style of the home change where an inspector spends the most time. This table shows what we commonly focus on in Scarborough.
| Home type | Common areas | What a home inspector looks for |
|---|---|---|
| 1950s and 1960s bungalows | Wexford, Dorset Park, Birchcliffe, Cliffcrest | Older or mixed wiring, galvanized or clay drain lines, foundation cracks and basement moisture, older windows, and possible vermiculite insulation in the attic |
| Late-1960s and 1970s side-splits and back-splits | Agincourt, Bendale, Guildwood, West Hill | Possible aluminum branch wiring, original electrical panels, aging furnaces and air conditioners, and roof age |
| 1980s townhouses and two-storeys | Malvern, L’Amoreaux, Milliken, Steeles | Second or third roof, original windows, furnace and air conditioner age, shared walls in townhouses, and some plastic supply piping from that era |
| Ravine and Bluffs-area homes | Scarborough Bluffs, Highland Creek, Rouge | Grading, retaining walls, drainage away from the slope, and signs of foundation or slope movement |
| Condos and stacked towns | Scarborough Town Centre, Kennedy, Warden corridors | The unit’s windows, balcony door, plumbing fixtures, electrical, heating and cooling equipment, and signs of leaks from above |
Why does basement water matter so much in Scarborough?
Many older Scarborough homes have original foundations, older drain lines, and downspouts that were once connected to the sewer. A home inspector looks for efflorescence and staining on basement walls, damp or musty areas, grading that slopes toward the house, short or disconnected downspouts, and whether there is a sump pump or backwater valve. The City of Toronto runs a Basement Flooding Protection Subsidy Program that can help owners pay for items such as a backwater valve or sump pump, so check the City’s current terms after you buy. A standard inspection does not include a sewer camera scope; if the home is older or has large trees near the drain line, ask about having one done.
What should you know about homes near the Bluffs and ravines?
Homes near the Scarborough Bluffs and the Highland Creek and Rouge ravines can have beautiful lots, but slopes add risk. A home inspector looks at how water drains across the lot, the condition of retaining walls and decks, cracks in the foundation, and doors or windows that stick, which can point to movement. Work near ravines and shorelines can fall under City of Toronto ravine rules and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA), so ask them before you plan an addition, pool, or new deck.
How do you choose a home inspector in Scarborough?
Because Ontario does not currently license home inspectors through provincial legislation, almost anyone can advertise inspections. Ask these questions before you book:
- What certification do you hold, and which standards of practice do you follow?
- How many years have you been inspecting homes?
- Do you carry liability and errors and omissions insurance?
- Can I attend the inspection and ask questions?
- What does the report look like, and when will I get it?
- Will you answer questions after the inspection?
Golden Home Inspections answers yes to each of these. Yama Nehan is a Certified/Registered Home Inspector with about 15 years of inspection experience, the inspection follows the InterNACHI Standards of Practice, and you get technical support for as long as you own the home. Read more about Yama Nehan or see our FAQs.
Buying a Scarborough home with a basement apartment?
Many Scarborough bungalows have a second unit in the basement. A home inspector can check visible fire separation, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in both units, exits and bedroom window sizes, the second kitchen and bathroom, and whether the heating and electrical appear to serve both units safely. An inspector cannot confirm whether the unit is legal, so ask the City of Toronto whether permits were issued. Our basement apartment inspection guide explains what we check.
Checklist: before your Scarborough home inspection
- Book right after your offer is accepted and confirm your condition deadline.
- Ask your agent to make sure the electrical panel, furnace, water heater, attic hatch, and any crawlspace are reachable.
- Ask the seller for the age of the roof, furnace, air conditioner, and water heater, and whether the water heater is owned or rented.
- Ask whether the basement has ever leaked and whether a backwater valve or sump pump was installed.
- Ask for permits for additions, basement apartments, and major updates.
- For a condo or townhouse, order the status certificate and review it with your lawyer.
- Plan to attend so you can see any issues in person.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a home inspection take in Scarborough?
Most inspections take two to four hours. A detached house with a basement apartment takes longer than a condo or townhouse.
Do you inspect condos in Scarborough?
Yes. Golden Home Inspections offers condo inspections across Scarborough, Toronto, and the GTA. See also our guide to condo inspections in Toronto.
Do you also work in Pickering, Ajax and Markham?
Yes. We inspect homes in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby, Oshawa, Markham, and the rest of the GTA. See our guide for home inspectors in Pickering, Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa.
Can a home inspector test for radon?
A standard home inspection does not include a radon test. Health Canada recommends testing every home for radon over at least three months, and sets its guideline at 200 becquerels per cubic metre.
What do I get after the inspection?
You get a written report with photos, as a hard copy or by email, and technical support for as long as you own the home.
Buying or selling in Scarborough? See our home inspections page, read about older home inspections in Toronto, or book an inspection. You can also call 647-704-7100 or email contact@goldenhomeinspections.ca.
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