Residential Home Condition Reports
Including a Home Service WARRANTY

Twenty Years in Victoria
For more than twenty years the Home Check System of home review has been used to look at homes in the Victoria area. Over 9500 homes in total. Russell Cass of Talesta Holdings Ltd. has been fully trained in the Home Check System and has himself completed in excess of 2000 inspections using that process and is the Senior Analyst.

What We Look At
The Home Check System was designed to look at the five principle systems of a home. These are the systems that tend to  have serious and/or expensive problems.

• Roof and upper structure

• Plumbing system

• Heating system

• Electrical system

• Foundation and lower structure

Click here for a detailed outline of the items, areas checked and processes used

The Home Check System doesn't strive to duplicate what you can capably do your self and probably already have. These are things like painting and decorating etc., you know the things that have to do with taste and style and standards ... all things that an inspector in a plaid shirt should probably  steer clear of.

Our clients appreciate that we don't run up the bill  looking at  secondary systems and tertiary items, or in the "common vernacular" fluff and filler. Things that cost more to check and report on than you just fixing them when you find them ... such as broken latches, sticky drawers and so on.

Three Reports

First an Oral Report (at the house or by phone for out of towners)
You will receive a 45 to 60 minute walkthrough the property to introduce you to the process side of your new home. The analyst will show you what he has found, point out things of interest such as maintenance areas and of course answer your questions.

Second is the Home Check Report
This is a ten page report that lays out the conditions discussed in the oral report. It is designed for ease of use. There is a page for each of the five structural and mechanical areas reviewed. Each condition is categorized to help you make sense of the severity of each condition and indicate areas that may need further investigation by other professionals. Clients over the years have commented on how our reports have made understanding their house much easier, without all the needless complication of other systems.

SPUReport
Is a raw data report intended for your Insurance Agent. As you may already know, Insurance Companies are taking a great interest in certain conditions in houses that they want dealt with. This is the ideal time to find out about them while you can still ask for help from the seller  if one of these crops up. The SPUReport is complimentary (as a stand alone report it costs $125.) it is not intended to make any judgment on these conditions but it may assist your Agent with his job and save you from the 1001 insurance questions normally asked.

Questions are always Welcome
We know buying a home is a big deal, it doesn't matter how many times you've done it. Feel free to ask any questions you feel we may be able to help answer. We can't always guarantee we have the answer, but just about always we can point you in the right direction.

"All questions are good questions if asked in earnest" quote from I forget who.

It is also important to remember that we are completely independent so we feel free to run your contractor questions by us. We can provide unbiased information about things tradesmen and contractors salespeople are telling you, you need to do. You will be surprised at how complicated and expensive(to their benefit) some can make things.

Asking questions by phone is a no cost service of Home Check - Talesta Holdings whether your a client or not.

Condominium Units Condition Reports
Including a Home Service WARRANTY

Apartment and other multi-unit buildings are examined the same way as a house (above) with a couple of limitations. We do the same interior review of the plumbing, heating and electrical systems.

Unfortunately time and cost necessitates we can only perform a cursory review of the roof, foundation and common areas. But this is generally enough to determine if there is cause for concern.

This is the same for houses as it is for apartments and other multi-unit buildings, but it bears stating, The Home Check Review and Report can't provide information about moisture infiltration into the building (the misnamed "leaky condo syndrome"). This is now an area of engineering specialty and should only be investigated and reported on by those engineers trained to do so. We suggest you not trust anyone else who may be making representations one way or another. Most Condominium Association Boards can provide you with any documentation regarding the status of the building you are considering.