Is a home inspection a condition of sale in Alberta?
A home inspection is optional in Alberta. It becomes part of the deal only if you write it into your offer. Here is how inspection conditions work and what happens if issues come up.
· 4 min read
About 25 minutes from central Edmonton
Home inspections in Sherwood Park
Strathcona County hamlet that began with 1955 ranch homes and keeps growing east.
Homes in Sherwood Park
Sherwood Park began in the mid-1950s as a satellite community for workers at Refinery Row. The first model homes opened in September 1955 on Birch Avenue in Sherwood Heights, sold as ranch homes for easier housekeeping. It is still a hamlet, governed by Strathcona County, a specialized municipality.
The population grew from under 3,000 in 1961 to more than 26,000 by 1976, so a large share of the older streets date from that stretch. Houses from those years now carry 50 or more winters on their roofs, windows, furnaces and electrical service. Strathcona County notes that homes built before 1989 were not required to have a backwater valve, which makes the basement drainage worth a close look on a pre-purchase inspection.
Growth has stayed strong over the past two decades. Centre in the Park added newer residences beside the county’s civic core, and Summerwood continues to add detached, semi-detached and townhouse homes. If you are buying a unit in a complex, a condo inspection covers the suite and the shared areas we can reach.
Neighbourhoods we cover
- Sherwood Heights
- Glen Allan
- Broadmoor Estates
- Westboro
- Clarkdale Meadows
- Emerald Hills
- Salisbury Village
- Centre in the Park
- Summerwood
What we look for in Sherwood Park
No backwater valve in pre-1989 homes
Strathcona County offers a backwater valve rebate for homes built before 1989. An inspection notes a valve if one is visible, and a plumber can confirm what is there.
Ageing electrical service
Insurers often see 60-amp service and older wiring as high risk. An inspection reports the visible panel and wiring so you can talk to an electrician and your insurer early.
Poly-B in 1980s and 1990s houses
Homes built from about 1980 to 1998 may have grey Poly-B supply pipe. An inspection notes it where piping is exposed, usually in the utility room.
Shared walls and roofs in newer complexes
Townhouses and condos share roofs, walls and parking with neighbours. The unit inspection matters, and so do the reserve fund and board minutes.
Inspections in Sherwood Park
Common questions
Does a home inspection check for a backwater valve in Sherwood Park?
An inspection notes a backwater valve if it is visible and accessible. Many Sherwood Park homes predate 1989, and Strathcona County offers a rebate for adding a valve to those homes.
Can you inspect a home in winter?
Yes. Most of an inspection is unaffected by winter. Snow can limit what is visible on the roof and around the grading, and the report says exactly what could not be seen.
Reading for Sherwood Park buyers
What does a condo inspection cover in Edmonton?
A condo inspection looks at your unit and the systems that serve it. The condo documents and reserve fund study cover the rest of the building. Here is how the two fit together.
· 5 min read
Pre-purchase vs pre-listing inspection: which do you need?
Buyers and sellers both use home inspections, at different times and for different reasons. Here is how to tell which one fits your situation.
· 5 min read
Nearby areas we serve
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