Decoding your inspection report shouldn’t feel like reading hieroglyphics! Top 3 things to look for in your home inspection report: 1. “Material defects” - these are the big issues that affect value or safety 2. Photo documentation - visual evidence helps you understand the severity 3. Maintena

This is a great start to 2026?! Nothing says ‘solid build’ like nails going nowhere. Structural support… brought to you by 47 nails and pure optimism. When the building code says joist hangers, but the contractor hears ‘just keep nailing until it feels right. Joist hanger budget: $0. Loose nai

This find is wild. Water line just freehanding life decisions. Who needs a shutoff when you’ve got suspense?! Flush comes with a side of uncertainty. Looks like it survived a bar fight. Every flush is a trust exercise. Multi use function, bidet & water fountain 🤷‍♂️too far?? Certified ‘go

Today is the perfect time to help those seeds grow! Make sure in the spring to always give yourself roughly a couple of hours to clean out those gutters & extend downspouts 5 feet from the home. The further the better. Get more great tips in my reports, contact Bent Nails for a quote today

Great job @richcraft in Orleans. Wasn’t there a vent in the kitchen?! It was in the wrong spot, the ductwork was cut off & relocated. 🤔 no it wasn’t. Lying comes naturally, when extra work is needed to fix their own issues. Being humble for Bent Nails meant recognizing, I’m not on eart

Don’t let your dream home turn into a nightmare of unexpected repairs. A home warranty can be your financial safety net, covering major systems & appliances when they decide to quit. Think of it as insurance for the working parts of your home that your homeowner’s insurance doesn’t touch. P

Everyday is job interview, every second you spend on my website, reading my blogs or social media posts. I have to catch your eye & show you why to hire me. I will be your best investment. Great sales people sell feelings, people never remember what we say during inspections, they remember how

Who needs structural integrity when you’ve got creative freedom? Load-bearing? More like hope-bearing. When the pipe has more rights than the framing. Structural support is more of a suggestion here in the US! Ah yes, the ol’ ‘just notch it and pray’ method. This joist is on life support. cai

I look at the industry, viewing the different personalities of home inspectors. Buyers or sellers can choose from, all straight edge cookie cutters. The exact same as the new builds today. I’m on that list of being personable & likable, I’m also on the list that’s going to be straightforward &

Discern the truth, the problem with making assumptions is that we believe that they are the truth. We making an assumption, we misunderstand, we take it personally & then we react by sending emotional poison with our words. This creates a drama for nothing. So learn to discern the truth. The c

Bent Nails play a quiet but very critical role in protecting the public-long before keys change hands. A thorough inspection goes beyond surface-level issues, uncovering hidden safety hazards that could put families at risk. From faulty wiring that can spark fires, to structural weaknesses that thr

Come to bentnails.ca for a list of services, very helpful blogs, my wall of qualifications & my seasonal maintenance checklists for you to download for FREE! You will only need one company to inspect the entire property, starting at $399. I’m an international master home inspector, I’ve b

It’s not even been 12 hours yet being off the plane & back to work here in Ottawa. Poly B spotted under the sink, a ticking time bomb. Known for failure causing water damage, floods & insurance headaches. Replacement isn’t optional, it’s inevitable. (I’m not a genie with a magic ball, he c

You fell in love with the house… I’m here to introduce you to its secrets. Photos: staged. Inspection: exposed. “Recently renovated” Yeah… by who, exactly? If listing photos told the truth, I’d be out of a job. This is why you don’t skip the inspection—no matter how “perfect” it looks.

These outlet’s running a full-time daycare for bad decisions. This setup is one bad day away from a very expensive lesson. Load calculation? Nah, they vibe-check electricity here. Code compliance left the chat about 12 splices ago. Rated for 15 amps, currently carrying hopes, dreams, and chaos.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!!! Let’s discuss….. Why pay for overpriced countertops (1st) with a lovely design flow, then pay triple to have sloppy installation of tiles (2nd) put in your bathrooms, laundry room, fireplace, shower walls, etc. I bring this up in a new build for wa

4th home so far this year! So am I responsible for cleaning this nastiness out after running the jets? If I find a broom, sure?! Otherwise it’s left this way. Inside my report is a video with tips to clean the jets of your tub. I can’t get mad at anyone for this. You can only maintain your home

When building a room & run out of drywall, just use the door? When the listing says “custom upgrades throughout” & you find this behind the door… 👀 Apparently the outlet wanted some privacy too. Home Inspection Rule #47 : If it looks creative, it’s probably not code-compliant. 🔌🚪

Begin today, treat everyone you meet as though they were going to die at midnight. Extend all the care, kindness & understanding you can muster. Do it without any thought or any reward. Your life will never be the same again, who you are will show in what you do.

This is a farm home from the 40’s, directly above is stand-up shower. Who needs engineered lumber when you’ve got good vibes & a Sawzall? “Should we reinforce it?” Nah. This isn’t wood rot… it’s a weight reduction program for the stone foundation.