Home Inspection on the Plateau-Mont-Royal

Buying a plex or a condo on the Plateau? I'm Pantelis Ambatzis, a Certified Master Inspector (CMI®), and I inspect properties on the Plateau-Mont-Royal, in Mile End and across Montréal, in English or French. You can come along for the whole inspection, and I explain every finding on site, in plain language.

Properties on the Plateau

The Plateau is mostly brick duplexes and triplexes from the early 1900s to the 1930s, with outside stairs, wood or metal balconies and flat roofs. Many have been converted into condos, often in buildings of two to six units, and most have been renovated more than once over the years. A lot of buyers here are buying a condo in a converted plex, or a whole plex.

What I look at closely on the Plateau

• Flat roofs: membrane, drains, parapets and flashing, often with the drone; see roof inspection;
• Outside stairs and balconies: structure, rot, rust, railings and their fastening to the building;
• Brick facades: mortar joints, lintels, bulging or cracked brick, and water behind the brick;
• Condos in converted plexes: the unit and, with the syndicate's permission, the accessible common parts; see condo inspection;
• Renovations and older systems: electrical panels, signs of older wiring, plumbing and drains, and how past renovations were done where they are visible.

How the inspection works

The inspection follows the BNQ 3009-500 standard. I check everything that is visible and safely accessible, from the roof (with the drone when it isn't safely accessible) to the basement, with a moisture meter and a thermal camera. I don't open walls and I don't check code compliance; when something needs a closer look, I tell you clearly and recommend the right specialist. When I see signs of moisture, we can go further with a mold inspection and air sampling.

You receive a written report with photos, findings ranked by priority and maintenance advice, often delivered the same day. Rates are on the price list, and I confirm the exact price once I have the address. For the full process, see pre-purchase home inspection.

Frequently asked questions

I'm buying a condo in a converted plex. What should I ask for?

The seller's declaration and the listing sheet, plus whatever the syndicate can provide, such as recent minutes, the contingency fund study and any recent work on the roof or the facade. Your broker can help you get them.

Can you inspect the roof of a three-storey plex?

Yes. When the roof isn't safely accessible, I inspect it with the drone, and you see the photos in the report.

Can the inspection be in French or English?

Both. The inspection and the report can be in English or French, as you prefer.

Buying in on the Plateau? Call 514-924-8887 for a same-day quote, or reach us through the contact page.