i ~~WHFJMW MRE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 2,199L. PAGE 23 'Dream home' shouldn't bela nightmare Some buyers *prefer older homes to new houses because they want a ,mature garden, paved driveway or finished recreation room. But they may be Bo1impressed with some featureEr ofthe house they forget ta look at the roof or check the basement for leaks. "Otrd Experts at Onris Cnsumer Ministry say a top-o»botominspection ie the bet assurance a dream home won't turn into angtaeo debts and dissatisfactioni. 'ltes amazing how many ýJ consumners will take two hours ta choose a new television set, but spend -only 30 ta 40 minutes lookmng at the house they plan ta buy," says Gordon ]Randali, registrar of the 1bèal Estate and Business Brakers' Act. Even home-hunters Who've carefully looked lover a house may j say,, they worry abèut the condition of things they caret readily see. The fr-ane, plumbing and ing may be. completely inaccessible. Thats, why increasing numbers of consumers ar hiring home-inspection services ta look for problems. Itfs now common, in major centres, ta include an inspectorls approval of the property as a condition of-sale. But consumners should take 4the time ta find the right inspector, ministry experts say. Professional home inspectors generally have backgrounds in engineering architecture or the building trades, but their ualifications may vary greatly. Tey aren't regulated or licensed by government. rUnfortunately, the home finspection business has attracted a few fly-by-night operatars wha may do'hlleor nothing for their maney, l says Randail. "In part, this is because the businesses are so simple ta set up. All a ýi dishonest' persan has ta do is-put an ad in the phone book, rent a H Home decoratinga i s more popular «Home, sweet home' is not a forgotten terra. Business for New -Image Decorating has not suffered dur- ing the tough econamnic times. In fact, sales are up 40 per cent over last year. "The trend of the nineties has been people stayin ahoe sayd decorating their os, ar New Image owner Lin La Reynard. "In the eighties more people took vacations and spent time travelling." With lonq days spent commut- Trmirdy ciiis re, home is more than lever a The store now located at M4 King St. W.in Oshawa, first opened ini 1988 ini Courtice. To expand and become more cen- 1 trall ocated the store was relo- New ImOsaeDwa atn.su telephane, buy a flashlight1 and say they're a home inspecter." Many reputable inspection businesses have voluntarily jained professional - groupe, such as the Ontario Association af Home Inspectars. Members agree ta a code ai ethics and standards which requires that resuits' af thieir inspections will be released ta nomae but the client. This prevents conflicts about whether- the home inspector is ge nuinely înterested in helping hie custamer or just promgting business for a renovatian cam, fny. in the association dan't perfarm'the actual repair or renavation work for inspection custamere. This helps ensure that home inspectors who may also own a roofing company, for example, aren't tempted ta exaggerate probleme ta give their firmn more work.' Randail adviees consumers ta keep a few points in mind when dea]ing with home inspection firmes. SEE PAGE 33 PCM SFOR OVEI 10 YEARM MM AID flORAME PtAININOD - AID SWEflO ".8 Types af wire shelving-we'II cut ta quatitied instalIersaryou may instali. fit at noextra cast. e*AvaWe inwidthsof F, 9 ",12" "Ali Vinyl Coated Steel Shelving. 16 * & 20 ". "*Ideal for daotheÉ or linendalsets and a Campetitive pricing, personai service. starage shelves. a Over 300,000 feet of shelvng sold " Rads and brackets extra. annually. "*Guaranteedinstallations by aur awn (a"O 1EÀAGESHLNQ FREE M HOME USIf ~CD 1- KITCHENS LTD. 605 Brock Street North Whitby, Ont. Li N 4J3 Vc5VV 2 I~ PCERINGI 8 HOME & DESIGN I CENTRE oe HWY 401 _ 'w We, 843] HOME UPGRADES 1755 Pickering Parkway, Pickering Pickering Home & Design Centre Brock Rd. & 401 428-9767 :)ecorate, Confider AT NEW IMAGE DECOI Let us work with you ta coordinate vallcoverings, window coverings etc personal style. 207 u 0 'ALLCOVERING BOOK with this coupon Minimum order $50.00 Offer ex ?come to a store where décorating is New Imal )ecorati*ng C King St. W. Oshawa (just west of 432-6633 with Ice! RATING e your paint, z., to suit your pires Oct. 12/91 ( un and fulfilîngi ge entre Thornton Road) PARA SPA/MOT TUBS FACTORY DIRECTý CLEARANCE' We will flot be undersold on comparable quality cabinets and workmanship. Our installation dates are guaranteed. Our satisfied customers speak for our quality. BEACHCOMBER