Ernest Hrywkiw-First Class Building Inspections

03/22/2026

Getting Your Home Ready for Inspection

If you are planning to sell your home, there is a strong likelihood that it will need a professional home inspection, either as part of the listing process or as a buyer’s due diligence.

At the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI), we want this inspection to go well for you. To have the most appeal to your future Realtor and prospective buyers, there are some things you can consider before you even list the home for sale:

o Take a walk through and view the home the way a prospective purchaser might. Is there too much clutter to allow a fulsome view of the home’s features? If so, there are excellent online articles on the best and easiest way to approach de-cluttering the home. If you think you can’t be objective, turn to a trusted friend or relative, but don’t blame them if they give you a frank, but helpful opinion.

o You know your home and what you have done to it and for it during your ownership. What would you do over and better if you had the chance? If it is cost effective, make those improvements, or expect that a prospective purchaser will budget those costs when they are calculating their purchase offer.

o When you finally list your home for sale, listen carefully to your Realtor®. They will ask questions and view your home carefully to help determine conditions or out-of-date components that may trigger a negative comment in the upcoming home inspection. When practical, make the suggested revisions.

o Your home is going to be viewed by many people; real estate agents, prospective buyers, and inspectors to name a few. While those responsible for the home in your absence will make a sincere effort to protect your home and its contents, it may be impossible to keep an eye on all visitors at all times. Therefore, it is important to remove or secure all of your valuables; especially those that can easily be concealed and carried by a thief.

02/20/2026

EXCITING NEWS: Early bird registration for the 2026 WETT Conference & AGM is now open!

This year's conference will take place from June 7–9, 2026 in beautiful Winnipeg, Manitoba. Early bird rate for full conference admission is $199.99 and is available until April 30!

Whether you're looking to expand your knowledge, share your experience or reconnect with colleagues, the 2026 WETT Conference & AGM presented by Lindemann Chimney offers valuable opportunities to learn, grow and come together as a community.

Learn more and secure your spot today! https://wettinc.ca/page/agm-conference

01/23/2026

I’m excited to announce that I’m now a Certified Thermographer.

Thermal imaging adds another layer of value to my home inspections by helping uncover hidden issues such as heat loss, moisture intrusion, and potential electrical concerns—things that aren’t always visible to the naked eye.

This advanced, non-invasive technology helps clients make more informed decisions and adds confidence when buying or maintaining a home.

01/10/2026

Proud to support local hockey. Today we’re supporting the Tri-Town Young Guns in Wapella during their home carded tournament. Go Young Guns!

12/21/2025

Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV)

In the 1980s and beyond, homes were being built to higher energy efficiency standard, thus making them more airtight - to reduce heat loss. An unintended consequence of this change was a lack of fresh air flow in and out of the home. That resulted in more humidity in the air as we cooked, showered and breathed. That humidity was condensing on the cooler perimeter components of the home in the winter months; causing mold, mildew, and rot damage – sometimes severe and with possible health consequences. The solution was the installation of an appliance that expelled stale interior air and brought in drier exterior air. The initial designs of this appliance drove up heating costs when the heated interior air was expelled and the cooler exterior air was introduced into the home. Consequently, a redesigned appliance was developed that extracted the heat from the outgoing air and introduced it to the incoming air. Problem solved, and it is now a building code requirement in all newly built homes.

12/13/2025

Fireplace Readiness

Winter is here and many homeowners will begin burning wood as part of their heating plan, or just to create that special ambiance when the cold weather sets in.

If this applies to your home, you need to take some special care to ensure your wood-burning fireplace or stove is in a safe operating condition before using it. House fires and carbon monoxide poisoning can be the result of an improperly maintained wood-burning appliance.

The first, and the most important task is to have the chimney and/or flue pipe swept and cleaned. Unless you have the special training and equipment to safely do this job, you need to turn to a qualified technician. In Canada, look for a technician that is WETT certified. That means that they have received training from Wood Energy Technology Transfer Inc. This is the specialized training that is most widely recognized by insurance companies.

Even if you only burn wood occasionally, this cleaning is critical to ensure that birds or insects have not built nests in your flue over the summer. The WETT technician will also make sure your masonry is in good condition, including the flue liner. Any defects or obstacles in the flue can restrict the draw of the chimney and you may end up with toxic smoke backing up into your home. Loading door seals and draft control devices will also be checked to promote proper operation. Any code non-compliance will also be brought to your attention, such as inadequate clearance to combustibles.

Your home and its occupants are precious. You owe it to yourself to use your wood-burning appliances safely.

12/10/2025

A clean chimney keeps families safe (and Santa happy 😉)
Are you certified to make that happen?
🎓 Get CSIA-certified and build trust with every inspection.
Sign up now and level up your expertise.

11/27/2025

💼 Building a business with no safety net requires a level of determination most people will never understand.

You carry all the pressure, all the risk, and all the responsibility while trying to look confident on the outside.

There are days when fear wants to take over and you still show up anyway.

That is what makes you different.

Entrepreneurs bet on themselves when no one else does.

You need a strong mindset, unshakeable belief, and a work ethic that refuses to break.

It is not easy, but the freedom makes every struggle worth it.🔥🏆

11/20/2025

11/18/2025

For any testing, give us a call at 306-743-7600.

11/17/2025

A productive weekend was spent with colleagues from across Canada at the national conference of Canadian Home & Property Inspectors in Toronto. We shared knowledge and continued our professional education on topics such as the inspection of smart home technology, septic systems, backup generators, engineered lumber and insulating and air sealing essentials along with many other helpful topics that assist our clients to make that ever important decision when buying a home.

To top it off, a Grey Cup win for Saskatchewan. Congratulations Riders!!
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