2026 Calgary pricing ranges
Condos and townhouses: $400–$525. Standard detached homes (≤2,500 sq ft, post-1990): $500–$650. Larger or older detached (2,500–4,000 sq ft, pre-1990): $600–$800. Acreages, luxury homes, and homes with detached secondary suites: $700–$1,200+. Sewer-scope add-on: $200–$300. Out-of-town travel to Strathmore, Langdon, or High River may add $50–$100.
What drives the price
Square footage, age of the home, number of mechanical systems (two furnaces, two hot water tanks), accessibility (steep roofs, low crawl spaces, finished mechanical rooms), travel time, and add-ons like sewer scope or detached structures. Location within Calgary itself matters less than these structural factors.
What should be included at any price
A full visual inspection of all major systems, thermal imaging used during the inspection (not as an upsell), a photo-rich same-day or next-morning digital report with prioritized findings, and a verbal walkthrough at the end. If a quote is meaningfully below market, ask what's been removed — usually it's on-site time, report depth, or thermal.
What's typically extra
Sewer scope (highly recommended for pre-1980 inner-city homes), radon testing (long-term test recommended in Calgary), Level-2 mould testing, asbestos sampling, and detached suites/garages with separate mechanical systems. None are required on every job, but knowing the surcharge upfront helps you budget.
Why price isn't the right primary filter
On a $650,000 Calgary home, the difference between a $500 and a $650 inspection is 0.02% of purchase price — and the more thorough inspector typically pays for that delta many times over in negotiation leverage or in defects identified before condition removal. Filter on credentials, report quality, and reviews first; price last.
