Why timing matters
Showing up at the start slows the inspector — they can't focus on evaluation while answering questions. Showing up at the end means every system has been evaluated and the inspector can walk the home with you as a finished assessment, pointing out what they found and why it matters.
What you'll learn on the walkthrough
How systems are performing, where the controls are, what to monitor over the next year, what's at end of life, and what to budget for in the next one to five years. This context rarely comes through the same way in the written report — verbal walkthroughs translate findings into homeowner action.
Questions to ask in person
Where is the main water shutoff and does it actually close? Where are the gas shutoffs? How old is the furnace and how long do you expect it to last? Any signs of past basement water entry? What single item would you address first? What's the most likely failure in the next two years?
If you can't attend
Ask for a 20-minute phone or video walkthrough after the report is delivered. Most Calgary inspectors offer this at no extra cost. It is genuinely the highest-leverage 20 minutes you'll spend on the entire transaction.
