Townhouse and detached inspections in Calgary follow the same core methodology but differ in scope, on-site time, and where the report focuses. Understanding the difference helps buyers set expectations and ask the right questions.
Scope: a detached home inspection covers everything from foundation to roof — fully owned, fully accessible. A townhouse inspection covers the unit interior and the systems within it, plus accessible portions of the exterior, roof, and any attic specific to the unit. Common-area components and shared systems (building-wide plumbing, common roof areas, common amenities) are the corporation's responsibility and fall outside the inspection scope.
Document review pairing: townhouse purchases require condominium document review by a lawyer or condo document specialist in addition to the inspection. Documents reveal what the corporation owns, what's covered by the reserve fund, what special assessments are pending, and what the financial health of the corporation looks like. Without document review, the inspection alone is incomplete for a townhouse purchase.
On-site time: townhouse inspections typically take 1.5 to 2.5 hours depending on size and configuration; a comparable detached home inspection takes 2.5 to 3.5 hours. Pricing is usually lower for townhouses by $50 to $150.
Report focus: the townhouse report concentrates on unit-side findings — interior finishes, in-suite plumbing and electrical, in-suite HVAC, hot water tank, windows and doors operation, and any visible exterior issues at the unit. Common-area items the inspector observes incidentally are noted as 'observed in common area, recommended for review with the corporation' rather than as primary findings.
Calgary townhouse-specific considerations: poly-B and Kitec plumbing in 1990s and early 2000s buildings, building-wide envelope conditions that have triggered or may trigger special assessments, age and condition of common mechanical systems (which affect monthly fees and reserve fund contributions), and any party-wall fire separation visible at the unit.
For buyers, the practical approach: get the unit inspection, get the document review, and read both before condition removal. The inspection answers 'what am I buying inside the four walls?' and the documents answer 'what am I buying outside them?'
