First Choice for a Home Inpection in Kitchener & Waterloo

Since 2003

Services

Some of the inspections services offered by Baseline Inspections

Jamie Ruth of Baseline Inspections checking a home's fuse box as part of a pre-purchase home inspection.

PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION

Hiring a Home Inspector from Baseline Inspections to perform a pre-purchase inspection ensures that you have an independent and objective assessment of the systems and conditions of the home.

Jamie Ruth of Baseline Inspections checking the attic of a new home as part of the new home pre-delivery home inspection.

NEW HOME PRE-DELIVERY INSPECTION

A new home Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) is your opportunity to discuss missing, incomplete, damaged or non-functionality issues with your builder prior to the close of your home.

Rod MacGillivray of Baseline Inspections performing a thermal imaging assessment during a home inspection.

THERMAL IMAGING ASSESSMENT

A Thermal Imaging Assessment is one of the best non-destructive methods for a home buyer or seller to more accurately investigate these concerns.

Rodney MacGillivray of Baseline Inspections checking the pipes below the kitchen sink during a first year home warranty inspection.

1ST YEAR HOME WARRANTY INSPECTION

Having a home inspection completed prior to the first anniversary of your new home purchase is strongly recommended by The Ontario New Home Warranty Program.

Want to see our full list of services?

Head on over to our services page

About

Baseline Inspections

Founded by Rodney MacGillivray in 2003, Baseline Inspections has provided over 5000 home inspections to the Kitchener-Waterloo and surrounding areas. Baseline Inspections was awarded a Quality Business Award for The Best Home Inspectors in Waterloo for 2020. With a 4.8/5 star rating on Google, you know you can trust Baseline Inspections to provide you with professional and consistent home inspection services every time.
0

AVERAGE RATING
Based on over 250 independent HomeGauge ratings

0
QUALITY BUSINESS AWARD
Baseline Inspections was awarded The Best Home Inspectors in Waterloo in 2020

Our Inspectors

Meet our professional and courteous home inspectors

Rod MacGillivray

Rod MacGillivray

Founder,
Registered Home Inspector

Founded Baseline Inspections in 2003, has since completed over 3400 home inspections.

Jamie Ruth

Jamie Ruth

Associate,
Registered Home Inspector

Joined Baseline Inspections in 2012, has since completed over 400 home inspections.

Want to learn more about our inspectors?

Come on over to our inspectors page!

Google Reviews

Hear what some of our most recent customers have to say about our services!

Google Rating
4.8
Rod was the consummate professional in our home inspection by giving sold objective observations and practical advice. I whole-heartedly endorse him for any home inspection.
Jack Hetzel
Jack Hetzel
16:27 21 Feb 24
Would absolutely recommend Rod for all your home inspection needs. Thorough, clear communication & quick response time. We will certainly be contacting Rod again in the future.
Katie Kuepfer
Katie Kuepfer
17:52 03 Feb 24
Rod was super thorough and very helpful as he inspected our first home! We'd recommend Baseline to anyone!
Bryce Kuepfer
Bryce Kuepfer
17:51 03 Feb 24
Working with Rod was great, he explained everything going on in our house in great detail, answered any questions I had, and produced a super helpful report and tips for maintaining our home. Since this is our first home, a lot of things were new to me, and Rod did a great job teaching me about the house and what to expect over the years. Thank you Rod!
Alec Kazakova
Alec Kazakova
12:54 05 Nov 23
Rod was able to provide good detail in the home inspection and took the time to answer our questions and explain everything as we went along. He was able to make his full report available to us in time to enable us to make our decisions on how we wanted to proceed. We would be happy to have him work with us on a home inspection again.
Jonathan Schmale
Jonathan Schmale
13:26 29 Sep 23
Rod was extremely helpful and knowledgeable - he spent significant time during the inspection doing a detailed walkthrough and teaching me how to maintain the house. He offered valuable tips and detailed notes.
Samantha Fowler
Samantha Fowler
12:14 26 Jul 23
Very thorough inspection, gave us factual data on mechanical systems within townhome. Helped us make a decision on purchase! Thank you.
Melanie Hanam
Melanie Hanam
23:05 29 May 23
I had a home inspection done with Rodney and we were impressed with his professional services and detail when reviewing the home.We needed a home inspector and Rodney was able to help us on a last minute notice. Turnaround was quick as the inspection was done in the evening and the report was completed by noon the next day.He clearly has years of experience and identified many areas that helped us to consider the long-term maintenance of the home. Rodney was patient with every question we had and took the time to explain anything he knew. I would highly recommend Baseline Inspections to anyone looking for a home inspection.
Sa Hua
Sa Hua
11:01 11 May 23
Rod was very knowledgeable, thorough, and extremely helpful in explaining items and answering questions. Thank you for help today
XZ T
XZ T
06:25 03 Feb 23
We just used Baseline for the second time in the past few months and could not be happier. Rod was so quick to reply and came the next day. He is so informative and helped us find our new home. He is very descriptive, professional and the report that we recieved each time had pictures and descriptions with so much information, plus the after use of the inspection and their portal that you can use to generate lists etc is GREAT! We highy recommend Baseline to anyone searching for an great home inspector that you can trust!
Brittany M
Brittany M
20:52 05 Dec 22
Booked an inspection with Baseline for a home I am putting an offer on, Rod showed up on time ready where he went through the property thoroughly leaving nothing unchecked. Being a first time home buyer, I was nervous with alot of dumb questions but Rod was very friendly and polite, he even educated me on things I would have never thought of. I recommend Rod and Baseline to anyone looking for a professional help being a buyer, a seller or an agent.
Alaa Alrifaie
Alaa Alrifaie
13:11 16 Oct 22
Rod and his team are great to work with, very detailed and explains the process along the way. We recommend them as a first to call service.
Paul Shantz
Paul Shantz
17:29 04 Oct 22
Last minute request from me for a home inspection, they showed up on time, thorough professional inspection carried out and the report was sent to me the next day. I would recommend baseline inspections to everyone.
Jason Brewer
Jason Brewer
12:43 03 Sep 22
We had an excellent experience working with Baseline Inspections. Our inspector was thorough and gave us helpful information about important details about the home. Very professional and all the essential details and findings were laid out super clearly.
Matthew MCGOVERN
Matthew MCGOVERN
14:33 10 Aug 22
Rod is a very thorough and detailed inspector. He tells it as it is, so you are aware of the shape of the home.I appreciated the professional inspection, as now I now how much to invest in bringing my home up to a safe state. Thanks Rod for your stellar service! Jo-Anne Brown
joanne brown
joanne brown
12:27 22 Mar 22
Very thorough inspection. Very detailed and well formatted report.
Robert Cooper
Robert Cooper
17:50 01 Jan 22
Rod wrote a comprehensive report about our unit, and was of great help when preparing our Tarion claim
Abel Molina
Abel Molina
01:26 29 Oct 21
Rod did a pre-offer home inspection for us. He was very thorough and explained things as we went through the house. If he could get into an area to inspect, he did (ie attic crawl space) He found many hidden issues as well as items we had missed ourselves. He gave sound advice and was down to earth in his assessments. Although we likely won't get the house now, it was worth the money spent to save the money and headache down the road.
Kevin C
Kevin C
18:18 12 Feb 21
Rod was very thorough and made sure to check all structural, electrical and plumbing features. He was also a great source of knowledge, which was great for us, who weren't terribly familiar with how houses in the area are built and what to look out for. We also got some great additional maintenance tips. The report was detailed and is definitely a good additional piece of documentation, should we ever decide to sell.Thanks, Rod!
Julian Feurich
Julian Feurich
02:23 26 Oct 20
Very professional and thorough. Rod was very patient in answering all my questions. i highly recommend this company.
Leah Almazan
Leah Almazan
17:58 16 Oct 20
Rodney was fantastic to work with. My wife and I both really enjoyed and appreciated his thoroughness and his ability to explain what we were looking at. We really felt that he wanted to make sure we felt clear and comfortable every step of the way. We are moving forward with the purchase of this house feeling very confident.
Jeremy Tracey
Jeremy Tracey
01:50 13 Aug 20
As a Realtor and builder,I must say Rod the inspector with Baseline with no doubt is one the best in inspection field. very professional, accurate and the price is not base on the time he spends at the property.He really knows his stuff in every aspects of construction .On top of all, I was so surprised when I asked him to run an inspection for a property that I wrote an offer on and the seller only gave us till end of the same day to remove the inspection condition.When I called Rod, he managed to put it in his rushed list with no extra charge and ran a complete inspection and provided us with report all in less than 4 hours same day! Great service.I will for sure keep using Baseline service.
Bita Soroosh
Bita Soroosh
15:08 17 Jun 20
We were very pleased with Rod's inspection. He was organized, efficient and focused on the items we were most concerned about. He used plain no-nonsense language to describe the condition of inspected items. Would definately use him again.
Ron Moreau
Ron Moreau
14:44 16 Feb 20
We were very pleased with our inspection after buying a new home. Rod was meticulous, thorough and extremely knowledgeable. He knew everything to look at and identified many issues that otherwise would have been overlooked. We would definitely use Baseline Inspections again for our next home. Worth every penny!
Kevin Houlihan
Kevin Houlihan
17:20 21 Dec 19
Very professional and detailed report. Went over everything with us afterwards and offered different methods of documentation.
Jason Moss
Jason Moss
00:09 12 Dec 19
Great experience working with Rod. He is very knowledgeable and the detailed report we received was very valuable before we made a final decision on the property. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking at purchasing a home
Jon Kuepfer
Jon Kuepfer
14:32 26 Nov 19
Rod was thorough, friendly, and provided a comprehensive report the same day. I will call Baseline for any future inspections.
Bryan Sansom
Bryan Sansom
14:59 25 Oct 19
I purchased an older home and Rod was very knowledgeable and helpful in the process! By the end of the inspection I felt like I knew the ins and outs of my house which made me feel comfortable with my purchase and prepared for any expenses that may pop up in the future. He even measured my staircase for me so I knew if my mattress would fit!
Lori Sigurdson
Lori Sigurdson
13:34 12 Aug 19
very professional and very knowledgeable. great experience. would highly recommend.
shaecout511 LDS
shaecout511 LDS
01:51 18 Jul 19
Rod did a very thorough inspection for us, and took the time to explain everything clearly and answer all of our questions. Would definitely recommend him.
Amanda Roberts
Amanda Roberts
01:14 17 Jul 19
Rod was a pleasure to work with. His report was sent within hours and included pictures and detailed explanations of his findings. No need to take notes during the walk through, he reports on big and small issues alike!Would highly recommend Rod, a true professional.
Shelley Cameron
Shelley Cameron
13:05 11 Jul 19
It was a pleasure meeting Rod on a Saturday afternoon during the long weekend in May to do a home inspection. He was very thorough and made sure we understood everything as he was doing his job. He had the patience to review again if we didn’t quite understand the first time and would also take the time to answer our questions. I would highly recommend Baseline Inspections.
Margaret Niemela
Margaret Niemela
16:38 20 May 19
Rodney was very thorough and gave a clear explanation of all potential small and large problems that could arise. I would certainly recommend him to my friends.
Bill Prociw
Bill Prociw
19:34 29 Apr 19
Rod was very thorough. He did an excellent job of explaining the potential problems and possible causes as we walked through. Answered all of my questions clearly and thoroughly. The final report was clear and detailed. An excellent experience.
Kevin McQuay
Kevin McQuay
13:47 26 Apr 19
I am very glad that I used this company. Rod is very thorough, with a very keen eye for detail. He exhibits very good patience in listening to questions and taking the time to explain things in both technical and layman's language. This was very important to me as a first time home-buyer. I found his home inspection report to be very comprehensive, well organized, and helpful for ongoing home maintenance. Further, Rod has been available for quick questions post the home-inspection, and he runs an eNewsletter with great home care tips & reminders. I can confidently say that I have had a wonderful customer experience with this company.
Gabriel Kachambwa
Gabriel Kachambwa
17:12 27 Feb 19
Very professional & great communication. Both my client & myself knew what was going on from the confirmation of the appointment to the end of the inspection. I loved how he had the photo's on his computer at the appointment & was able to show us his findings on the spot instead of explaining them, then having to wait for the report to see the photos. Thanks Rod!
Marcia Grove
Marcia Grove
19:41 12 Feb 19
Rod MacGillivray was prompt, courteous and professional, besides being extremely thorough. This was evidenced not only by his activities at the house, but also by the details in the report. It gave me a very good feel for this house and the work that would be involved in making it habitable. Thanks, Rod!
Rob Loewen
Rob Loewen
14:00 25 Dec 18
A thorough and professional inspection of our house before finalizing the purchase! Rod provided me with a detailed explanation of all the components of the house, responded to my questions, and prepared a detailed report of what needs to be taken care of in short and long-term. I would definitely recommend Baseline Inspections for your inspection needs.
Behrooz Golzarpoor
Behrooz Golzarpoor
21:14 25 Nov 18
We had an inspection done on a house we are going to buy. Rod is honest, thorough and very knowledgeable. He offered much helpful advice. The written report received after the inspection is extremely detailed. It includes photos pinpointing potential problem areas and a handy chart that indicates whether the inspected item is 'acceptable', 'marginal' or needs to be repaired/replaced. We highly recommend him.
Richard & Karen Fangrad
Richard & Karen Fangrad
00:59 08 Nov 18
Rod is a professional inspector. He was very professional and inspecting the house in detailed. Detailed description of the problems around & inside the house and suggested repair or upgrade option for us to follow. He was taking the time he needs to finish the job, not rushing to finish it! He was willing to stop whenever there are issues and explained to me – why and what to do with it! I am very satisfied his job and will definitely refer to my friends and family.
Terence Tang
Terence Tang
20:03 05 Nov 18
Rod was extremely thorough and very helpful during our inspection. I really appreciated the time he took and how he would answer all of our questions at any point. Extremely trustworthy and professional, I will definitely be using him again!
Megan Matsubayashi
Megan Matsubayashi
00:11 02 Nov 18
We are thankful we chose Rod. He was recommended to us by our realtor and was exactly what we were looking for in an inspector. He was diligent, he explained things clearly to us and his report was extremely helpful. We would recommend Baseline to any prospective home owners.
Mossab and Gillian Basir
Mossab and Gillian Basir
15:29 06 Oct 18
Rod came and provided us with a very detail oriented home inspection. He explained all of his discoveries. Highly recommend.
Chris Feeney
Chris Feeney
11:52 16 Sep 18
Rod was very accommodating on short notice when we found ourselves in need of an inspection. During the inspection he made us feel comfortable while at the same time passing on a lot of valuable information about our future home.The report we got shortly after the inspection was finished was very detailed and will serve us well as a 'to do' list once we have moved in. Very happy with the experience!
Jeremy Anderson
Jeremy Anderson
12:11 16 Aug 18
It was very easy to book a home inspection online through their website. Rod was on time (early in fact), personable/professional, very thorough and able to point out relevant aspects of the home both from the safety/update perspective, but also education re the features of a century home, common issues to watch for and trouble shooting in the future. He was able to create the formal report (with photos) same day. The home inspection resulted in significant peace of mind, and also a significant reduction to our purchase price as a result of his findings. Would use his services again without hesitation in the future.
Meredith Leigh Pope
Meredith Leigh Pope
23:13 06 Aug 18
Rod is amazing! He really took the time to ensure that we understood all of his findings. He was excellent at answering our questions. Rod was perfect to work with!
Caitlin MacGregor
Caitlin MacGregor
10:51 07 Jul 18
Rod completed my home inspection when I purchased my first home back in 2013. He was open and honest with everything he found while also providing us with direction on how we could correct these issues once we moved into the home. His final written report was detailed and included pictures of anything he found during his inspection that may require our attention. I was so happy with his service that I used him again this month when I decided to purchase my second home. It was his attention to detail that helped to identify a major issue with the home that I would not have noticed on my own. It is because of this attention to detail that I know I made the right decision in choosing him for my home inspection. Thank you Rod!
Brittney Patterson
Brittney Patterson
13:41 19 Jun 18
Rod did a house inspection for us recently and he was great. He was very thorough and talked us through all steps in the process.
Jeff Bertram
Jeff Bertram
14:29 11 Jun 18
Very professional and friendly Made my clients feel at ease. Would not hesitate to use them again!!!!!
Mike Atkinson
Mike Atkinson
03:49 29 May 18
Rod was very thorough with the inspection, and, patiently explained a lot of things about the unit that I might find useful. His recommendations were concise and actionable. Would happily recommend Rod & Baseline for home inspections
Osama Sidat
Osama Sidat
22:34 02 May 18

Did you know you can book an inspection online?

Latest Blog Posts

The best source for all things home services

What Home Inspectors are Looking for in an Inspection

Home Inspectors Expectations Home Inspectors are at the house to do a visual inspection; the purpose is to examine the build and components and provide an opinion-based...

How Buyers and Sellers should Prepare for a Home Inspection

The process of buying or selling a home should usually include a home inspection. A home inspection is a visual examination of the condition and structure of a home....

Electrical Inspection: Service Size and Wire Type

Key Points to Know for Your Insurance Questionnaire: Service Size Wire Type (Copper or Aluminum) Visit our YouTube channel to see Home Inspector Jamie Ruth discuss...
Window well cover

Simple Maintenance to Prevent Basement Water Damage

First fall in your new home? If this is your first fall in a new home, it’s a perfect time to do some simple preventative maintenance with your window wells to prevent...

The Medical Marijuana Tenant: What can you do as a landlord?

Recent regulations from the federal government allow medical marijuana users to set up small growing operations to produce their own crop. “The Access to Cannabis for...

Asbestos (CMHC)

What is asbestos? Asbestos is a natural mineral with unusual qualities. It is strong enough to resist high temperatures, chemical attack and wear. A poor conductor, it...

About Carbon Monoxide (CMHC)

The presence of carbon monoxide (CO) in our homes is dangerous. So, how can you protect your family from carbon monoxide? How do you choose the right CO detector for...

Insurance Coverage Issues Affecting Older Homes (Financial Services Commission of Ontario)

Did you know that... If your home is over 30 years old, your insurance company may require you to upgrade the plumbing, electrical and/or heating systems in your home...

Construction Performance Guidelines (Tarion)

Your guide to what construction defects are covered under your Tarion warranty [gview...

Tarion Warranty Program Forms

Are you ready to submit your New Home Owner Warranty forms? You can now submit your New Home Owner Warranty forms online at Tarion's Website by following the...

New Condos – Home Information Package, Condo Edition (Tarion)

Your Information on the New Home Warranty and How to Maintain Your New Condo [gview file="https://baselineinspections.com/library/Condominium%20Owner%20Package.pdf"]...

Condominium Buyers Guide (CMHC)

The guide you should be consulting if you are planning on buying a condo [gview file="https://baselineinspections.com/library/Condominium%20Buyers%20Guide.pdf"] Source:...

Avoiding Basement Flooding (CMHC)

Is Basement Flooding a Common Problem? Basement flooding is unfortunately a common occurrence in many parts of Canada. Basement flooding related insurance claims in...

Your Septic System (CMHC)

Where Does the Water Go? Do you know where the water goes when you empty a sink or flush a toilet? If your home is in a city, the wastewater likely goes into a...

Buying a House with a Well and Septic System (CMHC)

In rural areas, many homes do not have connections to municipal water and sewer lines. Homeowners rely upon privately owned or communal (shared) wells as their drinking...

What is Vermiculite? (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety)

What is vermiculite? Vermiculite is a silver-gold to gray-brown mineral that is flat and shiny in its natural state. When heated to around 1000 degrees C, it pops (or...

Urea Formaldehyde Foam Insulation (CMHC)

Urea-Formaldehyde Foam Insulation (UFFI) What Is UFFI? Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI) was developed in Europe in the 1950s as an improved means of insulating...

Introduction to Home Heating With Wood (Fire Prevention Canada)

There are several good reasons to heat your home with wood. While keeping your family safe and warm during the colder seasons you will also be saving money on fuel. You...

Efficient, Convenient Wood Heating (CMHC)

Introduction More than one million Canadian families heat their homes at least partly with wood. For these households wood is an important energy source, one that...

The Condominium Owners Guide to Mold (CMHC)

Learn about mold and the steps for treating or preventing it in a condominium [gview...

Fighting Mold – The Homeowners Guide (CMHC)

What are molds? Molds are microscopic fungi, a group of organisms which also includes mushrooms and yeasts. Fungi are highly adapted to grow and reproduce rapidly,...

Guide to EIFS Construction (EIFS Industry Members Association)

Learn about Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS) from the EIFS Industry Members Association [gview...

A Closer Look at Stucco (Journal of Light Construction)

Three-Coat Stucco Conventional or traditional stucco is called three-coat stucco because it has a 3/8-inch scratch coat, a second 3/8-inch brown coat, and a thin “color...

Polybutylene Pressure Water Piping (Alberta Municipal Affairs)

Failures of polybutylene (Poly-B) piping used in some homes in British Columbia and the United States have resulted in leaking pipes, possibly causing water damage....

Galvanized Steel Plumbing – Baseline video on YouTube

Rodney MacGillivray from Baseline Inspections explains concerns with galvanized steel plumbing in houses by showing you a case from a 100+ year old home in Kitchener,...

60 Amp Services and Limited Distribution Systems (Carson Dunlop)

  The Insurance Industry Has Missed The Mark A few months ago, we wrote an article about knob and tube wiring and the over-reaction of the insurance industry to...

Knob and Tube Wiring in Residential Installations (ESA)

Since January 2003 the Electrical Safety Authority has received an increasing number of questions about the safety of knob and tube wiring. In particular, purchasers or...

Aluminum Wiring in Residential Installations (ESA)

If your home has aluminum wiring and you suspect problems with the terminations you should consider the following: Aluminum wiring extensively used in the residential...
House bundled up in Winter scarf and hat to provide insulation.

How Effective Is The Insulation In Your Home?

Insulating Your Home While previous generations may have been content to live in drafty houses, most people now want comfortable warm houses. A healthy house today is...
Person putting out a couch fire with a fire extinguisher in their home while another person watches in shock.

Do You Know How To Use A Fire Extinguisher?

Learn How And When To Use A Fire Extinguisher (NC) Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? And as importantly, do you know how to use one? What good is a fire...
Person clearing leaves out from a house's eavestroughs as part of a fall home maintenance process.

Fall Home Maintenance

Do you have a checklist for your Fall home maintenance? Well you should. But in case you don't have one on hand, Baseline Inspections is here to provide you with the...
Scenic view of a lake and the reflection of trees from a vacation property rental.

Vacation Property Rentals….Risk vs. Reward

With the increase in use of sites like Airbnb.com and VRBO.com, renters and property owners are connecting all over the globe! Renting your vacation home or cottage can...
Person putting new silicone caulking on exteriors of window frames as part of their Springtime home maintenance.

Springtime Home Maintenance Not To Be Overlooked

We know about Spring Cleaning, but what about Spring Home Maintenance? The best time to repair or replace caulking around exterior windows and doors is spring or fall,...
Hammer and blueprint with the words Building Permit placed as an overlay.

Why Bother With A Building Permit?

Take A Little Extra Time To Determine If You Need A Building Permit With the arrival of warm weather, some of us find ourselves charging the cordless drill and dusting...
Diagram of a dehumidifier that is used to stop basement moisture problems.

How a Dehumidifier Can Help Eliminate Basement Moisture Problems

Anatomy of a Standard Dehumidifier When the snow starts melting, and the spring rain has the birds singing, our thoughts quickly turn to spending time outside, readying...
Condensation forming on windows of a house in the Winter.

Winter Window Condensation

Are your windows old and in need of replacing? Don’t put it off any longer than you absolutely have to. The damage you can’t see will far exceed what you can see. Let’s...
Cleaning the stovetop filter as one of the top home maintenance tasks you can accomplish now.

Quick And Easy Home Maintenance To Do Now

We often think of home maintenance as something to be done in the warmer months. Here are a few items to check off the list while Jack Frost has us thinking about hot,...
Icicles forming an ice dam on the roof of a house in the Winter.

When are Icicles a Problem?

Icicles….Don’t be fooled by their glittery appearance! Hanging from the eaves of a house, icicles may look beautiful, but they spell trouble. When an icicle catches...
Ladder Safety at Christmas

Snow Catch You off Guard? Don’t Rush When Hanging Outdoor Lights!

More than a few of us have been caught off guard this past week with the unseasonable amount of snow fall! For most of us, the snow brings memories of dazzling lights...