In Ottawa, Payotte selected one verified home inspector for 2026 in each of the 3 covered sectors: Darren McClurg (Kanata–Stittsville, 92/100); Chris McArthur (Glebe–Old Ottawa South, 79/100); Lyall Coburn (Westboro–Hintonburg, 54/100). The selection rests on public data — Google reviews, years of experience, licence or membership, local presence — with no commission or advertising; each one's credential can be checked at the issuing body's register.
A home inspector assesses a property's real condition — roof, structure, foundation, plumbing, electrical, insulation — and delivers a written report, usually with photos, that can weigh heavily in your negotiation or surface costly repairs before you buy. Quality varies widely from one inspector to the next. Before hiring, verify the licence or professional accreditation that applies in the province, genuine experience with the type of building involved, and a clear, thorough sample report. Payotte verifies the accreditation and local presence of the inspector it recommends in each Ottawa sector, and publishes only one — the highest-scoring on objective criteria.
The Ottawa real estate market
As of September 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $623,500, down 0.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $685,640. Inventory sat at roughly 4.8 months of supply, and homes took about 27 days to sell.
Scope: Region de la chambre OREB (National Capital Region) · OREB · Sep 2026. — Source : OREB
The other verified professionals in Ottawa
- Real Estate Broker — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
- Mortgage Broker — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
- Real Estate Lawyer — Ottawa 6 sectors covered
- Certified Appraiser — Ottawa 5 sectors covered
Frequently asked questions
The Ottawa real estate market
As of September 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $623,500, down 0.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $685,640. Inventory sat at roughly 4.8 months of supply, and homes took about 27 days to sell.
How many Ottawa sectors have a verified home inspector?
3 of 6 sectors listed in Ottawa. Payotte publishes ONE professional per sector and trade: the table above lists every covered sector, with the selected name and its score out of 100.
What does a home inspector check in Ottawa?
A pre-purchase inspection looks, in 2 to 4 hours, at what is visible and accessible: foundation, roof, drainage, plumbing, electrical, heating, insulation, windows, basement and attic. It takes nothing apart and does not guarantee there are no hidden defects. Payotte publishes a full room-by-room checklist.
Does a home inspector need a licence?
In this province, no licence is required: check membership in an inspectors' association and liability insurance instead.
How is the Ottawa home inspector selected?
Payotte applies an independent 100-point scoring protocol: Google reviews (35 pts), total experience (30 pts), active provincial licence (15 pts), declared local presence (15 pts), and verifiable bonus (5 pts). No commission, no advertising. The licence number is published so you can check it yourself at the regulator's register.
Does Payotte earn a commission?
No. Payotte is a free, independent, ad-free service. No commission is earned and no professional pays to appear on the site.
How much does a home inspection cost?
Across Canada, budget roughly $500 for a residential pre-purchase inspection — the working figure used by both CMHC and WOWA's closing-cost calculator (updated August 2025). The buyer pays, usually as part of an inspection condition in the offer to purchase.
No provincial association outside Quebec publishes an official province-by-province fee schedule, so treat this as a national reference point rather than a local quote.
Sources: CMHC — How much will my home really cost? · WOWA — Closing costs calculator (Aug 2025)