The selection rests on a score out of 100 built from public data — Google reviews (35 pts), experience (30), credentials (15), local presence (15), bonus (5) — with no commission or advertising; each profile shows, where they exist, the credential and the register where it can be checked. Selection current as of June 25, 2026.
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.
Which home inspector should you choose in Ottawa?
Start with the home inspector selected in your sector: in Ottawa, Payotte lists 2, one per sector (2 of 6 sectors covered), scored 79 to 92 out of 100 from public data; then check their credential at the source (bodies and registers below).
The scores. All 2 profiles reach the 70/100 threshold and carry the Verified or Recommended status (1 Recommended: the professional confirmed the profile personally). "Verified" means the profile's data was checked at its source. The score adds up Google reviews (35 pts), experience (30), credentials (15), declared local presence (15) and bonus (5), from public data and what the professional states in writing; each profile publishes the breakdown, criterion by criterion.
Where to check the credential. Body shown on the profiles: InterNACHI for 1 (a professional association, not a licence: it confirms membership); Ontario Association of Home Inspectors (OAHI) for 1 (a professional association, not a licence: it confirms membership). The credential number is published on 1 of the 2 profiles. The register exists so the public can check their own professional before hiring them.
How Payotte chooses. In each sector, Payotte selects a single home inspector: an editorial selection made on this public-data grid, not a city-wide ranking; a higher score in another sector does not make a professional "the best" in Ottawa. No professional pays to be selected and Payotte earns no commission (selection method).
Home inspectors near Ottawa and elsewhere in Ontario
Elsewhere in Ontario, Payotte selects 39 home inspectors in 17 cities, one per sector. Cities are listed from nearest to farthest from Ottawa, as the crow flies.
- Kingston1 home inspector
- Barrie1 home inspector
- MarkhamTwin Peaks Property Inspections (84/100)
- VaughanThe Martiniuk Team — Pillar To Post (74/100)
- Toronto10 home inspectors, one per sector
- Brampton5 home inspectors, one per sector
- Mississauga6 home inspectors, one per sector
- St. Catharines1 home inspector
- Oakville1 home inspector
- Burlington1 home inspector
- Hamilton5 home inspectors, one per sector
- Guelph1 home inspector
- KitchenerChad Hussey (86/100)
- WaterlooRodney MacGillivray (87/100)
- Brantford1 home inspector
- LondonAaron Lee (85/100)
- WindsorBrad Labute (86/100)
The Ottawa real estate market
As of October 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $616,900, down 1.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $678,512. Inventory sat at roughly 4.4 months of supply, and homes took about 25.5 days to sell.
Scope: Region de la chambre OREB (National Capital Region) · OREB · Oct 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 October 2026, the MLS benchmark price in Ottawa stood at $616,900, down 1.3% year-over-year. The average home, all property types combined, traded near $678,512. Inventory sat at roughly 4.4 months of supply, and homes took about 25.5 days to sell.
Who are the best home inspectors in Ottawa in 2026?
Payotte publishes no absolute ranking: it selects one home inspector per sector, scored out of 100 from public data. In Ottawa, 2 are selected for 2026 (3 of 6 sectors covered): Darren McClurg (Kanata–Stittsville, 92/100); Chris McArthur (Glebe–Old Ottawa South, 79/100). Elsewhere in Ontario, 39 more in 17 cities.
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), professional title verifiable at the regulator's or body's register (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 be selected.
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)