Home renovation video inspections expected to remain after COVID-19

Learning how to live and adapt to COVID-19 and its various restrictions is forever changing the way we do things.

That’s no different for home and building inspectors across the province.

Trusted with ensuring pipes are connected properly, handrails and windows are properly installed and safety requirements have been met, inspectors in Saskatoon and Regina are certifying new builds and renovations without leaving home.

Kara Fagnou, the City of Saskatoon’s director of building standards, said the onset of COVID-19 last year forced her department to get creative and lean into video calling technology.

“We had to find different ways to meet the needs of our building industry,” she said. “Facetime, Google Duo — whatever platform we can connect with that property owner with.”

Fred Searle, Regina’s director of planning and development services, said COVID-19 forced his department to revolutionize inspection and permit processes.

“We had just introduced a new software system that allowed us to intake permit applications electronically. So, our team did a good job of keeping up with service levels,” he said.

Like many other industries, video calling applications like Zoom were unheard of this time last year. Now, it has become an integral tool for their business. That also brings its own share of awkward moments.

“It’s been a bit of a learning curve on both sides,” Fagnou said of inspectors and property owners adjusting to the virtual inspections. “You learn how to cue someone: ‘Can you look closer here? Can you take me to this bedroom and show me these things?'”

Fagnou said inspections are no different than some of the painful Zoom meetings that have been normalized during the pandemic.

“I think you’re on mute. Can you hear me now?” Fagnou said, imitating the etiquette inspectors quickly learned.

Video inspections have been so successful in both cities that Fagnou and Searle agree it will continue to be the standard well after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted.

Time savings, travel and emissions saved from inspectors no longer travelling all over town are just some of the immediate benefits, even if inspections do take slightly longer via video.

“It certainly has worked well,” Searle said. “I think we’ve all learned a lot from the COVID experience. I certainly see this as a tool and an option we would utilize where we can.”

“What we’re seeing is that it’s a convenient option,”

Keeping with the building industry and finding ways to electronically complete inspections was essential once COVID-19 arrived in Saskatchewan. In 2019, 27,785 building and plumbing inspections were completed in Saskatoon alone.