The systems that matter most in Saskatoon's climate are the furnace, the attic insulation and ventilation, and the foundation. Decades of freeze-thaw cycles show up as foundation cracking or heaving that a walk-through will not reveal, and an inspector traces water stains, cold spots and unusual wear back to a cause rather than just noting that they exist.
Older housing stock adds specific items to the list: knob-and-tube or aluminum wiring, an original electrical panel with limited capacity, and cast iron or galvanized plumbing that is near the end of its service life. None of this shows up in a listing photo, and an online estimate has no way to see it either.
The report becomes the basis for repair requests, price adjustments or, in some cases, walking away, so who you hire and how thorough they are changes the outcome. Get your hand-reviewed valuation from Joel Dyck.