Question 1

How do I check if a property is in a flood zone in Canada?

Accepted Answer

SIBT.ca checks flood zone proximity using data from Natural Resources Canada. Our report maps all flood zones within 5km of any Canadian address and assigns a risk level (Low, Moderate, or High) so you can make an informed decision before buying.

Question 2

How can I find school ratings near a property in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Our property report includes nearby schools with Google ratings, review counts, and walking distances. We pull data from Google Maps to show you every school within walking distance of the property, including elementary, secondary, and private schools.

Question 3

What is the air quality like near a property I want to buy?

Accepted Answer

We provide a real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) score for any Canadian address using Google Air Quality data. The report includes the dominant pollutant, health recommendations for different activity levels, and overall air quality category.

Question 4

How do I check commute times from a property to downtown?

Accepted Answer

SIBT.ca calculates exact commute times to city centre via three modes: driving, public transit, and walking. We use Google Routes to provide real-time distance and duration estimates so you know exactly how long your daily commute will be.

Question 5

Can I check the solar panel potential of a house before buying?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Our report includes solar energy potential data. You'll see the estimated annual energy production (kWh), maximum number of panels your roof can support, annual sunshine hours, usable roof area, and estimated savings per year in dollars.

Question 6

Where can I find census data for a neighbourhood in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Every SIBT report includes census data from Statistics Canada (2021 Census) for the municipality where the property is located. This includes median household income, average income, home ownership rates, population density, median age, total dwellings, condo counts, and housing suitability rates.

Question 7

Is there earthquake risk for properties in Canada?

Accepted Answer

Our report includes seismic activity data from the USGS Earthquake Hazards Program. We show total earthquake events near the property, the maximum magnitude recorded, a seismic risk level assessment, and details of the most recent earthquakes including their distance from the property.

Question 8

How do I find EV charging stations near a property?

Accepted Answer

SIBT.ca includes EV infrastructure data from Open Charge Map. Your report shows the total number of charging stations nearby, how many have fast chargers (50kW+ DC), and the distance to the nearest station — essential information for electric vehicle owners.

Question 9

What climate and weather data is available for a Canadian property?

Accepted Answer

We provide 30 years of climate normals from Environment Canada including average annual temperature, January and July averages, total precipitation, annual snowfall and rainfall, frost-free days, and average wind speed. Plus a monthly temperature chart so you can visualize the full year.

Question 10

What is a Property Health Score and how is it calculated?

Accepted Answer

A Property Health Score is a comprehensive rating generated by SIBT.ca that evaluates a Canadian property across six pillars: Climate Risk, Neighbourhood and Amenities, Commute and Accessibility, Economic Health, Solar and Property Potential, and Livability. We analyze 60+ data points from 29 government and public sources to generate a single score, helping homebuyers compare properties objectively.

Risk Factor	Data Source	Evaluation Core Metric
Flood Hazards	Natural Resources Canada	Proximity to 100-year flood lines and watershed boundaries.
Micro-Climate Air Quality	Google Environmental API	Live AQI factoring localized industrial zones and traffic throughput.
Seismic Activity	USGS / NRC	Historical tectonic shift probability and soil liquefaction potential.

Canadian Property Evaluation Guide: Top 3 Risk Factors