Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Eastchester (Bronx) neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you’ve been around as long as I have, then you’ll recognize the need for home inspections. A quality home inspection in Eastchester protects you the prospective homeowner against those obvious problems that every home has. While the inspection is not fool proof, an inspector worth his or her weight should be able to identify the primary components that could be ready to break down on you as a new homeowner. A decent inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure greatly.
Typically, a home inspection is an evaluation of the visible and accessible components and systems of a home (roofing, electrical, plumbing, structure, cooling and heating, etc.) and is intended to give the customer a better understanding of the unit’s overall condition. Phone today to schedule an inspection at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Most often, the inspection is a homebuyer who requests a home inspection she or he is serious about purchasing. An inspection of the home provides data points so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home confirmed or questioned, and can uncover expensive and serious defects that the seller/owner may not be aware of. A home inspection is not a property’s appraisal value. The inspection does not point out repair costs for defects the inspector finds. Similarly, a home inspection makes not claim that the home and its systems complies with local code or protects a customer in the event an item inspected fails.
Sidenote: You can purchase warranties for many items in the home.
Don’t consider a home inspection as an exhaustive evaluation, but rather property evaluation at this point in time, taking into account normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the home can also include Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also used (less often) by a homeseller prior to listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wanting to prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value high, and care for their homes.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay close attention to during an inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), exposed wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, etc.
2. Major defects, such as large cracks in the foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not supported or installed properly, etc. These items are costly to fix, which are entire systems requiring over two percent of the buy price to fix.
3. Items that could lead to serious defects – a roof leak that could get bigger, damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a support beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
Your home inspector should counsel you about what to do about these areas of concern. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on more issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the defect areas. For example, your inspector may advise you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if he/she finds sections of the property that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural deficiency.
Home Inspections are just paid for by a buyer when they sign a contract, right?
This is simply not true! As you will discover whenever you read on, a home inspection can be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by home owners to make their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the situation of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can benefit from getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a some of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner will make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush following the contract is signed.
· The homeowner will undoubtedly be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner can take the report and make it into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the homeowner be more objective when it comes to setting a reasonable price on the home.
Most homebuyers lack the information, skill, and objectivity had a need to inspect a house themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. When you use services of a professional home inspector, they gain a better knowledge of the situation of the property; especially whether any items don’t “abjectly affect the home’s living space” or “function as intended” or “warrant more detailed attention” by way of a qualified specialist. Remember that the home inspector is just a generalist and is broadly been trained in every home system.
It’s a great idea for you to be present through the inspection – whether you are a homebuyer, seller, or homeowner. With you there, the inspector can show you any defects and explain their importance along with mention maintenance features which will be helpful in the future. In the event that you can’t be there, it is not a problem because the report you get will undoubtedly be very detailed. If you are not present, then you need to be sure to ask your inspector to describe anything that is not clear in the report. Also see the inspection agreement carefully which means you know what is covered and what’s not covered in the inspection. If there is a problem with the inspection or the report, you should raise the difficulties quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you want the inspector to return following the inspection to show you things, this can be arranged and is advisable, however, the inspector could charge you extra since a second walk through not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your agreement
However, it’s important for you to let the inspector do the job you’re paying for. We love our clients, but we also know that constant interference and interruptions (some might even call it nagging) make the process unnecessarily slow. Jot down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a detailed report.
This depends upon the size and condition of the home. You can usually figure 1.2 hours for every 1,000 square feet. For example, a twenty five hundred sq.ft. unit would take about 3 hours. If the inspector also prepares the report at your home, that will take an extra 30-40. These numbers aren’t set in stone because you really want them to do a comprehensive inspection without feeling rushed.
Since condominiums are units within a building, homeowners pay assessments to a Home Owners Association (HOA) or condo association, which pays for the upkeep and maintenance of all exteriors including the actual HOA is also responsible for maintaining the HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many home owners have their own mini-boiler that suffices for the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Owners are responsible for everything inside the unit including porches, electrical, balconies, walls, and appliances. There are fewer items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone who knows what they’re doing is still critical. As you well know, Home Owners Associations are a fickled lot. And they’re all so very different, even within a neighborhood. Ask us about it and we’ll be honest with you. If we can inspect your unit, we’ll do it; if we can’t, we’ll also let you know. We believe honesty is always the best policy and we live by it.
The following list is not exhaustive. Not all of these may be in the inspection you get, but the inspector will follow a standardized check list for the property:
* Heating equipment and controls
* Distribution systems and ducts
* Fire places
* Air Conditioning and controls
* Walls, floors, ceilings
* Kitchen cabinets, counters, and floors
* Window systems
* Windows, doors, patios, walkways, walls
* Crawlspaces, basement, and foundation
* Plumbing systems and fixtures
* Electrical system and panels
* Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
* Smoke detectors
* Interior doors and hardware
* Kitchen appliances (microwave, range/oven/stovetop/hoods, dishwasher, trash compactor, disposal)
* Laundry appliances (dryer and washer) if being sold with the house
* Insulation and ventilation systems
* Site drainage and grading
* Driveways
* Handrails, entry stairs
* Decks
* Bricks, masonry
* Landscaping
* Retaining walls
* Roofing system
Other tests that aren’t part of the original inspection typically incur an extra fee.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic systems
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Termite Inspection
· Sprinkler System Test
Your home has a large number of systems and about 10,000 parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation and to appliances. When these systems and appliances interact with each another seamlessly, all is well with the world. Weak links in the device, however, can produce assorted problems resulting in a loss in value and shortened system lifecycle. Would you purchase a used car without a qualified mechanic looking at it? Your house is far more complex, and to really have a thorough inspection that is documented in a written report arms you with substantial information on which to make informed decisions.
This really is often the first question asked but the clear answer tells the smallest amount of about the grade of the inspection. Fees are based in accordance with size, age and many other facets of the home. Inspection fees from an avowed professional home inspector generally start just under $350. A typical fee for a 2,000 sq. foot house around the country is about $320-$440 for just the inspection. In NYC, it will probably run you an extra 20-30% or more. But consider what you’re getting for that premium. Who can put a price tag on peace of mind?
The majority of people believe that the entire home is inspected complete on inspection day. This misunderstanding is mainly responsible for many a homebuyer being upset utilizing their inspector. The inspections we all do usually are not exhaustive and there is a valid reason for this.
Should you hire separate licensed experts in cooling and heating, engineering, plumbing, electrical, etc to examine your property, it may well take about thirteen hours and cost you around two grand! It is a bit more practical (and affordable) to rent an established inspector who’s a general comprehension of home systems, knows things to look for, and can recommend further inspection by an authority if needed. Your inspector can be following very specific guidelines issued by state or national organizations as he/she inspects your home. The guidelines are written to protect both your home and the inspector.
Here are some examples, we are instructed to NOT turn systems on if these were off during the inspection (for safety reasons); we’re not in a position to move furniture (might harm something); against the rules to turn on water should it be off (possible flooding), and against the rules to interrupt via a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The downside of this practice is the fact by not operating a control, by not seeing in the furniture, and to not get in to the attic or crawlspace, we’re going to might miss identifying a problem. However, put into perspective, the prospect of missing something serious therefore is very low. There are additional goods that about 95% of inspectors consider outside an average inspection, including inspecting most things who are not bolted down (installed inside home) for instance electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable ac units, or specialized systems for instance water purifiers, home security systems, etc.
Morrisania, West Farms and Kingsbridge, which were west of the Bronx, were annexed to the city in 1874. At the time, it was widely assumed that New York City would annex the cities on the mainland if it expanded north. The journey from the courts of the Bronx in southern Manhattan was so arduous that the residents of the Bronx soon filed a petition for the expulsion of districts. In recent years, the neighborhood’s name has lost value, meaning that residents have not really known they live in a neighborhood called Eastchester for decades.
An estimated 22% of Eastchester and Williamsbridge residents live in poverty, compared with 9% in New York City as a whole, according to census data. One in eight residents, or 13%, is unemployed, compared to just over one in five in the rest of the city, and a child under 17 living in each neighborhood lives below the federal poverty line, which is the same in 100% of American neighborhoods. This is causing a large number of families with children under 18 and low-income households to move to privately built homes. According to Census data, an estimated 26% and 22.5% of all residents of both neighborhoods live below the poverty line (compared to a median household income of about $25,000 a year, the median family income in the Bronx is just under $35,500.
RENTCafe is a great resource for finding great new apartments in Eastchester and Westchester County, NY. If you’re looking for a safe and affordable place to live in the Bronx, check out these five neighborhoods. East Chester is located in a historic area of Eastchester, offering residents access to award-winning schools, restaurants and shops, as well as affordable housing. The area has some of the highest rents in New York City and the second-highest rent in all of New Jersey, averaging $1,500 a month for a Manhattan apartment and $2,000 a week in Brooklyn, according to the latest RENT Cafe survey. East Bronx Heights offers a wide range of affordable apartments, from one-bedroom to two-bedroom apartments.
If you live in New York and want good food, great views and music, you’ll have to make the short drive to Eastchester, which will do wonders for your life, especially in uncertain times. Country Club is so close to Manhattan that you can easily change to the 6 line and commute to Manhattan. Bring your furry friends along for a fun day in the woods or on the beach, or even just for an evening with friends and family.
It is more common to describe Eastchester as the “Bronx,” or more precisely, the “Eastchester neighborhood.” The Bronx is such that you don’t have time to go over and check if there is a difference between the Bronx and the other boroughs of New York City, or even the city as a whole.
Most people assume that the higher real estate values in Manhattan would cover the city’s existing public debt and pay for further planned public improvements. This means that when Park Drive was built here, it fell under the Bronx and the residences on it had to pay the New York City Tax.
As commuting by car became more convenient, high-rise buildings were erected in the southern and eastern neighborhoods, including the South Bronx and parts of the Bronx, as well as in Manhattan. In the 1950s, we gained access to highways and bridges that connect our Bronx with the rest of our city, and we secured public funding to repair our roads and build new bridges across the Hudson River and the New York-New Jersey border. Condominiums were built in the South Bronx, which by then were already known nationwide as a symbol of urban misery.
To allow more Bronx residents to own their homes, we have restored hundreds of apartment buildings, converted apartments into cooperative housing units, converted single-family and townhouses, and converted some of them into cooperatives and condominiums.
In the 1890s, there was a push to consolidate New York City into a single city with the Bronx as its center. In a non-binding referendum in 1894, more than 80% of East Bronx and Westchester County residents supported consolidation, but it was rejected by a one-vote majority in the city of West Bronx and a one-vote majority in the entire Bronx County.
Generally, as of 2018, Eastchester and Williamsbridge have a higher proportion of college students – educated residents than the rest of New York City. Moreover, according to census data, the Bronx has more than twice as many college students as Manhattan.
If you’re looking for a reliable, professional, and affordable condo, home, or town home inspection in Eastchester, look no further. We get that you have choices and we’d be happy to send one of our inspectors to inspect your home and property. We are committed to getting the job done right and making you a satisfied customer. Email or call one of our staff members today (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
