Melrose – Home Inspections New York City

Melrose Home Inspections

Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Melrose (Bronx) neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.

Home Inspection Services in Melrose

If you’ve been around for a while, then you’ll know all about home inspections. A quality home inspection protects you the buyer against the obvious problems that every home has. While the inspection is not fool proof, an inspector worth his weight will be able to identify the major components and systems that could be ready to become a problem for you as a new homeowner. A good inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure greatly.

Typically, a home inspection is an evaluation of the accessible and visible systems and components within a house (roofing, electrical, plumbing, structure, cooling and heating, etc.) and is intended to give the customer a better understanding of the home’s general condition. Email or call one of our staff (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to schedule your home inspection in Melrose.

Most often, the inspection is a homebuyer who asks for a home inspection he or she is serious about buying. A home inspection delivers data so that decisions about the purchase can be questioned or confirmed, and can uncover expensive and serious defects that the owner/seller may not be aware of. It is not an appraisal of the property’s value. The inspection does not point out any repair costs for defects the inspector finds. Similarly, it makes not claim that the home and its systems complies with building codes or protects a customer in the event an item inspected fails in the future.

Melrose Home Inspection Specialists

Don’t consider an inspection of the home as a final evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property on the day it is inspected, considering normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the home can also include for extra of course Radon testing, pest inspections, pool inspections, water testing, energy audits, and many other specific items that may be location-specific.

Home inspections are used (less often) by a home seller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by home owners simply wishing to keep the home investment value as high as possible, care for their homes, and prevent surprises.

The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your home:

1. Safety hazards, such as lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), bare electrical wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, lack of safety railing on decks above 30 inches, etc.

2. Major flaws, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; building out of plumb or level; decks not supported or installed properly, etc. These items are pricey to fix, which are entire systems needing more than two percent of the purchase price to fix.

3. Things that could lead to major flaws – a support beam that was not tied in to the structure properly, a roof flashing leak that could get bigger, or damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.

Your inspector will counsel you on what you should do about these issues. He may recommend an evaluation on matters – 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 home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural deficiency and one that would cost thousands of dollars to fix

Home inspections are only conducted by a buyer when he or she signs a formal contract, right?

This is not true! As you will see whenever you read on, a home inspection may be used for interim inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool with a current homeowner, a proactive technique by homeowners to produce their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the situation of the potential home.

Sellers, particularly, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are only a some of the advantages for the homeowner:

· The homeowner knows your home! The home inspector will have the ability to have answers to his/her questions on the annals of any problems they find.

· A home inspection may help the homeowner be much more objective as it pertains to setting a reasonable price on the home.

· The homeowner may take the report and allow it to be into an advertising piece for the home.

· The homeowner will soon be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it up for open house tours.

· The homeowner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.

Why Should I Get a Home Inspection in Melrose?

Your brand-new home has dozens of systems and approximately 10,000 parts – from cooling and heating to ventilation systems and to appliances. When they interact with each another seamlessly, all is right with the world. Weak links in the device, however, can produce a myriad of problems ultimately causing a loss in value and shortened system/component lifecycle. Would you buy a used car with no reputable mechanic taking a look at it? Your house is far more complicated, and to have a thorough inspection that is documented in a report arms you with substantial information to create informed decisions.

Should I Be There at the Inspection?

It’s a great idea for you to be present through the inspection – whether you are a buyer, seller, or homeowner. With you there, the inspector can point out any defects and explain their importance as well as point out maintenance features that would be helpful in the future. In the event that you can’t be there, it is not a problem considering that the report you receive will undoubtedly be very detailed. If you are not present, then you should be sure to ask your inspector to explain anything that is not yet determined in the report. Also browse the inspection agreement carefully so you understand what is covered and what’s not covered in the inspection. When there is a problem with the inspection or the report, you need to raise the problems quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you would like the inspector to return after the inspection showing you things, this is often arranged and is a good idea, 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 initial agreement

However, it’s very important to let the inspector do the job you’re paying for. We love our clients, but we also know that constant interruptions and interference (some might even call it nagging) make the inspection painfully slow. Jot down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a report.

How Long Should the Inspection Take?

This depends upon the condition and size of the entire home. You can approximate a little more than an hour for every 1,000 square feet. For instance, a twenty four hundred square foot unit would take approx. three hours. If the company also prepares the report at your home, factor in an extra sixty minutes. These figures are not set in stone because you really want the inspector to do a complete job without being rushed.

What About Condo or Townhome Inspections?

Since condos are units within a condo building, owners pay assessments to a Home Owners Association (HOA) or condo association, which pays for the upkeep and maintenance of all exteriors including the building itself HOA is also responsible for maintaining the community boilder or HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many owners have their own boiler that suffices for the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Owners are responsible for everything inside the condo unit including walls, appliances, balconies, porches, plumbing, and electrical. There are less items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone qualified is still a must. As you well know, Home Owners Associations are a fickle bunch, to be honest. And they’re all very different, even within a city. Ask us about our policy and we’ll be blunt 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.

Average Melrose Inspection Includes

The following list (of systems and inspection items) 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 home:

* Driveway
* Hand rails, entry steps
* Decks
* Masonry
* Landscaping
* Retaining walls
* Roofing, flashings, chimneys, and attic
* Fascias, soffits, and eaves
* Foundation, basement, and crawlspaces
* Garage doors, walls, and floor
* Kitchen appliances (dishwasher, range/oven/stovetop/hoods, microwave, disposal, trash compactor)
* Laundry appliances (washer and dryer)
* Ceilings, walls, floors
* Kitchen cabinets, counters, and floors
* Windows and window gaskets
* Indoor doors and hardware
* Plumbing systems and fixtures
* Electrical grounding, GFCI, outlets
* Smoke detectors
* Ventilation systems and Insulation
* Heating equipment and controls
* Distribution systems and ducts
* Fireplaces
* Heating and air conditioning
* Heat controls and pumps

What is NOT Included in a Melrose Property Inspection

Plenty of people feel that the entire home is inspected complete on inspection day. This misunderstanding has caused many a homebuyer to become upset making use of their inspector. The inspections we all do aren’t exhaustive and there’s a great reason for this.

In the event you hired separate licensed experts in hvac, electrical, plumbing, engineering, etc. to examine your home, it may well take about fourteen hours and cost you about two grand! It is much more practical (and affordable) to hire an expert inspector who may have a general expertise in home systems, knows things to look for, and can recommend further inspection by a professional if needed. Your inspector is usually following very specific guidelines issued by state or national organizations as he/she inspects your home. These guidelines are written to protect both your home and the inspector.

For example, we are instructed to not turn systems on if they were off during the time of the inspection (for safety reasons); we aren’t capable to move furniture (might harm something); a no-no to transform on water whether it is off (possible flooding), and a no-no to break by using a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The side effects on this practice is that by not operating a control, by not seeing beneath the furniture, and not receiving to the crawlspace or attic, we might miss identifying a problem. However, put into perspective, the chances of missing something serious for this reason is quite low. There are many items that 95% of inspectors consider outside a typical inspection, and these include inspecting most things aren’t bolted down (installed within the home) like electronics, low voltage lighting, space heaters, portable ac units, or specialized systems like water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.

The Best Melrose Property Inspection Experts

If you’re searching for a professional, affordable, and reliable townhome, condo, or home inspection, look no further. We know you have choices and we’d be happy to send one of our inspectors out to inspect your home and property. We’re committed to getting the job done right and making you happy. Email or call one of our staff (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to schedule your inspection in Melrose

Customer Reviews

Thank you so much for your services! You were prompt and professional in your inspection. We appreciate your verbal explanation and detailed report. We are first time home buyers and feel very confident that you did a thorough job.

Bonnie T., Melrose

Receptionist

I've been using your services for all my buyers, You go above and beyond He goes above and beyond and his customer satisfaction is always there when you perform an inspection! Very detailed and thorough

Maryann A., Melrose

Real estate agent

Request Quote

(332) 334-7701