Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Morris Heights (Bronx) neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you’ve been around, then you’ll already understand the value of home inspections in Morris Heights. A quality home inspection protects you the prospective home owner against the obvious problems that every home has. While the inspection is not fool proof, an inspector worth his weight should be able to identify the primary components and systems that could be ready to become a problem for you as a new buyer. A competent inspector will narrow down the probabilities of system failure greatly.
Typically, a home inspection is a formal detailed evaluation of the visible and accessible systems and components within a home (electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling, structure, etc.) and is intended to give the client a better understanding of the unit’s general state. Phone today to book an inspection at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
More often than not, it is a homebuyer who asks for an inspection of the home they are serious about buying. A home inspection delivers data points so that decisions about the purchase can be confirmed or questioned, and can uncover expensive and serious defects that the seller/owner may not be aware of. It is not a property’s appraisal value. The inspection does not point out any repair costs for defects the inspector finds. Similarly, a home inspection makes not claim that the home and its systems complies with building codes or protects a client in the event an item inspected fails in the future.
Side note: You can purchase warranties for a multitude of items in the home.
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, taking into account normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. A home inspection can also include, for extra fees, energy audits, Radon gas testing, water testing, pool inspections, pest inspections, and several other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are done (less often) by a seller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wishing to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your home:
1. Safety hazards, such as exposed wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), etc.
2. Serious flaws, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not installed or supported correctly, etc. These items are costly to repair, which are entire systems requiring more than 2% of the purchase price to fix.
3. Items that could lead to major flaws – i.e., a beam that was not tied to the structure properly, a roof leak that could get bigger, or damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
Your home inspector will advise you on what you should do about these areas of concern. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on matters – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the problem areas. For example, your inspector may recommend you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if they find sections of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural problem.
Home inspections are always conducted by a buyer when they sign a formal agreement, right?
This is simply not true! As you will see once you continue reading, a home inspection can be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by home owners to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the situation of the potential home.
Sellers, particularly, can benefit from finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a few of the advantages for the seller:
· The seller may make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush following the contract is signed.
· The seller will soon be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it down for open house tours.
· The seller usually takes the report and ensure it is into a marketing piece for the home.
· A home inspection can help the seller become more objective in regards to setting a good price on the home.
Sure, but why would you? Most homebuyers lack the data, skill, and objectivity needed seriously 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 do not “abjectly affect the home’s living space” or “function as intended” or “warrant more detailed attention” by way of a qualified specialist. Understand that the home inspector is really a generalist and is broadly been trained in every home system.
It’s wise for you to be present through the inspection – whether you are a buyer, seller, or homeowner. With you there, the inspector can show you any defects and explain their importance in addition to mention maintenance features which would be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s no problem considering that the report you get will soon be very detailed. If you are not present, then you ought to be sure to ask your inspector to explain anything that’s unclear in the report. Also see the inspection agreement carefully which means you know 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 want the inspector to come back following the inspection showing you things, this is arranged and is a good idea, however, you could be charged extra since it’s not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your contract
However, it’s important for you to let the inspector do the job you’re paying for. We love our customers, but we also know that constant interference and interruptions (some might even call it nagging) make the inspection unnecessarily slow. Write down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a report.
This depends upon the size and condition of the home. You can usually figure 1.2 hours for every thousand sq. ft. For example, a 2,500 square foot home would take approx. three hours. If the company also writes the report at your home, factor in an extra hour. These figures aren’t set in stone because you really want them to do a comprehensive job without being hurried.
Since condominiums are units within a condo building, homeowners pay an assessment fee to a also is on the hook for maintaining the community boilder or HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many owners have their own boiler that acts as the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Owners are responsible for everything inside the unit including walls, appliances, balconies, porches, plumbing, and electrical. There are fewer items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone who knows what they’re doing is still critical. As you know well, HOAs are a fickle group to be brutally honest. And they’re all so very different, even within a neighborhood. 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.
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 be following a standardized check list for the home:
· Site drainage and grading
· Handrails, entry stairs
· Decks
· Bricks, masonry
· Landscape
· Retaining walls
· Roofing system
· Fascias, soffits, and eaves
· Walls, patios, doors, walkways, windows
· Garages, garage walls, floors, and doors
· Kitchen appliances (stove top, oven, disposal, trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave)
· Laundry appliances (washer & dryer) if being sold with the home
· Floors, walls, ceilings
· Window systems
· Interior doors and hardware
· Plumbing fixtures and systems
· Electrical panels, electrical system
· Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
· Insulation and ventilation systems
· Heating controls and equipment
· Ducts and distribution systems
· Fireplaces
· Heating and air conditioning
· Heat pumps and controls
· Safety items such as railings, TPR valves, egress, etc.
Your home has dozens of systems and approx. 10,000 moving parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation systems and to appliances. When appliances and systems work together, you’ve got peace of mind. Weak links in the system, however, can produce problems leading to a loss in value and shortened system/component lifecycle. Would you purchase a used car without a reputable mechanic taking a look under its hood? Your property is far more complex, and to really have a thorough inspection that’s documented in a written report arms you with substantial information on which to make informed decisions.
This really is the first question asked but the answer tells the least about the grade of the inspection. Fees are based according to size, age and various other areas of the home. Inspection fees from a certified professional home inspector generally start over $350. The average price for a 2100 square foot unit around the country is approximately $325-$500 for just the inspection. In New York City, it will probably be an additional 30.
A lot of people think that everything is inspected thoroughly on inspection day. This misunderstanding is responsible for many a homebuyer to get upset utilizing their inspector. The inspections we all do are not exhaustive and there’s a acceptable reason for this.
In case you hired individual licensed experts in heating and cooling, electrical, plumbing, engineering, etc. to inspect your home, it’d take about 13 hours and cost you about $2000! It is a lot more practical (and affordable) to engage an established inspector who’s got a general expertise in home systems, knows what to look for, and can recommend further inspection by a professional if needed. Your inspector is also following very specific guidelines issued by state or national organizations as he/she inspects your home. The guidelines are carefully written to safeguard both your house and also the inspector.
For example, I am instructed to not turn systems on if they were off before the inspection (for safety reasons); we are not permitted to move furniture (might harm something); against the rules to show on water should it be off (possible flooding), and against the rules to kick through the sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The downside with this practice is that by not operating a control, by not seeing underneath the furniture, and not receiving to the attic or crawlspace, we are going to might miss identifying a problem. However, placed into perspective, the prospect of missing something serious due to this is rather low. There are other things that 94% of inspectors consider outside a typical inspection, and these include inspecting most things who are not bolted down (installed inside home) like electronics, low voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioners, or specialized systems like water purifiers, home security systems, etc.
Welcome to the Norwood News, a bi-weekly community newspaper that serves the residents of Morris Heights and neighboring neighborhoods. Caitlin Antonios complains about investigative reporting for The New York Times, The Washington Post and other media outlets. The Norwoods News is designed to promote communication between citizens and organizations and to be a tool in the development of neighborhoods. In addition to reporting on neighborhood issues, there is a weekly column “Hear from the Neighborhood” and a monthly column “News of the Week.”
She attended law school and saw first-hand the difficulties people with disabilities faced in accessing housing, employment, education, health care and other services. Her duties included investigating claims of discrimination in housing for the New York Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
She said that once the data became available, she would hold discussions with Morris Heights residents and community representatives to find a way to bring the mobile units to the area.
Assemblywoman Joyner has passed legislation to improve housing and opportunities for seniors and the disabled through accelerated programs. Her extensive experience in protecting tenant rights has given her the ability to build strong relationships with the New York State Department of Housing and Community Development. It has also pushed for improvements in housing for tenants living in low-income housing, such as affordable housing and senior residences. And their support has led to increased funding for the Morris Heights Community Center and other nonprofits that directly benefit District 77 residents.
Latoya Joyner is using her extensive experience as a member of the New York State Assembly to serve the needs of families in the Bronx. She was previously an assistant to Bronx Borough President Robert Greene Jr., who is currently the Bronx’s deputy borough superintendent, and executive director of the Bronx Community Council.
Since September 2003, this work has been extended to University Heights and now includes the neighborhood and Community District 7. Dr Brown was also a trusted leader during the civil rights movement, working to end the racial discord that ravaged the 1960s and 1970s. He was a reliable voice in the civil rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and later president of a civil rights organization that worked to improve the lives of African Americans.
In the blog Breaking Bronx we focus on news and information about the neighborhood and want to cover all Bronx related news. The borders are below, beginning in the north and clockwise, and north – south, east – west, west – east, south – north, right – left, left – right and in the middle.
Based on 2010 census data, the population of University Heights and Morris Heights is 54,188, up from 54,335 in 2000.
In fact, analysis by NeighborhoodScout shows that Morris Heights and University Heights have more than 1,000 residents. Although this may seem like a small percentage, it is the second highest percentage of residents in a New York City neighborhood.
The property in Morris Heights stands out for its unique look. According to NeighborhoodScout, apartment complexes and high-rise apartments are rated as one of 95.8% of all American neighborhoods in New York City. The neighborhood also has the highest percentage of low-income residents in all American neighborhoods, with a median income of $35,000.
The number of residents who are struggling to pay their rent is 65%, compared to the national average of 35% for all New York City boroughs. The city’s health department estimates that the lack of affordable housing in Bronx Community District 5 contributes to more than $1.5 billion in health costs each year. According to NeighborhoodScout, the median income of households in Bronx Community District 5 is greater than that of the city as a whole, and they spend more of their income on rent than the average household in any other Bronx community, according to a Department of Health report.
Premature births and teenage births are more common in Morris Heights and Fordham in 2018 than in any other city. In 2018, 46% of people had a high school degree and no college education, and 34% had less than a high school education in their lifetime, more than twice as much as in the rest of New York City. Generally, Morris and Fordham had a higher proportion of college students in 2018 – educated residents than the city as a whole. More than three-quarters of residents in Bronx Community District 5 have a college education or higher, according to a report from the Department of Health.
If you’re looking for a professional, reliable, and affordable home, condo, or town home inspection in Morris Heights, your search is over. We get that you have choices and we would be happy to send one of our inspectors to inspect your property. We are committed to getting the job done right and making you a satisfied customer. E-mail or phone one of our staff members today (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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