Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Spuyten Duyvil (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 protects you the prospective home owner against those obvious problems that every home has. While the inspection is not fool proof, an inspector worth his/her weight will be able to identify the primary systems that could be ready to become a problem for you as a new buyer. A competent inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure considerably.
Simply put, a home inspection is a formal professional evaluation of the accessible and visible systems and components within a house (roofing, electrical, plumbing, structure, cooling and heating, etc.) and is meant to give the client a better understanding of the unit’s overall condition. Phone today to book your home inspection in Spuyten Duyvil at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Most often, the inspection is a buyer who requests an evaluation of the home they are serious about purchasing. An inspection of the home provides 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. A home inspection is not an appraisal of the property’s value. The inspection does not address repair costs for defects the inspector finds. Similarly, a home inspection makes not claim that the home and its systems complies with local building codes or protects a client in the event something inspected fails.
[Note]: You can buy warranties for many items in the house.
Don’t consider an inspection of the home as a complete 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 property can also include for extra of course Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also done (less often) by a seller before putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by owners simply wishing to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
The following are aspects that inspectors pay attention to during a property inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), bare wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, etc.
2. Major defects, such as large cracks in the foundation; building out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported correctly, etc. These are items that are costly to repair, which we classify as systems requiring over 2% of the buy price to repair.
3. Items that could lead to major defects – a roof leak that could grow, damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a support beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
Your inspector should be able to counsel you about what you should do about these issues. He/she may recommend a formal evaluation on issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds sections of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency and one that might cost thousands of dollars to fix
Home Inspections are always conducted by a buyer after they sign a formal contract, right?
This is not true! As you will see whenever you read on, 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 sellers to produce their property more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the problem of the potential home.
Sellers, specifically, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a several advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The homeowner will be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner may take the report and allow it to be into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection can help the homeowner be much more objective when it comes to setting a good price on the home.
Most homebuyers lack the data, skill, and objectivity had a need to inspect a home themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. Utilizing the services of a qualified home inspector, they gain a much better knowledge of the problem of the property; especially whether any items do not “abjectly affect the home’s living space” or “work 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 trained in every home system.
It’s a great idea for you to be present during the inspection – whether you’re a home buyer, seller, or homeowner. With you there, the inspector can point out any defects and explain their importance along with explain maintenance features that would be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s not a problem since the report you get will be very detailed. If you’re not present, then you should be sure to ask your inspector to describe anything that’s unclear in the report. Also read the inspection agreement carefully which means you understand what is covered and what’s not covered in the inspection. If you have a trouble with the inspection or the report, you need to raise the problems quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you prefer the inspector to come back after the inspection showing you things, this can be arranged and is advisable, however, you could be charged extra since it’s not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your initial agreement
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 process unnecessarily slow. Write down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a report.
This depends on the condition and size of the home. You can usually figure 1.3 hours for every thousand sq. ft. For instance, a twenty five hundred square foot unit would take about three hours. If the company also writes the report at your home, that will take an additional sixty minutes. These numbers are not set in stone because you really want the inspector to do a thorough job without feeling rushed.
Since condominiums are units within a single building, homeowners pay a monthly assessment fee to a also is on the hook for maintaining the HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many home 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 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 important. As you well know, Home Owners Associations are a fickled lot, to be honest. And they’re all so very different, even within a city. 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 (of systems and inspection items) is not exhaustive. Not all of these items may be in the inspection you get, but the inspector will be following a standard checklist for the home:
* Electrical panels, electrical system
* Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
* Fire detectors
* Ducts and distribution systems
* Fireplaces
* Driveway
* Heat controls and pumps
* Kitchen appliances (microwave, range/oven/stovetop/hoods, dishwasher, trash compactor, disposal)
* Laundry appliances (washer and dryer) if being sold with the house
* Heating equipment and controls
* Site drainage and grading
* Eaves, soffits, and fascias
* Windows, doors, patios, walkways, walls
* Ventilation systems and Insulation
* Kitchen cabinets, counters, and floors
* Roofing system
* Heating and air conditioning
* Walls, floors, ceilings
* Plumbing systems and fixtures
* Safety items such as egress, TPRV valves, railings, etc.
* Bricks, masonry
* Handrails, entry stairs
* Windows and window gaskets
* Basement, crawlspaces, and foundation
Some tests which are not part of the initial inspection typically require an additional charge.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic System Inspection
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Termite Inspection
Your new home has dozens of systems and about 9800 moving parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation and to appliances. When these systems and appliances interact with each another seamlessly, all is right with the world. Weak links in the machinery, however, can produce assorted problems resulting in a loss in value and shortened component lifecycle. Would you buy a used car with out a reputable mechanic looking at it? Your home is far more complicated, and to truly have a thorough inspection that’s documented in a written report arms you with substantial information which to make informed decisions.
This really is often the first question asked but the answer tells the least about the caliber of the inspection. Fees are based based on size, age and many other aspects of the home. Inspection fees from a professional professional home inspector generally start over $350. A typical price for a twenty one hundred sq. foot unit around the country is somewhere in the neighborhood of $320-$440 for just the inspection. In the Bronx, it will probably run you an additional 25%. But consider what you are getting for that premium. Who can put a price tag on peace of mind?
Plenty of people believe that the entire home is inspected complete on inspection day. This misunderstanding is mainly responsible for many a homebuyer to get upset utilizing their inspector. The inspections we do aren’t exhaustive and there’s a justified reason for this.
For those who hire individual licensed experts in air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, engineering, etc. to examine your home, it might take about 15 hours and run you around $2000! It is far more practical (and affordable) to rent a professional inspector that has a general knowledge of home systems, knows excellent customer service, and can recommend further inspection by an authority if needed. Your inspector is also following very specific guidelines issued by national or state organizations as he/she inspects your home. These guidelines are written in order to protect both the home and the inspector.
For example, I am told to not turn systems on if they were off before the inspection (for safety reasons); we are not able to move furniture (might harm something); against the rules to turn on water whether it is off (possible flooding), and against the rules to sneak via a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The negative effects of the practice is the fact by not operating a control, by not seeing under the furniture, and to not get on the attic or crawlspace, we might miss identifying a problem. However, place into perspective, the chances of missing something serious due to this is fairly low. There are more goods that more than 90% of inspectors consider outside an average inspection, for example inspecting most things that aren’t bolted down (installed within the home) such as electronics, low voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioners, or specialized systems such as water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
If you are looking for a professional, reliable, and affordable condo, home, or town home inspection in Spuyten Duyvil, look no further. We get that you have choices and we would be honored to send one of our inspectors out to inspect your property. We’re committed to getting the job done right and making you happy. Email or call one of our staff members now (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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