Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Van Nest (Bronx) neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you have been around for a while, then you’ll already understand the value of home inspections. A detailed home inspection protects you the buyer 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 homeowner. A good inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure considerably.
Typically and simply put, a home inspection is a formal detailed evaluation of the accessible and visible components and systems of a home (heating and cooling, electrical, roofing, plumbing, roofing, structure, etc.) and is intended to give the customer a clearer understanding of the house’s overall state. Phone today to book your home inspection in Van Nest at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Typically, it is a homebuyer who asks for a home inspection she or he is serious about buying. An inspection of the home delivers data so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home confirmed or questioned, and can uncover serious and/or expensive-to-repair defects that the homeseller may not be aware of. It is not an appraisal of the property’s value. The inspection does not address 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 something inspected fails in the future.
Side Note: You can buy warranties to cover several items in the home.
Don’t consider an inspection of the home as an exhaustive evaluation, but rather property evaluation on the day it is inspected, taking into account normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the home can also include for extra, pool inspections, water testing, Radon gas testing, pest inspections, energy audits, and many other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are paid for (less often) by a home seller before putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wanting 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 Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), bare electrical wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, lack of safety railing on decks above 30 inches, etc.
2. Major defects, such as large differential cracks in the foundation; structure out of plumb or level; decks not installed or supported properly, and others. These items are costly to repair, which we classify as entire systems requiring more than two percent of the purchase price to fix.
3. Things that could lead to major defects – i.e. a beam that was not tied to the structure properly, a roof leak that could grow, or damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
Your property inspector should advise you about what to do about these problems. She may recommend a formal evaluation on more matters – by licensed or certified professionals who are specialists in the defect areas. For instance, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed building engineer if they find sections of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural problem and one that would cost thousands to repair.
Home inspections are merely performed by a buyer after he or she signs a formal agreement, right?
This is not true! As you will discover when you read on, a home inspection may be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool with a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to make their property more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the situation of the potential home.
Home owners, in particular, can take advantage of getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are only a several advantages for the seller:
· The seller knows your home! The home inspector will have the ability to obtain answers to his/her questions on the real history of any problems they find.
· A home inspection may help the seller be more objective in regards to setting a fair price on the home.
· The seller usually takes the report and ensure it is into an advertising piece for the home.
· The seller will undoubtedly be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it up for open house tours.
· The seller could make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry after the contract is signed.
Most homebuyers lack the knowledge, skill, and objectivity had a need to inspect a property themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. Utilizing the services of a professional home inspector, they gain an improved knowledge of the situation 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” with a qualified specialist. Remember that the home inspector is just a generalist and is broadly trained in every home system.
It’s wise for you to be present throughout the inspection – whether you’re a home buyer, seller, or homeowner. With you there, the inspector can show you any defects and explain their importance as well as explain maintenance features that’ll be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it is no problem considering that the report you obtain will undoubtedly be very detailed. If you’re not present, then you should be sure to ask your inspector to explain anything that’s unclear in the report. Also see the inspection agreement carefully so you understand what is covered and what’s not covered in the inspection. When there is a trouble with the inspection or the report, you should raise the issues quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you’d like the inspector to return after the inspection to show you things, this is arranged and is advisable, however, the inspector could charge you extra since it’s not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your contract
However, it’s important to let the inspector do the work you’re paying for. We love our clients, but we also know that constant interference and interruptions make the process painfully slow. Jot down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a detailed report.
This depends on the size and condition of the entire home. You can usually figure a little more than an hour for every thousand sq. ft. For instance, a twenty five hundred sq. ft. unit would take approx. three hours. If the inspector also writes the report while in your home, that will take an extra sixty minutes. These figures are not set in stone because you really want the inspector to do a complete job without feeling hurried.
Since condos are individual units within a building, homeowners pay assessments to a also is responsible 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 condominium 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 know well, HOAs are a fickled bunch, 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 receive, but the inspector will be following a standardized checklist for the home:
* Electrical system, panels
* GFCI, outlets, electrical grounding
* Distribution systems and ducts
* Fireplaces
* Driveways
* Kitchen appliances (stove top, oven, disposal, trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave)
* Laundry appliances (dryer and washer)
* Heating equipment and controls
* Soffits, eaves, and fascias
* Insulation and ventilation systems
* Shrubs, trees, bushes, lawn
* Kitchen counters, floors, and cabinets
* Roofing, flashings, chimneys, and attic
* Heating and air conditioning
* Interior doors and hardware
* Floors, walls, ceilings
* Plumbing systems and fixtures
* Bricks, masonry
* Entry steps, hand rails
* Window systems
* Foundation, basement, and crawlspaces
* Garage doors, walls, and floors
Other tests which are not a part of the normal inspection typically require an extra fee.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic System Inspection
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Termite Inspection
· Sprinkler System Test
Your home has dozens of systems and over 9900 parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation systems and to appliances. When these systems and appliances work together, all is well with the world. Weak links in the system, however, can produce a myriad of problems ultimately causing a loss in value and shortened system lifecycle. Would you get a used car with no reputable and qualified mechanic taking a look under its hood? Your property is far more complicated, and to really have a thorough inspection that’s documented in a report arms you with substantial information which to create informed decisions.
This is the first question asked but the answer tells the least about the quality of the inspection. Fees are based in accordance with size, age and many other aspects of the home. Inspection fees from an avowed professional home inspector generally start under $350. A typical fee for a 2000 sq.ft. home nationally is about $300-$450 for just the inspection. In the Bronx, it will probably be an extra 35% or more. But think about what you are getting for that price. Who can put a price tag on peace of mind?
Most people believe the entire home is inspected detailed on inspection day. This misunderstanding is mainly responsible for many a homebuyer being upset because of their inspector. The inspections we do are usually not exhaustive and there’s a justification for this.
If you hired individual licensed experts in hvac, electrical, plumbing, engineering, etc. to examine the house, it may well take about 15 hours and run you around two grand! It is more practical (and affordable) to get a reliable inspector who has a general familiarity with home systems, knows things to look for, and can suggest further inspection by an expert if needed. Your inspector is usually following very specific guidelines issued by national or state organizations as he/she inspects your home. These guidelines are meticulously written in order to protect both your property and also the inspector.
For instance, I am told to not turn systems on if these were off during the inspection (for safety reasons); we are really not allowed to move furniture (might harm something); prohibited to turn on water if it’s off (possible flooding), and prohibited to get rid of through the sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The side effects of this practice is that by not operating a control, by not seeing within the furniture, and failing to get enough into your crawlspace or attic, we might miss identifying a problem. However, placed in perspective, the possibilities of missing something serious for this reason is pretty low. There are other products that more than 95% of inspectors consider outside an average inspection, including inspecting most things which aren’t bolted down (installed while in the home) for example electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioning, or specialized systems for example water purifiers, security alarms, etc.
If you are searching for a professional, reliable, and affordable home, condo, or townhome inspection in Van Nest, look no further. We know you have choices and we would be honored 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. Call or email one of our staff members today(332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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