Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Williamsbridge (Bronx) neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you have been around, then you’ll know all about home inspections. A detailed 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 in gold should be able to pinpoint the primary systems and components that could be ready to break down on you as a new home owner. A good inspector will narrow down the probabilities of system failure considerably.
Simply put, a home inspection is an evaluation of the accessible and visible components and systems within a home (electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling, structure, etc.) and should give the client a clearer understanding of the home’s overall state. Phone today to book your home inspection in Williamsbridge at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
More often than not, it is a buyer who asks for an evaluation of the home they are serious about purchasing. A home inspection provides data so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home questioned or confirmed, and can uncover expensive-to-repair and serious defects that the home seller may not be aware of. A home inspection is not a property’s appraisal value. The inspection does not address any repair costs for defects the inspector finds. Similarly, an inspection of the home makes not claim that the home and its systems complies with local code or protects a client in the event an item inspected fails in the future.
Note: You can purchase warranties to cover a multitude of items in the house.
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. A home inspection can also include for extra of course pool inspections, water testing, Radon gas testing, pest inspections, energy audits, and several other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also conducted (less often) by a seller before listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by homeowners 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. Major flaws, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported properly, etc. These items are pricey to repair, which we classify as entire systems requiring over 1.8% of the purchase price to repair.
2. Items that could lead to major flaws – i.e., a roof leak that could get bigger, damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
3. Safety hazards, such as exposed wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), etc.
Your home inspector should be able to counsel you on what to do about these problems. She may recommend an evaluation on more matters – by licensed or certified professionals who are specialists in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector may advise you phone a licensed building engineer if they find areas of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a serious structural problem.
Home inspections are always done by a buyer after he or she signs an agreement, right?
This is patently false! As you will see once you read on, a home inspection may be used for interim inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool with a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to produce their property more sellable, and by buyers wanting to ascertain the situation of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a several advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner knows the home! The home inspector will have a way to get answers to his/her questions on the history of any problems they find.
· A home inspection may help the home owner be much more objective as it pertains to setting a reasonable price on the home.
· The home owner may take the report and ensure it is into an advertising piece for the home.
· The home owner will undoubtedly be alerted to any safety issues found in the home before they open it up for open house tours.
· The home owner will make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry after the contract is signed.
Most homebuyers lack the information, skill, and objectivity needed to inspect a property themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. By using the services of a professional home inspector, they gain an improved understanding 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” with a qualified specialist. Understand 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 through the inspection – whether you are a home 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 will be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s not a problem considering that the report you get will undoubtedly be very detailed. If you’re not present, then you ought to be sure to ask your inspector to describe anything that is unclear in the report. Also browse the inspection agreement carefully which means you understand what is covered and what is not covered in the inspection. If you have a trouble with the inspection or the report, you need to raise the issues quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you’d like the inspector to go back after the inspection showing you things, this is arranged and is recommended, however, the inspector could charge you extra since a second walkthrough not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your initial agreement
However, it’s very important for you 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 report.
This depends upon the condition and size of the home. You can approximate a little more than an hour for every thousand sq. ft. For instance, a 2600 sq.ft. unit would take approx. three hours. If the inspector also produces the report at your home, factor in an extra 40-50 minutes. These figures aren’t set in stone because you really want the inspector to do a comprehensive job without feeling rushed.
Since condos are individual units within a condo building, owners pay a monthly assessment fee to a home owners association (HOA) or condo association, which pays for the upkeep and maintenance of all exteriors including the actual Home Owners Association is also responsible for maintaining the HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many 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 qualified is still important. As you know well, HOAs are a fickle bunch to be brutally honest. And they’re all so very different, even within a city. Ask us about our policy and we’ll be honest with you. If we can inspect your condo, 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 standard checklist for the home:
· Grading and site drainage
· Driveway
· Hand rails, entry steps
· Decks
· Masonry
· Grass, bushes, trees, shrubs
· Retaining walls
· Roofing system
· Fascias, soffits, and eaves
· Windows, doors, patios, walkways, walls
· Foundation, basement, and crawlspaces
· Kitchen appliances (microwave, trash compactor, range/oven, dishwasher, disposal)
· Laundry appliances (dryer and washer) if being sold with the house
· Walls, floors, ceilings
· Kitchen counters, floors, and cabinets
· Windows
· Indoor doors and hardware
· Electrical system and panels
· Electrical grounding, GFCI, outlets
· Fire detectors
· Ventilation systems and Insulation
· Heating equipment and controls
· Distribution systems and ducts
· Fire places
· Heating and air conditioning
· Safety items such as egress, TPRV valves, railings, etc.
Other tests that aren’t part of the initial inspection usually incur an extra fee.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic systems
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Alarm System
· Termites
· Sprinkler System Test
Your brand-new home has a large number of systems and approximately 10,000 moving pieces – from heating and cooling to ventilation systems and to appliances. When they work together, you’ve got peace of mind. Weak links in the device, however, can produce assorted problems ultimately causing a loss in value and shortened component lifecycle. Would you get a used car with no reputable and qualified mechanic taking a look at it? Your house is far more complicated, and to really have a thorough inspection that is documented in a report arms you with substantial information on which to create informed decisions.
This is the first question asked but the clear answer tells the smallest amount of about the quality of the inspection. Fees are based according to size, age and some other facets of the home. Inspection fees from a professional professional home inspector generally start just over $350. A typical fee for a 1900 sq. foot unit nationally is approximately $325-$500 for just the inspection. In New York, it’ll probably run you an extra 30-35% or more. But think about what you’re getting for that premium. Who can put a price on peace of mind?
The majority of people believe that the entire home is inspected thoroughly on inspection day. This misunderstanding is responsible for many a homebuyer being upset with their inspector. The inspections we perform will not be exhaustive and there’s a great reason for this.
If you hired individual licensed experts in heating, electrical, plumbing, engineering, etc. to inspect your property, it may well take about fourteen hours and run you about two grand! It is a bit more practical (and affordable) to get a specialist inspector who’s got a general comprehension of home systems, knows things to search for, and can suggest further inspection by a professional if needed. Your inspector can also be following very specific guidelines issued by state or national organizations as he/she inspects your home. These guidelines are carefully written to safeguard both your home as well as the inspector.
Here are some examples, we have been told to NOT turn systems on if these were off at the time of the inspection (for safety reasons); we are really not permitted to move furniture (might harm something); unacceptable to turn on water if it’s off (possible flooding), and unacceptable to interrupt by having a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The negative effects with this practice is always that by not operating a control, by not seeing in the furniture, and not receiving into your crawlspace or attic, we might miss identifying a problem. However, place into perspective, the possibilities of missing something serious for that reason is pretty low. There are other goods that 96% of inspectors consider outside an ordinary inspection, and these include inspecting most things which aren’t bolted down (installed in the home) such as electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioning units, or specialized systems such as water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
If you’re searching for a reliable, professional, and affordable condo, home, or townhome inspection in Williamsbridge, your search is over. We understand you have choices and we’d be honored to send one of our inspectors out 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 (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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