Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Woodlawn Heights (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 know all about home inspections. A detailed home inspection protects you the prospective homeowner against the 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 major components that could be ready to break down on you as a new home owner. A competent inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure greatly.
Typically, a home inspection is an evaluation of the accessible and visible components and systems of a house (cooling and heating, plumbing, roofing, electrical, structure, etc. and is intended to give the client a better understanding of the home’s overall condition. Phone today to schedule a home inspection in Woodlawn Heights at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Most often, it is a buyer who asks for a home inspection they are serious about buying. A home inspection delivers data so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home questioned or confirmed, and can uncover serious and/or expensive-to-repair defects that the homeseller may not be aware of. A home inspection 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 something inspected fails in the future.
[Side note]: You can buy warranties to cover several key items in the house.
Don’t consider a home inspection as an exhaustive evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property 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, Radon testing, pest inspections, pool inspections, water testing, energy audits, and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also done (less often) by a homeseller before listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by home owners simply wanting to prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value high, and care for their homes.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay attention to during an inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as no safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), bare electrical wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, etc.
2. Items that could lead to serious flaws – a support beam that was not tied to the structure properly, a roof leak that could grow, or damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion.
3. Major flaws, such as large cracks in the foundation; building out of level or plumb; decks not supported or installed correctly, etc. These are items that are expensive to repair, which are items requiring over 2% of the buy price to repair.
Your property inspector will advise you about what you should do about these problems. She may recommend a formal evaluation on more matters – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For instance, your inspector will recommend you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds areas of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural deficiency.
Home inspections are always performed by a buyer when he or she signs a formal agreement, right?
This isn’t true! As you might find whenever you keep reading, a home inspection can be utilized for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the situation of the potential home.
Sellers, in particular, can take advantage of getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a few of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner knows the home! The home inspector will have a way to have answers to his/her questions on the history of any problems they find.
· A home inspection may help the homeowner be more objective in regards to setting a good price on the home.
· The homeowner will take the report and ensure it is into a marketing piece for the home.
· The homeowner is going to be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
Most homebuyers lack the information, skill, and objectivity needed 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 better understanding of the situation of the property; especially whether any items don’t “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 really a generalist and is broadly been trained in every home system.
It’s recommended for you to be present through 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 point out maintenance features which will be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s no problem because the report you obtain is going to be very detailed. If you are not present, then you need to be sure to ask your inspector to describe anything that is unclear in the report. Also see the inspection agreement carefully so you know what is covered and what is not covered in the inspection. When there is a trouble with the inspection or the report, you must raise the difficulties quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you would like the inspector to come back following the inspection showing you things, this is often arranged and is advisable, 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 contract
However, it’s very important for you to let the inspector do the job you’re paying for. We love our customers, but we also know that constant interruptions and interference (some might even call it nagging) make the process painfully slow. Jot down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a report.
This depends on the size and condition of the entire home. You can approximate 1.2 hours for every 1,000 sq. ft. For instance, a 2,600 square foot home would take around three hours. If the company also writes the report while in 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 comprehensive inspection without feeling hurried.
Since condos are units within a single 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 building Home Owners Association is also on the hook for maintaining the community boiler system or HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many home owners have their own boiler that suffices for the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Home owners are responsible for everything inside the condo including walls, appliances, balconies, porches, plumbing, and electrical. There are fewer items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone qualified is still important. As you know well, Home Owners Associations are a fickle group, to be honest. And they’re all so very different, even within a neighborhood. Ask us about it 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 follow a standardized check list for the home:
· Electrical system and panels
· Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
· Fire detectors
· Ducts and distribution systems
· Driveway
· Heat pumps and controls
· Kitchen appliances (stove top, oven, disposal, trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave)
· Laundry appliances (dryer and washer) if being sold with the house
· Heating controls and equipment
· Site drainage and grading
· Eaves, soffits, and fascias
· Walls, patios, doors, walkways, windows
· Landscape
· Retaining walls
· Kitchen counters, floors, and cabinets
· Window systems
· Heating and air conditioning
· Indoor doors and hardware
· Floors, walls, ceilings
· Safety items such as TPRV valves, railings, egress etc.
· Masonry
· Handrails, entry stairs
· Decks
· Plumbing fixtures and systems
· Garages, garage walls, floors, and doors
Some tests that are not a part of the normal inspection usually incur an additional fee.
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Mold Screening
· Gas Line Leak test
· Septic systems
· Alarm System
· Sprinkler System test
· Water quality test
· Termite Inspection
· Radon gas test
Your new home has lots of systems and approx. 10,000 moving parts – from cooling and heating to ventilation systems and to appliances. When these systems and appliances interact with each another seamlessly, all is right with the world. Weak links in the device, however, can produce a myriad of problems resulting in a loss in value and shortened component lifecycle. Would you buy a used car with no reputable and qualified mechanic looking at it? Your home is far more complicated, and to truly have a thorough inspection that is documented in a written report arms you with substantial information which to create informed decisions.
This really is often the first question asked but the clear answer tells the least about the quality of the inspection. Fees are based in accordance with size, age and some other areas of the home. Inspection fees from an avowed professional home inspector generally start under $350. An average price for a two thousand square foot home nationally is approximately $300-$450 for just the initial inspection. In the Bronx neighborhoods, it’ll probably be an additional 20%. But consider what you’re getting for that premium. Who can put a price tag on peace of mind?
Most people imagine that everything is inspected detailed on inspection day. This misunderstanding has caused many a homebuyer for being upset using their inspector. The inspections we perform are not exhaustive and there’s a justified reason for this.
For those who hire separate licensed experts in heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, engineering, etc. to inspect your own home, it will take about 15 hours and run you about two grand! It may appear far more practical (and affordable) to hire a specialist inspector who may have a general familiarity with home systems, knows what to consider, and can recommend further inspection by an expert if needed. Your inspector is additionally following very specific guidelines issued by national or state organizations as he/she inspects your home. The guidelines are written to protect both your home and the inspector.
Here are some examples, we have been directed to not turn systems on if they were off at the time of the inspection (for safety reasons); we’re not ready to move furniture (might harm something); not allowed to turn on water when it is off (possible flooding), and not allowed to kick through a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The down-side of your practice is by not operating a control, by not seeing within the furniture, and failing to get enough to the attic or crawlspace, we’re going to might miss identifying a problem. However, place into perspective, the possibilities of missing something serious for this reason is very low. There are additional products that 95% of inspectors consider outside a standard inspection, and these include inspecting most things that are not bolted down (installed while in the home) just like electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable ac units, or specialized systems just like water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
If you’re searching for a reliable, professional, and affordable town home, condo, or home inspection in Woodlawn Heights, your search is over. We know you have choices and we’d be happy to send out one of our inspectors to inspect your property. We’re committed to getting the job done right and making you happy. E-mail or phone one of our staff now at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote.
