Licensed, professional home inspectors serving all 89 Queens neighborhoods, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you’ve been around the block a few times, 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 and components that could be ready to break on you as a new homeowner. A great inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure considerably.
Typically and simply put, a home inspection is a formal detailed evaluation of the visible and accessible systems and components within a house (cooling and heating, plumbing, roofing, electrical, structure, etc. and is meant to give the customer a clearer understanding of the unit’s general condition. Call today to schedule an appointment 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 formal evaluation of the home’s condition she or he is serious about purchasing. A home inspection delivers data points so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home questioned or confirmed, and can uncover expensive and serious defects that the home seller may not be aware of. It is not an appraisal of the property’s 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 customer in the event something inspected fails.
Sidenote: You can buy warranties to cover a multitude of items in the home.
Don’t consider an inspection of the home as an exhaustive 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. An inspection of the home can also include, for extra fees, pool inspections, water testing, Radon gas testing, pest inspections, energy audits, and several other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are paid for (less often) by a seller before listing the property to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by home owners simply wishing to prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value high, and care for their homes.
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your property:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), bare wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, no safety railing on decks above 30 inches, etc.
2. Major flaws, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not supported or installed correctly, and others. These are items that are costly to fix, which we classify as items needing over 2% of the purchase price to fix.
3. Things that could lead to major flaws – i.e., a roof flashing leak that could get bigger, damaged downspouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a support beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
Your home inspector will counsel you about what to do about these issues. She may recommend an evaluation on more matters – by certified and/or licensed professionals who are specialists in the defect areas. For instance, your inspector will recommend you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if he/she finds areas of the property that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a major structural deficiency and one that would cost thousands of dollars to repair.
Home Inspections are merely paid for by a buyer after he or she signs a formal contract, right?
This is simply not true! As you will discover when you continue reading, a home inspection can be used for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by way of a current home owner, a proactive technique by sellers to produce their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the condition of the potential home.
Home owners, in particular, can benefit from obtaining a home inspection before listing the home. Here are only a some of the advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner will make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry after the contract is signed.
· The home owner is likely to be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it up for open house tours.
· The home owner usually takes the report and allow it to be into a marketing piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the home owner be more objective when it comes to setting a good price on the home.
Most homebuyers lack the knowledge, skill, and objectivity needed 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 comprehension of the condition 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” by way of a qualified specialist. Remember that the home inspector is a generalist and is broadly been trained in every home system.
It’s a great idea for you to be present during 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 explain maintenance features that will be helpful in the future. In the event that you can’t be there, it is no problem since the report you get is likely to be very detailed. If you’re not present, then you ought to be sure to ask your inspector to explain anything that is unclear in the report. Also browse 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 problems quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you’d like the inspector to return after the inspection showing you things, this is arranged and is a good idea, 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 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 (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 detailed report.
Since condominiums are units within a condo building, homeowners pay an assessment fee to a Home Owners Association (HOA) or condo association, which pays for the maintenance and upkeep of all exteriors including the home owners association is also 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 condo unit including electrical, plumbing, porches, balconies, appliances, and walls. There are less 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 lot, to be honest. And they’re all very different, even within a neighborhood. Ask us about it and we’ll be blunt 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 standardized checklist for the property:
* Drive ways
* Entry steps, hand rails
* Decks
* Masonry
* Bushes, trees, shrubs, lawn
* Retaining walls
* Roofing, flashings, chimneys, and attic
* Soffits, eaves, and fascias
* Basement, foundation, and crawl spaces
* Garage doors, walls, and floor
* Kitchen appliances (microwave, range/oven/stovetop/hoods, dishwasher, trash compactor, disposal)
* Laundry appliances (washer and dryer)
* Ceilings, walls, floors
* Kitchen floors, cabinets, counters
* Windows and window gaskets
* Indoor doors and hardware
* Plumbing systems and fixtures
* Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
* Fire detectors
* Ventilation systems and Insulation
* Heating equipment and controls
* Fireplaces
* Heating and air conditioning
* Heat controls and pumps
Other tests that are not part of the original inspection often incur an additional charge.
· Sprinkler System Test
· Alarm System
· Water quality test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic System Inspection
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Radon gas test
· Termites
Your home has a large number of systems and approx. 10,000 parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation and to appliances. When appliances and systems work together, you’ve got peace of mind. Weak links in the device, however, can produce a myriad of problems leading to a loss in value and shortened system/component lifecycle. Would you buy a used car without a qualified mechanic looking at it? Your house is far more complex, and to really have a thorough inspection that is documented in a written report arms you with substantial information to make informed decisions.
The majority of people assume that the entire home is inspected complete on inspection day. This misunderstanding is mainly responsible for many a homebuyer to become upset using their inspector. The inspections we do aren’t exhaustive and there’s a good reason for this.
When you hire individual licensed experts in hvac, engineering, plumbing, electrical, etc to inspect your house, it will take about fourteen hours and run you around two grand! It is far more practical to rent a specialist inspector who’s got a general expertise in home systems, knows excellent customer service, and can recommend further inspection by an expert if needed. Your inspector is usually following very specific guidelines issued by state or national organizations as he/she inspects your home. These guidelines are written to protect both your home and the inspector.
For example, we have been told to not turn systems on if these were off during the time of the inspection (for safety reasons); we are not allowed to move furniture (might harm something); not allowed to turn on water should it be off (possible flooding), and not allowed to interrupt by using a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The down-side with this practice is by not operating a control, by not seeing within the furniture, and not receiving on the attic or crawlspace, we might miss identifying a problem. However, put into perspective, the possibilities of missing something serious therefore is quite low. There are many items which 95% of inspectors consider outside an average inspection, and these include inspecting most things that aren’t bolted down (installed from the home) such as electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioners, or specialized systems such as water purifiers, home security systems, etc.
Queens is home to more than two million people and is not only the most diverse borough in New York, but its neighborhoods are as diverse as its residents. As a very powerful Queens native might say, you arrive in Queens, which is scattered across its sprawling Queens neighborhood, not in the city itself.
Although the suburbs around New York are all richer than the boroughs, they are not the richest of New Yorkers. Though still much more expensive than average, Queens, with a median household income of about $50,000 a year, has more affordable housing than Manhattan and a lower crime rate than most other boroughs. If you live in Queens or any other borough in the US, you might pay less than half of what you could pay as a resident of New York City for the same amount of housing.
But the district is one of the wealthiest in New York, with a median household income of about $50,000 a year.
If you move to Queens, you will find yourself in a part of New York City where life is slowing down a little, but not very much. Queens has the look of a suburb, depending on which community you’re in. Although there are parts of this city in New York, Queens is a very different place, as the houses are much more developed than the rest of New York.
So make sure you take Queens seriously when choosing between the five boroughs of New York you want to move to. Read on to find out which area of New York is right for you and what you are looking for. Look for people who are starting their careers or are already established to live in Queens, as they are more established than other parts of the city.
Much like Brooklyn, it tends to be the most expensive, competitive and gentrified with high-end hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and restaurants. The rest of New York includes addresses in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn.
Those who live in Queens have all the advantages of Manhattan, but with a lower price and more trees. Prices and experiences are similar to those in the suburbs and outside of New York City.
NYU is located in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood, known for its high-end shopping, dining and entertainment. Residents of Queens also have access to the most prestigious universities in New York, including NYU, Columbia University, NYU Law School, Brooklyn College and NYU Medical Center.
There is also a wide selection of restaurants, bars, shops and restaurants that you can reach if you actually live there, making most of your way a breeze. You can move to Queens, but you won’t have to travel long distances to Manhattan , it is a defeat in New York. Midtown Manhattan to Midtown, and you could even move from Queens to the Upper East Side of Manhattan within hours.
The Brooklyn neighborhood is huge and there is no shortage of good neighborhoods to live in, but to prepare for it, here’s everything you need to know about life in Queens of NYC.
While rents are prohibitively high in most other parts of the city, Queens offers residents of New York City an oasis of affordable housing. The cost of living in Queens is higher than the average in America, and of course, being part of New York City, it is above the national average. But if you move to Queens, you can live there for less than half the price of New York City’s median income.
If you look at the population size of London and New York, there is only a difference of a few hundred thousand, while the difference between the population of Queens and London is less than half a million. If the boroughs were independent cities, Queens would be the second largest city in the US after London, with a population of about 1.5 million. New Yorkers in New Orleans, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco are all referred to as “New York City’s Boroughs,” but because it is a big city, it is not a borough.
Queens is one of the best places to live and move in New York City for many reasons, but most importantly, it is the only borough in New York City that offers a wealth of opportunities to get along. It offers a wide variety of accommodation options, from apartments to condominiums to townhouses, and hosts the largest number of restaurants and bars in the city, as well as the most affordable prices.
With more than 2.5 million inhabitants, Brooklyn is the largest borough in New York and the second largest city in the United States after Manhattan. Brooklyn is a vibrant and desirable place to live in New York, which is frowned upon in many other parts of the city due to its high crime and poverty rates. With a population of more than 1.3 million, it is currently the largest borough in New York City, with more than 2.5 million residents.
If you are searching for a professional, reliable, and affordable home, condo, or townhome inspection, 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 today (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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