Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Baisley Park Queens neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you’ve been around for a while, then you’ll already understand the value of home inspections in Baisley Park. A 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 or her weight will be able to pinpoint the major systems that could be ready to become a problem for you as a new buyer. A decent inspector will narrow down the possibilities of system failure greatly.
Simply put, a home inspection is a formal professional evaluation of the visible and accessible components and systems of a house (electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling, structure, etc.) and is meant to give the client a clearer understanding of the home’s overall condition. Call today to book an appointment at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Typically, the inspection is a buyer who requests an evaluation of the home she or he is serious about purchasing. A home inspection delivers data points so that decisions about the purchase can be confirmed or questioned, and can uncover serious and/or expensive-to-repair defects that the owner/seller 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, 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.
Side Note: Warranties may be bought to cover several items.
Don’t consider a home inspection 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 home can also include Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and several other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are paid for (less often) by a seller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by home owners simply wanting to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
The following are areas that inspectors pay close attention to when inspecting your home:
1. Safety hazards, such as lack of safety railing on decks above 30 inches, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), exposed electrical wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, etc.
2. Major defects, such as large cracks in the foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported properly, and others. These items are costly to fix, which we classify as items needing more than two percent of the purchase price to fix.
3. Things that could lead to major defects – 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 home inspector will counsel you on what you should do about these problems. He/she may recommend an evaluation on matters – by certified and/or licensed professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For instance, your inspector will advise you call a licensed structural or building engineer if they find sections of the home that are out of alignment, as this could indicate a serious structural problem.
Home inspections are only paid for by a buyer when he or she signs an agreement, right?
This is not true! As you will see once you read on, a home inspection can be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction, as a maintenance tool by a current home owner, a proactive technique by sellers to make their house more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the problem of the potential home.
Homeowners, particularly, can take advantage of finding a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a few of the advantages for the seller:
· The seller can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The seller will be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it down for open house tours.
· The seller will take the report and allow it to be into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection can help the seller be much more objective as it pertains to setting a fair price on the home.
Most homebuyers lack the data, skill, and objectivity had a need to inspect a house themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. Using the services of a qualified home inspector, they gain an improved comprehension of the problem 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 a qualified specialist. Understand that the home inspector is a generalist and is broadly been trained in every home system.
It’s a great idea for you to personally be present through the inspection – whether you’re a buyer, seller, or homeowner. With you there, the inspector can explain to you any defects and explain their importance in addition to mention maintenance features that’ll be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s not a problem considering that the report you get will be very detailed. If you’re not present, then you need to be sure to ask your inspector to describe anything that is not yet determined in the report. Also read the inspection agreement carefully which means 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 should 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 a good idea, however, you could be charged extra since it’s not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your agreement
However, it’s important to let the inspector do the work you’re paying for. We love our customers, but we also know that constant interruptions and interference make the process painfully slow. Jot down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a detailed report.
Since condos are individual units within a building, owners pay assessments to a also is on the hook for maintaining the HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many home owners have their own mini-boiler that suffices for the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Home owners are responsible for everything inside the condo including plumbing, electrical, porches, balconies, walls, and appliances. There are less items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone who knows what they’re doing is still a must. As you well know, 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 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 is not exhaustive. Not all of these items may be in the inspection you receive, but the inspector will follow a standard check list for the home:
· Grading and site drainage
· Driveway
· Hand rails, entry steps
· Decks
· Bricks, masonry
· Shrubs, trees, bushes, lawn
· Retaining walls
· Roofing, flashings, chimneys, and attic
· Fascias, soffits, and eaves
· Windows, doors, patios, walkways, walls
· Garages, garage walls, floors, and doors
· Kitchen appliances (stove top, oven, disposal, trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave)
· Laundry appliances (dryer and washer) if being sold with the house
· Floors, walls, ceilings
· Kitchen floors, cabinets, counters
· Windows and window gaskets
· Interior doors and hardware
· Electrical system and panels
· Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
· Insulation and ventilation systems
· Heating equipment and controls
· Ducts and distribution systems
· Fireplaces
· Air Conditioning and controls
· Heat controls and pumps
· Safety items such as TPRV valves, railings, egress etc.
Other tests which are not a part of the original inspection usually require an additional fee.
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Mold Screening
· Gas Line Leak test
· Septic systems
· Alarm System
· Sprinkler System test
· Water quality test
· Termites
Your brand-new home has lots of systems and more than 9900 moving parts – from cooling and heating to ventilation systems and to appliances. When these systems and appliances interact, all is right with the world. Weak links in the machinery, however, can produce problems leading to a loss in value and shortened system/component lifecycle. Would you purchase a used car with no reputable and qualified mechanic looking at it? Your home is far more complex, and to really have a thorough inspection that is documented in a report arms you with substantial information to create informed decisions.
Plenty of people think that everything is inspected thoroughly on inspection day. This misunderstanding has caused many a homebuyer for being upset using their inspector. The inspections we all do are usually not exhaustive and there is a valid reason for this.
In the event you hired separate licensed experts in air conditioning, plumbing, electrical, engineering, etc. to examine your own home, it may well take about thirteen hours and cost you about $2000! It is much more practical (and affordable) to rent a reliable inspector who may have a general expertise in home systems, knows excellent customer service, and can recommend further inspection by a professional 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 meticulously written to protect both your house as well as the inspector.
For example, we’re directed to NOT turn systems on if they were off during the inspection (for safety reasons); we aren’t able to move furniture (might harm something); not allowed to turn on water if it’s off (possible flooding), and not allowed to destroy by way of a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The down-side on this practice is that often by not operating a control, by not seeing beneath the furniture, and to not get on the attic or crawlspace, we are going to might miss identifying a problem. However, used in perspective, the odds of missing something serious as a result is quite low. There are many products which 94% of inspectors consider outside a normal inspection, including inspecting most things that are not bolted down (installed while in the home) for example electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioners, or specialized systems for example water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
When travelers think of the New York borough of Queens, they usually imagine the colorful skyline of Long Island City. In the early 19th century, the area was originally an urban metropolis, with the Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge, as well as the Hudson River and its tributary, the Queens River.
Inspired by the extension of the downtown Manhattan to Brooklyn train, many families began to move to Jamaica. The development of South Jamaica during this period was characterized by speculators who exploited the people who flocked there in an attempt to flee to areas less dense than the slums of Manhattan and Brooklyn. African Americans, especially those who lived in their homes in Baisley Park, and the illegal trade that made them vulnerable to crime.
The South Jamaica Houses still suffer from the national crack epidemic that struck most of the United States in the 1980s and 1990s. St Albans Addisleigh Park has always been a hotspot for crime, drug dealing and illegal drug use. The blog Progressive Southside, which focuses on crime and drug abuse in New York City, often sounds the alarm. In the late 1990s, the park was abandoned and the stigma of being plagued by crime was removed.
In 1973, the institution that gives its name to the South Jamaica Houses and other buildings in the neighborhood established a committee to address the issues surrounding the park’s future and its future as a public park. The plan included the failed move of a police station and the construction of an apartment building. Tensions between the police and civil groups fighting crime, which are charged with combating gun violence, have been exposed and old wounds have been opened.
The southern boundary of the park is the Belt Parkway, built on the right side of an unused aqueduct in Brooklyn. Today, this is Baisley Pond Park, where the JFK Expressway branched off from the Belt Parkway. Near Jamaica Bay is an 18,000 hectare wetland surrounded by a series of ponds, wetlands and a few hectares of open space.
Although there is a southern part of southern Jamaica called Baisley Park, it is considered on other maps to be part of Queens County, as the area is located on the west side of Jamaica Bay, south of East Jamaica Boulevard. On the 110 hectares of the park you can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, such as hiking, cycling, fishing, fishing in the large, peaceful ponds and lounging on benches. There are a number of parks and recreational facilities in the area, including the Greenway Park of the New York State Park System. In addition to its wetlands and wetlands, Ba isley Pond Park boasts over 100 hectares of outdoor recreational space, including a playground, picnic areas, playgrounds, tennis court, amphitheatre, tennis courts and swimming pool.
South Jamaica is surrounded by the borough of Queens and is referred to as Northside, but is said to be derived from the location of the neighborhood and its demographics. South Jamaica is home to some of New York’s most famous artists, musicians, artists and musicians. Some of the soul queens have been around for decades, like Michael Jackson, Robert De Niro and many others.
In the summer of 1897, the Far Rockaway Line of trams was opened and extended to the Rockaways, and in the spring of 1898 it was extended from 109th Avenue in South Jamaica to Sutphin Boulevard in April 1916. In the fall of 1917, the eastern section of the tram network was extended from Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) from Sut Phinnae Boulevard to 109th Street in southern Jamaica.
It ran between Baisley and Foch Boulevards and Smith Street before the numbered street network was established, and was one of the original streets in Southeast Queens (see map below, where it is called Smith Avenue, named after the neighboring landowner). It was part of the original plan for the New York subway system in the early 20th century.
The 110-hectare Queens Park was built on the site of historic Baisley Pond, which originally housed the remains of an American mastodon that were unearthed after it was drained in 1852. Acquired in 1919 for park purposes, it consists of two ponds, the largest of which contains a pond, and is the only one of its kind in the city.
Today, Addisleigh Park is one of the few historic precincts in Queens that has been designated by the LPC since 2011. This article has compiled a list of historic buildings in Baisley Park, as well as many other neighborhoods to look at if you’ve forgotten what Queens is known for in historical and architectural terms.
If you’re looking for a professional, affordable, and reliable townhome, condo, or home inspection in Baisley Park, your search is over. We get that 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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