Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Briarwood Queens neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you’ve been around the block a few times, then you’ll know all about home inspections in Briarwood. 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/her weight will be able to pinpoint the major components and systems that could be ready to break down on you as a new home owner. A great inspector will narrow down the possibilities of system failure greatly.
Simply put, a home inspection is a formal detailed evaluation of the accessible and visible systems and components of a home (heating and cooling, electrical, roofing, plumbing, roofing, structure, etc.) and should give the client a better understanding of the unit’s general condition. Phone today to schedule an appointment at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
More often than not, it is a homebuyer who requests a formal evaluation of the home’s condition he or she is serious about purchasing. An inspection of the home delivers data so that decisions about the purchase can be questioned or confirmed, and can uncover expensive-to-repair 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, it makes not claim that the home and its systems complies with local code or protects a client in the event something inspected fails.
Note: Warranties may be bought to cover a multitude of 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 property can also include for extra, energy audits, Radon gas testing, water testing, pool inspections, pest inspections, and several other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are done (less often) by a seller before putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems that they are unaware of, and also by homeowners simply wishing to prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value high, and care for their homes.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay close attention to during a home inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as exposed wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), etc.
2. Serious defects, such as large differential cracks in the foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported correctly, and others. These items are costly to fix, which are items needing over two percent of the purchase price to fix.
3. Items that could lead to major defects – i.e. a roof flashing leak that could grow larger, damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, or a beam that was not tied to the structure properly.
Your inspector should be able to advise you about what to do about these problems. She may recommend a formal evaluation on issues – by certified and/or licensed professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For instance, your inspector will recommend you call a licensed building engineer if he/she finds sections of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a major structural problem and one that might cost thousands to repair.
Home Inspections are always paid for by a buyer after he or she signs a contract, right?
This is false! As you might find whenever you continue reading, a home inspection may be used for interim inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool with a current homeowner, a proactive technique by sellers to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the situation of the potential home.
Home owners, specifically, can benefit from getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are simply a some of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner will soon be alerted to any safety issues found in your home before they open it up for open house tours.
· A home inspection will help the homeowner be more objective when it comes to setting a good price on the home.
· The homeowner may make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
· The homeowner will take the report and ensure it is into an advertising piece for the home.
Who says you can’t? Of course you can. However, often times, home buyers lack the knowledge, skill, and objectivity necessary to skillfully inspect a home themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. By using the services of an expert home inspector, they gain an improved understanding 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 attention” by a qualified specialist. Understand that the home inspector is a generalist and has broad training in most of the major home systems.
It’s a good idea for you to personally 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 point out maintenance features which would be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s not a problem because the report you receive will soon 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 see 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 should raise the problems quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you’d like the inspector to come back following the inspection to show you things, this can be 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 home inspection agreement
However, it’s very important to let the inspector do the job you’re paying for. We love our customers, 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.
Since condominiums 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 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 mini-boiler that suffices for the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Home owners are responsible for everything inside the condo 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, Home Owners Associations are a fickled lot, to be honest. And they’re all very different, even within a city. Ask us about our policy 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 is not exhaustive. Not all of these may be in the inspection you receive, but the inspector will follow a standard checklist for the home:
· Air Conditioning and controls
· Heat pumps and controls
· Laundry appliances (washer and dryer)
· Doors, walls, patios, walkways, windows
· Kitchen floors, cabinets, counters
· Windows
· Eaves, soffits, and fascias
· Drainage and grading
· Landscape
· Retaining walls
· Heating controls and equipment
· Ducts and distribution systems
· Driveways
· Indoor doors and hardware
· Roofing, flashings, chimneys, and attic
· Safety items such as railings, TPR valves, egress, etc.
· Walls, floors, ceilings
· Hand rails, entry steps
· Decks
· Masonry
· Foundation, basement, and crawlspaces
· Garage walls, doors, and door operation
· Plumbing fixtures and systems
· Electrical panels, electrical system
· Electrical grounding, GFCI, outlets
· Fire detectors
Some tests which aren’t part of the standard inspection usually incur an additional charge.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic systems
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Termites
Your brand-new home has a large number of systems and about 9800 parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation systems and to appliances. When they work together, all is right with the world. Weak links in the machinery, however, can produce assorted problems ultimately causing a loss in value and shortened component lifecycle. Would you get a used car with no qualified mechanic taking a look under its hood? Your house is far more complicated, and to truly have a thorough inspection that is documented in a written report arms you with substantial information to create informed decisions.
Most people believe that everything is inspected comprehensive on inspection day. This misunderstanding is mainly responsible for many a homebuyer to generally be upset using their inspector. The inspections we do will not be exhaustive and there’s a justified reason for this.
In case you hired individual licensed experts in hvac, electrical, plumbing, engineering, etc. to inspect your property, it could take about 15 hours and cost you about $2000! It is far more practical (and affordable) to rent an established inspector who’s got a general comprehension of home systems, knows what to look for, and can recommend further inspection by a specialist if needed. Your inspector can be following very specific guidelines issued by state or national organizations as he/she inspects your home. The guidelines are written in order to protect both your house and the inspector.
For example, I am instructed to not turn systems on if these were off during the inspection (for safety reasons); we are not in a position to move furniture (might harm something); against the rules to turn on water whether it’s off (possible flooding), and against the rules to interrupt through the sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The down-side on this practice is the fact by not operating a control, by not seeing in the furniture, and failing to get enough into the attic or crawlspace, we’re going to might miss identifying a problem. However, put in perspective, the likelihood of missing something serious due to this is fairly low. There are more items which about 94% of inspectors consider outside an ordinary inspection, and these include inspecting most things aren’t bolted down (installed while in the home) for example electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable ac units, or specialized systems for example water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
As in many other neighborhoods in New York City, it’s difficult to figure out which ones are safe. When it comes to diversity, immigration, and neighborhood trends, generalizations about Queens “demographics are heard time and again.
But I think there’s a neighborhood called Utopia because it captures the essence of Queens best. It serves as a perfect example of the diversity and diversity of New York City’s diverse neighborhoods.
If you want to escape Manhattan and work in Manhattan, there is Midtown, but if you are too far from the entertainment and amenities, you can always take the subway to Manhattan. The F-Line ends at Jamaica Estates, and residents can take the Long Island Rail Road to their Briarwood homes. If you have moved here, don’t forget to take the QM16 express bus, which will take you there in about an hour. This station is at the end of a subway line, just a few blocks from the Queensboro Bridge.
The Long Island City district is near Manhattan and takes only about ten minutes by train. However, the neighborhood is just a few blocks from the Queensboro Bridge, Manhattan Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge.
Whether you’re an empty nest that likes to eat out in the evening, or an angry parent who only enjoys occasional date nights, you’ll love the nightlife of Queens. Just walk down Steinway Street or Astoria Boulevard and you will see a variety of tempting restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues just a short train or subway ride away. There are beautiful tree-lined roads and the area can be home to many communities looking for a diverse and safe habitat. This is a great place for those who have ever grown up bored of professional sport or – always tired of the same old, old, old, same old football games.
If you’re moving to the area, here are ten parts of Queens that you’ll love to call home. No matter what neighborhood you imagine living in, you will inevitably find yourself in Queens.
Some might call it the worst neighborhood in Queens, but when the economy turns around, business units have the potential to transform into trendy offices, interesting shops, and more. I see people who want to buy houses and use them as investment properties before they move in, and then sell them when the time is right. If you are looking for an easy way to become a franchisee, you can find out about the possibility of becoming a franchisee today.
If you’re nervous about moving to New York, if you want to leave your quiet suburban life, consider buying a house in east Queens. If you decide to live here, you may need to downsize some of your property and find a nearby warehouse in Queens, but if money isn’t an object when you move to Queens, you might want to consider buying a larger – rather than – home in what is called an “elegant life.” In Queens we have truck rental that can take you around to make your move smoothly.
Rent estimate for a house is $2,300 / mo. Single-family homes in the area typically sell for more than a million dollars, so it costs you to live in the area. I practice in Briarwood, New York and have a PhD from the University of New Jersey School of Public Health.
The house sells for about $400K and has a 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath, 1,500 square foot, 2 bedroom, 2 bath house. Queens is also home to several colleges, including the University of New Jersey School of Public Health and New York University Medical Center. However, with 1.3 million inhabitants, it is the second largest city in the USA.
Queens embraces the world when it comes to ethnic and cultural diversity, and how it manifests itself in the housing stock is absolutely fascinating. Queens is home to a diverse mix of ethnic, religious, racial and ethnic groups, and is one of the most ethnically diverse cities in New York.
Some neighborhoods are rougher than others, but even these have a lot of potential, and there are some things you should consider. Queens is not always pretty, home to some of New York’s most dangerous neighborhoods. From Astoria to Long Island City, some are at higher risk of crime than other neighborhoods.
One of the biggest misconceptions about life in New York is that people often feel cold and isolated. If you live in Queens, you might have a bit of chip on your shoulder, but not necessarily a bad one.
If you are thinking of moving to this family-friendly and unique neighborhood, you should know the following before calling it your home. If you’re planning to move to Queens from a state where the cost of living is lower than the national average, you could get a sticker shock. But if you live with your family in Queens, it’s worth paying a high price to get the best of both worlds: a great job, great schools, and great neighborhoods
If you are looking for a affordable, reliable, and professional condo, home, or town home inspection in Briarwood, look no further. We understand you have choices and we would be honored to send out one of our inspectors to inspect your home and property. We are committed to getting the job done right and making you happy. Call or email one of our staff members now (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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