Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Cambria Heights Queens neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you have been around as long as I have, then you’ll recognize the need for home inspections in Cambria Heights. 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 her weight in gold will be able to identify the primary components that could be ready to become a problem for you as a new home owner. A great inspector will narrow down the probabilities of system failure considerably.
Simply put, a home inspection is a formal detailed evaluation of the accessible and visible components and systems within a home (cooling and heating, plumbing, roofing, electrical, structure, etc. and is intended to give the client a clearer understanding of the house’s general condition. Call today to book an appointment at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Typically, it is a buyer who requests an evaluation of the home she or he is serious about purchasing. An inspection of the home provides data so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home confirmed or questioned, and can uncover expensive and serious defects that the home seller may not be aware of. It 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 building codes or protects a client in the event an item inspected fails in the future.
[Side note]: You can buy warranties to cover many items in the home.
Don’t consider an inspection of the home as an exhaustive evaluation, but rather an evaluation of the property at this point in time, considering normal wear and tear of the home based on age and location. An inspection of the home can also include for a little extra of course, Radon gas testing, water testing, energy audits, pest inspections, pool inspections and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are also used (less often) by a homeseller prior to putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by owners simply wishing to care for their homes, prevent surprises, and keep the home investment value as high as possible
The following are aspects that inspectors pay attention to during a property inspection:
1. Serious defects, such as large cracks in the home’s foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not supported or installed properly, and others. These are items that are pricey to repair, which are entire systems requiring over 2% of the buy price to repair.
2. Items that could lead to major defects – i.e., damaged down spouts that could cause backup and water intrusion, a roof flashing leak that could grow larger, or a beam that was not tied in to the structure properly.
3. Safety hazards, such as exposed electrical wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), etc.
Your home inspector should counsel you about what you should do about these issues. She may recommend a formal evaluation on 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 he/she finds sections of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural problem and one that would cost thousands to repair.
Home inspections are paid for by a buyer after they sign a 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, as a maintenance tool by a current home owner, a proactive technique by sellers to create their house more sellable, and by buyers wanting to determine the situation of the potential home.
Home owners, particularly, can take advantage of obtaining a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a few of the advantages for the homeowner:
· The homeowner could make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
· The homeowner will undoubtedly be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it down for open house tours.
· The homeowner can take the report and make it into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the homeowner be more objective as it pertains to setting a good price on the home.
You most certainly can do it yourself. However, often times, buyers lack the objectivity, skill, and knowledge necessary 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 comprehension 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” by a qualified specialist. Understand that the home inspector is just a generalist and has broad training and experience in most home systems.
It’s a great idea for you to be present through the inspection – whether you’re a buyer, seller, or home owner. With you there, the inspector can explain to you any defects and explain their importance along with explain maintenance features which will be helpful in the future. In the event that you can’t be there, it is no problem since the report you receive will undoubtedly be very detailed. If you are not present, then you ought 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’s not covered in the inspection. If there is a trouble with the inspection or the report, you need to raise the difficulties quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you’d like the inspector to go back following the inspection showing you things, this is arranged and is advisable, however, you could be charged extra since a second walk through not part of the inspection, unless, of course, you make that a part of your home inspection contract
However, it’s important for you to let the inspector do the job you’re paying for. We love our clients, but we also know that constant interruptions and interference (some might even call it nagging) make the process painfully slow. Write down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a detailed report.
Since condos are individual units within a condo building, homeowners pay an assessment fee 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 unit including walls, electrical, appliances, plumbing, balconies, and porches. There are less items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone qualified is still a must. As you well know, Home Owners Associations are a fickle group, to be honest. And they’re all 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 may be in the inspection you receive, but the inspector will be following a standard checklist for the home:
* Electrical system and panels
* GFCI, outlets, electrical grounding
* Fire detectors
* Distribution systems and ducts
* Fireplaces
* Driveway
* Kitchen appliances (stove top, oven, disposal, trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave)
* Laundry appliances (washer and dryer)
* Heating controls and equipment
* Eaves, soffits, and fascias
* Ventilation systems and Insulation
* Landscape
* Kitchen counters, floors, and cabinets
* Roofing system
* Air Conditioning and controls
* Ceilings, walls, floors
* Plumbing fixtures and systems
* Safety items such as TPRV valves, railings, egress etc.
* Bricks, masonry
* Window systems
* Basement, crawlspaces, and foundation
Other tests which aren’t part of the standard inspection may require an additional charge.
· 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 approx. 10,000 parts – from cooling and heating to ventilation systems and to appliances. When appliances and systems interact, all is right with the world. Weak links in the device, however, can produce assorted problems ultimately causing a loss in value and shortened system/component lifecycle. Would you buy a used car with no reputable mechanic looking at it? Your home is far more complicated, and to really have a thorough inspection that is documented in a written report arms you with substantial information which to create informed decisions.
Many people imagine that the entire home is inspected complete on inspection day. This misunderstanding has caused many a homebuyer being upset utilizing their inspector. The inspections we do are usually not exhaustive and there’s a valid reason for this.
If you hired individual licensed experts in cooling and heating, engineering, plumbing, electrical, etc to examine the home, it might take about 15 hours and cost you around two grand! It is much more practical to hire an established inspector who’s got a general information about home systems, knows what to consider, and can recommend further inspection by an experienced if needed. Your inspector is usually following very specific guidelines issued by national or state organizations as he/she inspects your home. These guidelines are carefully written in order to protect both the house as well as the inspector.
For example, we have been directed to not turn systems on if these were off before the inspection (for safety reasons); we are not able to move furniture (might harm something); prohibited to turn on water should it be off (possible flooding), and prohibited to break by having a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The down-side of the practice is that by not operating a control, by not seeing underneath the furniture, and failing to get in to the crawlspace or attic, we might miss identifying a problem. However, put in perspective, the chances of missing something serious therefore is fairly low. There are many items which 95% of inspectors consider outside an ordinary inspection, for example inspecting most things aren’t bolted down (installed within the home) including electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioners, or specialized systems including water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
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If you are looking for a reliable, professional, and affordable condo, home, or townhome inspection in Cambria Heights, your search is over. We know you have choices and we would 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 (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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