Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Holliswood Queens neighborhood, offering a broad range of services for our residential customers.
If you have been around the block a few times, then you’ll understand the need for home inspections. A home inspection protects you the prospective homeowner against those obvious problems that every home has. While the inspection is not fool proof, an inspector worth his weight should be able to pinpoint the primary systems that could be ready to become a problem for you as a new buyer. A competent inspector will narrow down the probabilities of system failure considerably.
Typically, a home inspection in Holliswood is an evaluation of the accessible and visible systems and components within a home (electrical, plumbing, roofing, heating and cooling, structure, etc.) and is meant to give the customer a better understanding of the house’s overall condition. Phone today to schedule an inspection at 332-334-7701 or Request a Quote. You’ll be glad you made the call.
Most often, it is a homebuyer who requests a formal evaluation of the home’s condition they are serious about buying. An inspection of the home delivers data so that decisions about the purchase can be confirmed or questioned, and can uncover serious and/or expensive-to-repair defects that the home seller may not be aware of. A home inspection is not an appraisal of the property’s value. The inspection does not point out 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 customer in the event something inspected fails.
[Note]: Warranties can be purchased to cover a multitude of items.
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 home can also include for 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 before putting the property on the market to see if there are any hidden problems, and also by homeowners simply wanting 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. Serious flaws, such as large differential cracks in the foundation; structure out of level or plumb; decks not supported or installed correctly, etc. These items are pricey to repair, which we classify as entire systems needing more than 2% of the buy price to fix.
2. Things that could lead to major flaws – 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 in to the structure properly.
3. Safety hazards, such as exposed electrical wiring in bathrooms and kitchens, lack of safety railing on decks more than 30 inches off the ground, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), etc.
Your home inspector should counsel you about what you should do about these problems. She may recommend an evaluation on serious issues – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the defect areas. For example, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed building engineer if he/she finds areas of the home that are misaligned, as this could indicate a serious structural problem.
Home Inspections are conducted by a buyer after they sign a formal agreement, right?
This isn’t true! As you will see once you read on, a home inspection may be used for ad hoc inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool by a current home owner, a proactive technique by homeowners to create their property more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the problem of the potential home.
Homeowners, in particular, can take advantage of getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a some of the advantages for the home owner:
· The home owner knows your home! The home inspector will have the ability to have answers to his/her questions on the real history of any problems they find.
· A home inspection may help the home owner become more objective in regards to setting a reasonable price on the home.
· The home owner will take the report and ensure it is into an advertising piece for the home.
· The home owner is likely to be alerted to any safety issues found in the home before they open it up for open house tours.
· The home owner can make repairs leisurely instead of being in a hurry following the contract is signed.
You most certainly can do it yourself. Unfortunately, most home buyers lack the objectivity, skill, and knowledge necessary to inspect a home themselves. In other words, they think they know their homes, but they really don’t. When you use services of a professional home inspector, they gain an improved comprehension of the problem of the property; especially whether any items do not “abjectly affect the home’s living space” or “function as intended” or “warrant more attention” with a qualified specialist. Understand that the home inspector is really a generalist and has broad experience in most home systems.
It’s a great idea for you to personally be present throughout the inspection – whether you’re a buyer, seller, or home owner. With you there, the inspector can point out any defects and explain their importance in addition to mention maintenance features which will be helpful in the future. If you can’t be there, it’s no problem because the report you receive is likely to be very detailed. If you are not present, then you ought to be sure to ask your inspector to explain anything that’s unclear in the report. Also see the inspection agreement carefully so you understand what is covered and what’s 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 go back following the inspection to show you things, this is arranged and is advisable, 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 home inspection contract
However, it’s important to let the inspector do the work 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 unnecessarily slow. Write down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a detailed report.
Since condominiums are individual units within a single building, owners pay a monthly assessment fee to a also is on the hook for maintaining the HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many owners have their own boiler that acts as the HVAC that a building would normally provide. Home owners are responsible for everything inside the condo including walls, electrical, appliances, plumbing, balconies, and porches. There are less items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone qualified is still critical. As you well know, HOAs are a fickle group to be brutally 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 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 (of systems and inspection items) is not exhaustive. Not all of these may be in the inspection you get, but the inspector will follow a standard checklist for the home:
· Ducts and distribution systems
· Fireplaces
· Air Conditioning and controls
· Heat controls and pumps
· Safety items such as railings, TPR valves, egress, etc.
· Ceilings, walls, floors
· Window systems
· Windows, doors, patios, walkways, walls
· Basement, crawlspaces, and foundation
· Garage doors, walls, and floors
· Plumbing systems and fixtures
· Electrical panels, electrical system
· Electrical grounding, GFCI, outlets
· Smoke detectors
· Indoor doors and hardware
· Kitchen appliances (stove top, oven, disposal, trash compactor, dishwasher, microwave)
· Laundry appliances (dryer and washer)
· Insulation and ventilation systems
· Grading and site drainage
· Driveways
· Decks
· Masonry
· Grass, bushes, trees, shrubs
· Retaining walls
· Roofing, flashings, chimneys, and attic
· Eaves, soffits, and fascias
Other tests which are not part of the initial inspection typically incur an extra charge.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic systems
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Alarm System
· Termites
Your new home has a large number of systems and more than 9900 pieces – from cooling and heating to ventilation systems and to appliances. When these systems and appliances interact with each another seamlessly, all is well with the world. Weak links in the machinery, however, can produce assorted problems leading to a loss in value and shortened system lifecycle. Would you purchase a used car with no qualified mechanic looking at it? Your house is far more complex, and to truly have a thorough inspection that’s documented in a written report arms you with substantial information to create informed decisions.
The majority of people believe that everything is inspected complete on inspection day. This misunderstanding is responsible for many a homebuyer to generally be upset using their inspector. The inspections we perform aren’t exhaustive and there’s a good reason for this.
Should you hire separate licensed experts in heating and air conditioning, electrical, plumbing, engineering, etc. to examine 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 an established inspector who’s a general familiarity with home systems, knows things to search for, and can suggest further inspection by an experienced professional if needed. Your inspector can also be following very specific guidelines issued by national or state organizations as he/she inspects your home. The guidelines are carefully written to safeguard both your property and also the inspector.
Here are some examples, we are instructed to not turn systems on if they were off prior to the inspection (for safety reasons); we are not able to move furniture (might harm something); against the rules to turn on water should it be off (possible flooding), and against the rules to get rid of by having a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The side effects on this practice is by not operating a control, by not seeing underneath the furniture, and failing to get on the attic or crawlspace, we might miss identifying a problem. However, put into perspective, the possibilities of missing something serious due to this is quite low. There are more products which 96% of inspectors consider outside a regular inspection, and these include inspecting most things which aren’t bolted down (installed in the home) such as electronics, low voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioning units, or specialized systems such as water purifiers, alarm systems, etc.
If you want to buy a house in the beautiful state of New York, you will find that there are many options available, from small towns to big city houses. In this post, I’ve compiled a list of what I think are the best and most affordable housing options for you in Queens, NY.
The cost of living independently in Queens Village can range from $1,804 a month to $5,528 a month. The average spend on a one-bedroom apartment is $68,000, with an average monthly rent of $2,742.
If you moved from one city to another, would you have a change in the cost of living? What I really like about Holliswood as a real suburb of the city is that it feels much more diverse and my kids are surrounded by different kinds of people.
Places like Rockaway Beach and Astoria Park provide a natural escape from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is also a great place to be when you are in New York City, which is a nice place on a warm, sunny day.
In addition, the NeighborhoodScout analysis shows that the Hollis district has one of the highest percentages of residents currently enrolled in a college in the country. In fact, the Neighborhood Scout’s analysis shows that the neighborhood has an average of 1.5 college students per 1,000 residents, and more than twice as many college residents as any other neighborhood in New York City. There are high numbers of high school and college students and a low crime rate, but Neighborhood Scout found that 99.6% of all American neighborhoods are inhabited by at least one college student per 100 residents. With a median household income of just over $30,500 a year, it is also one of the best-walkable neighborhoods in America.
The views of Manhattan are superb from the neighborhood, and with the Queens Library just outside the city, the Hollis neighborhood feels like one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in New York City. The best part is that you can find one – bedrooms for $1000 to $2000 a month, which makes it perfect for people who want to spend their time in Manhattan and live affordably. Salary.com’s cost of living calculator is unique in that it takes into account the cost of choosing a place to live and work to provide you with an estimate of the cost of living in the best neighborhoods in the United States and around the world. High home purchase costs are not the only benefit for New York City life, but the high quality of life and proximity to Manhattan.
Rockaway and the Broad Channel have the best air quality in the city, but also the lowest life expectancy. Manhattan has an average life expectancy of 80.6 years, while the Bronx has the lowest life expectancy at 70.9 years and Brooklyn the highest at 83.5 years.
While the aging population suggests better health, it poses a challenge in a city where housing and other resources are scarce. As the Queen’s Eagle reports, many seniors in Queens are struggling to find affordable housing, while resources like senior centers are threatened with closure.
In Long Island City and Astoria, one in four said they had drunk in the past 30 days, the highest in Queens, and an estimated 20% live in poverty, compared with 6.5% of Brooklyn residents and 7% in Manhattan. One in eight residents, or 12%, are unemployed, according to the Queens Department of Health and Human Services (DLHS), compared with 5.2% and 3.1%, respectively, in New York City. Community Board 12, which covers the entire borough of Queens and parts of Manhattan and Brooklyn, is located on the east side of the borough, near the intersection of West 57th Street and East 71st Street. The city has an average of 2.4% (or 1.3 million people) below the poverty line in Harlem and Harlem-Elmhurst, compared with an estimate of 4.7% for the Bronx and 6% for Queens.
Most Queens residents live in poverty, according to health statistics recently released by the city’s Department of Health and Mental Hygiene. New Yorkers live an average of 81.2 years, but the numbers vary widely between districts, the Brooklyn Eagle reported. According to Community Health Profiles, 14 percent of Queens residents are homeless, the highest rate of any borough in New York City and the second highest in Queens.
Queens used to be home to a black middle class, but as fewer new immigrants arrived, it was for decades a place where the second and third generations settled and turned inward. Interestingly, Hollis has a higher percentage of residents born outside the country than other parts of the county, such as East New York. We know that there are more Haitian and Asian people living in this neighborhood than in any other neighborhood in the city.
If you’re searching for a professional, reliable, and affordable condo, home, or town home inspection in Holliswood, look no further. We get that you have choices and we would be happy to send one of our inspectors out to inspect your property. We are committed to getting the job done right and making you happy. Call or email one of our staff members today (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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