Licensed, professional home inspectors serving the Kew Gardens 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 recognize the need for home inspections in Kew Gardens. A home inspection protects you the prospective home owner against those obvious problems that every home has. While the inspection is not fool proof, an inspector worth his/her weight should be able to identify the major systems that could be ready to break on you as a new buyer. A competent inspector will narrow down the likelihood of system failure considerably.
Typically, a home inspection is an evaluation of the accessible and visible components and systems of a house (plumbing, heating and cooling, electrical, structure, roof, etc.) and is meant to give the client a clearer understanding of the unit’s general 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, the inspection is a buyer who requests a home inspection he or she is serious about purchasing. A home inspection provides data so that decision makers can question or confirm details about the home 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 building codes or protects a client in the event an item inspected fails in the future.
Note: You can buy warranties to cover several key items in the home.
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 property can also include for a little extra of course, Radon testing, pest inspections, pool inspections, water testing, energy audits, and other specific items that may be location-specific.
Home inspections are paid for (less often) by a home 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 keep the home investment value as high as possible, care for their homes, and prevent surprises.
The following are aspects that inspectors pay close attention to during an inspection:
1. Safety hazards, such as exposed electrical wiring in kitchens and bathrooms, lack of safety railing on decks above 30 inches, lack of GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters), etc.
2. Serious flaws, such as large differential cracks in the foundation; building out of level or plumb; decks not installed or supported properly, and others. These items are pricey to repair, which are items needing over 2% of the buy price to repair.
3. Items that could lead to major flaws – 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 in to the structure properly.
Your property inspector should counsel you on what you should do about these problems. He may recommend an evaluation on serious matters – by licensed or certified professionals who specialize in the problem areas. For instance, your inspector will advise you phone a licensed structural or building engineer if he/she finds areas of the property that are misaligned, as this could indicate a major structural problem.
Home Inspections are done by a buyer once they sign a contract, right?
This isn’t true! As you will discover once you read on, a home inspection can be utilized for ad hoc inspections in new construction projects, as a maintenance tool with a current home owner, a proactive technique by home owners to create their home more sellable, and by buyers wanting to find out the problem of the potential home.
Homeowners, specifically, can take advantage of getting a home inspection before listing the home. Here are just a some of the advantages for the seller:
· The seller could make repairs leisurely instead of being in a rush after the contract is signed.
· The seller is likely to be alerted to any safety issues found in the house before they open it up for open house tours.
· The seller will take the report and make it into an advertising piece for the home.
· A home inspection will help the seller be more objective when it comes to setting a reasonable price on the home.
You most certainly can do it yourself. Most buyers lack the objectivity, skill, and knowledge needed to inspect a property 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 a better understanding 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 attention” by a qualified specialist. Understand that the home inspector is a generalist and has broad training in most home systems.
It’s a good idea for you to be present during the inspection – whether you are a home buyer, seller, or home owner. With you there, the inspector can explain to you any defects and explain their importance as well as point out maintenance features that’ll be helpful in the future. In the event that you can’t be there, it’s not a problem considering that the report you receive is likely to be very detailed. If you’re not present, then you should be sure to ask your inspector to describe anything that is not yet determined in the report. Also browse the inspection agreement carefully which means you know what is covered and what is not covered in the inspection. If you have a trouble with the inspection or the report, you must raise the issues quickly by calling the inspector, usually within 24 hours. If you want the inspector to return after the inspection showing you things, this is often 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 contract
However, it’s very 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 make the inspection unnecessarily slow. Write down your questions and ask them after the inspector has presented you with a report.
Since condos are units within a building, owners pay a monthly assessment fee to a also is responsible for maintaining the community boilder or HVAC. In smaller condo buildings, many home 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 unit including electrical, plumbing, porches, balconies, appliances, and walls. There are fewer items to inspect, but getting an inspection from someone who knows what they’re doing is still critical. As you well know, HOAs are a fickled lot to be brutally honest. And they’re all very different, even within a city. 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 is not exhaustive. Not all of these may be in the inspection you receive, but the inspector will be following a standard check list for the property:
· Heating equipment and controls
· Ducts and distribution systems
· Fire places
· Heating and air conditioning
· Heat controls and pumps
· Safety items such as TPRV valves, railings, egress etc.
· Floors, walls, ceilings
· Windows
· Doors, walls, patios, walkways, windows
· Garage doors, walls, and floors
· Plumbing fixtures and systems
· Electrical system and panels
· Electrical outlets, GFCI, and grounding
· Fire detectors
· Interior doors and hardware
· Kitchen appliances (microwave, trash compactor, range/oven, dishwasher, disposal)
· Laundry appliances (washer and dryer) if being sold with the house
· Insulation and ventilation systems
· Site drainage and grading
· Driveways
· Entry steps, hand rails
· Decks
· Bricks, masonry
· Grass, bushes, trees, shrubs
· Retaining walls
· Roofing system
· Fascias, soffits, and eaves
Other tests which are not part of the normal inspection often require an additional fee.
· Mold Screening
· Radon gas test
· Swimming Pool and Spa Inspection
· Septic System Inspection
· Gas Line Leak Test
· Water quality test
· Termite Inspection
· Sprinkler System Test
Your new home has dozens of systems and approximately 10,000 parts – from heating and cooling to ventilation systems and to appliances. When appliances and systems work together, all is well with the world. Weak links in the device, however, can produce a myriad of problems leading to a loss in value and shortened component lifecycle. Would you buy a used car with no reputable and qualified mechanic looking at it? Your property is far more complicated, and to have a thorough inspection that is documented in a written report arms you with substantial information which to create informed decisions.
A lot of people believe that all things are inspected thoroughly on inspection day. This misunderstanding has caused many a homebuyer to get upset using their inspector. The inspections we perform usually are not exhaustive and there’s a justification for this.
When you hire separate licensed experts in heating and cooling, plumbing, electrical, engineering, etc. to inspect your home, it could take about thirteen hours and cost you about $2000! It is far more practical (and affordable) to use a professional inspector that has a general familiarity with home systems, knows what to consider, and can recommend further inspection by an authority if needed. Your inspector is additionally following very specific guidelines issued by national or state organizations as he/she inspects your home. The guidelines are meticulously written in order to protect both the house and also the inspector.
For example, we have been directed to not turn systems on if these were off at the time of the inspection (for safety reasons); we’re not permitted to move furniture (might harm something); prohibited to turn on water if it is off (possible flooding), and prohibited to get rid of by way of a sealed attic hatch (possible damage). The side effects of the practice is that by not operating a control, by not seeing underneath the furniture, and to not get into the attic or crawlspace, we might miss identifying a problem. However, place into perspective, the prospect of missing something serious therefore is quite low. There are other products which more than 95% of inspectors consider outside a normal inspection, and these include inspecting most things aren’t bolted down (installed inside home) just like electronics, reduced voltage lighting, space heaters, portable air conditioning, or specialized systems just like water purifiers, home security systems, etc.
Kew Gardens in New York is itself one of the oldest and most beautiful gardens in New York City. Less than half an hour from Manhattan, it is a 7-garden community built in the late 1800s and 1950s. It dates back to the days when burial grounds in the winding streets of Manhattan’s Upper East Side, just blocks from the Hudson River, were beautiful.
Kew Gardens experienced a construction boom and the Queens Boulevard subway was introduced, making it a popular residential area for commuters in the city. The Queens Valley Golf Club opened in the 1950s, transforming the area from farmland into a more luxurious leisure complex.
Unlike the neighbouring Forest Hills Gardens, the early houses in Kew Gardens had strict conditions that prevented overdevelopment. In the 1930s, the KEW Gardens Corporation was bankrupt and the Kew Gardens Country Club was razed to the ground in favour of a cinema. The early film stars who owned properties in and around Kews Gardens moved west, but many of the buildings have survived from that time, so Kew Gardens Hills is about to undergo a decade of major changes.
Kew Gardens is visible on a map, but entry for occasional visitors is expensive, so it’s a good idea to have it on your doorstep. Many local families sign up with Friends of Kew and get unlimited access to PS2 per week, which is more than double the amount in Kews Gardens, where most shops are located. Shopping aside, shopping is one of the most popular activities in the city, especially for young people, and there are a number of shops and restaurants in and around the KEW Gardens.
Interestingly, Kew Gardens is one of the most accessible neighborhoods in America and has a large number of residents – many of whom live in the Park Slope, East Village, West Village and Upper East Side neighborhoods. Residents of the KEW Gardens apartments can walk, jog or even take advantage of the 7-mile equestrian trail all year round.
The cost of living in Kew Gardens ranges from $3,280 per month to $10,050 per month, and if you move from one city to another, the cost of living will not change. The average home price in Kew Gardens is $435,000, about $2,500 more than the average house price in the same area.
It tends to be the most expensive, competitive, gentrified neighborhood, so you’ll probably want to stay in one of the more affordable neighborhoods in New York, like the Upper East Side. Similar to Brooklyn, Kew Gardens, with its roughly 1.5 million residents, has an average home price of $435,000, about $2,500 more than the average house price in the same Brooklyn area. It feels more suburban, but like Manhattan, there aren’t many restaurants, bars, shops or restaurants on the ground floor of the buildings. They are mostly hipsters who roam the streets of Manhattan and other parts of Brooklyn and Queens and other areas of Queens and Manhattan.
Geographically, Kew Gardens is surrounded by the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Queens County, New York. Flushing Meadows – Corona Park is to the north, Briarwood and KEW Garden Hills to the west and Richmond Hill to the south. Neighboring areas include Forrest Hillsbebe in the west, Richmond Hills In the To the south is Forrest Hill to the north and Richmond Heights to the west.
Kew Gardens is a triangular district bordered by Flushing Meadows – Corona Park to the north, Briarwood and KEW Garden Hills to the south, Forrest Hillsbebe and Richmond Heights to the west Kew Gardens neighborhood is surrounded by the boroughs of Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Queens County, New York.
Richmond Hill was founded in Kew Gardens in 1869 by Albon Platt Man, named after Richmond on the Thames, a suburb of London. In the centre of the village there is a public library and school as well as a community centre for children and young adults. That is the purpose of the New York Department of Health and Queens County Health Department in KEW Gardens.
The cozy intimacy of Kew Gardens becomes apparent as you walk down the boulevard, where small shops and restaurants evoke a sense of mom – and pop. When you get away from the commercial part of the neighborhood, it can feel like a suburb, village or urban environment. If you move to Queens, you will find a quiet area where life slows down in the evenings and weekends with its quiet cafes, restaurants and cafes. The KEW Gardens Commercial Center houses Kews Gardens Cinemas, which show independent and international films.
In addition, Kew Gardens is almost entirely dominated by the Union Turnpike subway station and New York City Transit. The E and F expressways are not far from Kews Gardens and Union Turnpikes, so you can sometimes drive there and get to Manhattan faster. It seems KEW Gardens in Queens is just another urban neighborhood, if you get out of the union and subway stations.
If you’re searching for a reliable, professional, and affordable townhome, condo, or home inspection in Kew Gardens, your search is over. We know you have choices and we would be happy to send one of our inspectors to inspect your home and property. We’re committed to getting the job done right and making you a satisfied customer. Call or email one of our staff (332-334-7701 or Request a Quote) to book an appointment.
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