The best way to avoid unpleasant surprises when purchasing a home is
to arrange for a home inspection before you buy.
A pre-purchase
home inspection by
Home Inspections Systems is
an objective, top-to-bottom examination of the home and all of it's component
systems. The standard inspection report, covering almost 3,000 items, includes a
review of the home's heating and air-conditioning systems, its plumbing and
wiring, the roof, attic, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the
foundation and the basement.
Getting a professional inspection by
Home Inspection Systems is
crucial for older homes because age often takes its toll on the roof and other
hard-to-reach areas. Problems can also be the result of neglect or hazardous
repair work, done by a not-so-handy previous owner.
A home inspection is also a wise investment when buying a
new home. In fact, new homes frequently have
defects, whether
caused by an oversight during construction or simply human error. Some builders may try to dissuade
you from getting a home inspection on a home they've built. They may not
necessarily be trying to hide anything because most builders guarantee their
work and will fix any problems in your new home before you move in. Some
builders, in fact, will offer to do their own inspections. But if you'd prefer a
more objective appraisal, insist on an outside inspection.
Self-Education: Education is another good reason for getting
an inspection. Most buyers want to learn as much as they can about their
purchase. When you look to hire a home inspector, ask if you can "tag along" on
the inspection. At
Home Inspection Systems
we love to have the buyer or the seller, for that matter, come along.
During the inspection, we'll explain what we're looking at and any potential
areas of concern or defects noted.
Hiring a home inspector is like going to your family
physician. He or she looks at your general health, and then decides if a problem
requires a specialist. A specialist in our business would be a licensed
structural engineer, a licensed plumber or electrician, or pest-control expert.
We do not compete with the specialists, we work with them.
Inspection Fees: Home inspection costs vary, depending on the
size, age of the home, selling price, any outbuildings, pools or spas.
Additionally, environmental tests for radon, mold, wood destroying organisms,
and water quality, all contribute the final cost of an inspection.
Contact us for regarding our fees.
Homebuyers usually arrange for an inspection after signing a contract or
purchase agreement with the seller. The results may be given verbally on site.
If there are any areas of safety, or defect, the client is advised immediately.
Written reports are usually available within 2 business days. Environmental test
results may take as long as 5 business days.
You could elect to include a clause that makes your obligation contingent upon
the results of the inspection. If major problems are found, you can back out of
the deal. If costly repairs are warranted, the seller may be willing to adjust
the home's price or the contract's terms. But when only minor repairs are
needed, the buyer and seller can usually work out an agreement that won't affect
the sale price
Dennis
J Sunday is the Certified Home Inspector/Owner of
Home Inspection Systems. He is a member of
The National Association of Certified Home Inspectors,
NACHI® and a founding member of
NYNACHI. He is trained in Home Inspection,
meeting course requirements of Allied Business Schools, Real Estate Home
Inspection. Continuing education is a requirement of membership and part
of the NACHI Code of Ethics.
A resident of Putnam County, NY for over 40 years, he has
worked in the area and surrounding counties for eight years installing and
servicing home heating systems, appliances, and domestic hot water heating
systems. More recently, for the past sixteen years, his work experience involved
construction of high-rise residential and commercial buildings in New England
and Eastern Canada, entering projects from the time of initial excavation and
ultimately to completion. He also specialized in the installation of electrical
equipment, with low and high voltage circuitry.
