Services

The home inspection is a learning tool to better understand the conditions of a home from an impartial, professionally trained, and licensed home inspector.  Each inspection will include, but not be limited to the following items:

Exterior Interior
  • Structure/Framework
  • Heating and cooling systems
  • Roof, vents, flashing, trim
  • Fireplace damper, doors and hearth
  • Gutters and downspouts
  • Windows – fixed and moveable
  • Skylights, chimney, and other roof penetrations
  • Plumbing and electrical fixtures
  • Eaves, soffit, and fascia
  • Electrical panels, breakers, and fuses
  • Decks, stoops, porches, walkways, and railings
  • Insulation and ventilation
  • Foundation and landscape drainage
  • Garage doors, safety sensors, and openers
  • Main water shut off valve
  • Electrical service line and meter box
  • Main disconnect and service amperage

The inspection does not include determining the life expectancy of appliances or mechanical components.

Upon scheduling an inspection, clients will receive an email confirmation, and a copy of the inspection contract for review. At the inspection, the client will need to sign the contract prior to beginning the inspection. By previewing the contract ahead of time, the inspector is available to answer any questions a client may have before the inspection begins.

For all inspections, we encourage our clients to accompany the inspector so they can clearly see the items being described, and can freely ask any question they may have about the home. As a rule, inspecting a 2,000 square foot home will take approximately two hours.

PRE-LISTING INSPECTION (Seller’s Inspection)

This inspection is conducted for a seller who wishes to have their home inspected prior to a sale. Having a home inspection prior to listing the property with a realtor allows for the opportunity to have items requiring attention taken care of before the house is officially on the market. In this type of inspection, the inspector visually inspects the interior and the exterior of the home so that he can point out issues that require attention. In the case of a pre-listing inspection, the owner may choose to follow through on some or all of the inspector’s recommendations prior to putting their home on the market. Either way, the home owner can provide full disclosure on the condition of the house to a potential buyer.
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PRE-PURCHASE INSPECTION (Buyer’s Inspection)

This inspection is conducted for the buyer who has contracted to purchase a home, contingent upon the results of a home inspection. Having a home inspection clause in the purchase contract allows for a licensed inspector to visually inspect the home as a condition of the purchase offer. No house is perfect, and more than likely the inspector will find some issues that may require attention. If so, the buyer is informed and better aware of future repairs that might be necessary. If a major problem is found, the seller may agree to make repairs, or renegotiate the selling price. Either way, the inspection is a way of finding out more information about the house; good, bad, or indifferent, so informed decisions can be made.
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NEW HOME “PHASE” INSPECTIONS

A new home is constructed in various phases:

  • Foundation
  • Framing
  • Home components
  • Finishing

During the above phases of construction, weather conditions vary, and often many tradesmen of differing skill levels work at the construction site. Consider hiring a home inspector who works for you to inspect the new home at predetermined intervals determined by you, the buyer. By having the home inspected by a certified inspector, you have an added confidence that your new home is being built as you would expect.
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NEW HOME – WARRANTY INSPECTIONS

A new home warranty inspection is conducted when the buyer of a brand new home wants to have it inspected by an independent, licensed home inspector before its warranty expires. The inspector is visually trained to look for issues which may require attention when conducting an inspection.  By having the house inspected prior to the expiration of the warranty, the builder can be contacted and provided with a punch list of concerns or items requiring attention. Normally this inspection would be conducted a month or two before the expiration of the builder’s warranty.
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MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS

A maintenance inspection is conducted as a proactive approach to maintaining the home in a condition desired by the homeowner. By hiring a trained inspector to conduct a maintenance inspection, you will be able to determine and prioritize items that will require repair or replacement in the foreseeable future, normally a five-year period. A maintenance inspection is conducted with the assumption that it is being performed to develop a five-year plan for maintaining one’s home. The inspector will be able to provide you with a general estimate for repairs, and he will make suggestions to help maintain the value and efficiency of your home.
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HUD/FHA 203(k) CONSULTANT

A 203(k) consultant works with clients who have obtained an FHA 203(k) loan to purchase a home and make repairs/renovation. There are several different categories for this loan program with the two most common being the 203(k) Streamline Loan and the Full 203(k) Rehab Loan. The difference being that the Full 203(k) Rehab Loan would be for a property requiring in excess of $35,000 in repairs.

A feature of the 203(k) Full Rehab Loan is that the home’s purchase and the home’s repair/renovations are consolidated into one loan, which would be eligible for FHA mortgage insurance.  At the loan closing, mortgage proceeds are used to pay the seller to acquire the property, and an escrow account is established to finance the rehabilitation. The consultant guides the buyer through the renovation process and inspects the rehab work performed for satisfactory completion before the lending institution releases payment to the contractor(s).

For additional information, please give us a call at 585-727-7119.
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RADON

According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), many counties in New York State have been designated as high radon risk areas, including the Finger Lakes region. Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and radioactive gas resulting from a breakdown of uranium that moves through spaces in the soil. It can enter one’s home through cracks in the foundation or concrete slabs, dirt floors, floor drains, and sump pumps. Radon is said to be the leading cause of non-smoking lung cancer.

Both new and old homes can have high levels of radon, and levels can vary from home to home and from season to season. If a neighbor’s home has high levels of radon, it may not mean that everyone in the neighborhood will have high levels of radon in their homes. The best way to know for sure is to have your home tested. The best time to test for radon is in winter when windows and doors are kept closed, and the home is less ventilated. However, a home can be testing in any season as long as “closed home” conditions are strictly followed.
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EPA Recommends:

  • If you are planning on buying a home or selling your home, have it tested for radon.
  • For new homes, ask if radon resistant construction features were used.
  • Fix the home if the radon level is 4 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher.

The EPA recommends that radon levels do not exceed 4 pCi/L, and if they do, homeowners should consider taking action to reduce the radon levels in the home. Visit the EPA’s website for more information.

If a radon mitigation system is needed, companies certified by New York State to conduct radon mitigation services are posted on the website for the NYS Department of Health. Radon systems normally costs from $1,000 – $2,500 to install. If installing the system while a home is being constructed, it normally ranges from $400 – $600.

You can find additional information on radon, at the two sites listed below:


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