We Are Now Providing Home Inspections in Queens, New York

One of the best things that have happened to our business in recent times is our spread to this new location. Home Inspection has continued to entrench its place in the social and economic frame of society. The need to serve more individuals has necessitated this move to plant an outlet in Queens. The beauty of what we do is that we have maintained the same pact of excellence, professionalism and service in all we do. People can connect with this great service because we have the best hands in the industry working in this new location.

In a bid to revolutionize the industry as leading Queens Home Inspectors, we have decided to run with the interests of our clients at heart. This would remain one of the most affordable Home Inspection brands in the market. We have a strong system that enables us to navigate the changes in the market without putting any negative pressure on you. Everything we do is steeped in a plan that takes into cognizance all the world best practices. We are not backing down on our commitment to keep building on the success we have achieved over the years.

One of the things that mark home inspections in Queens is the unique environment and needs of the client. We understand that we are to play both a supporting and advisory role to our savvy customer. Each Real Estate transaction would get a better traction based on the things we do. One may argue that all Home Inspection businesses are the same but this is not true. There are many things that determine the place of a Home Inspector in the market. One of them is the years that they have put into the business and the track record of the people that they have served.

Here is a brief outlay of what we do: We give you the breakdown of your Structure which serves for the purpose of meeting any of your personal or professional requirements. Our poise for excellence makes us relevant to those who buy or sell properties. Other areas we serve are Environmental Issues, Electrical, Exterior, Interior and Home Systems (which include Air Conditioning, Heating, Plumbing and Ventilation).

We also render service for Paved Areas such as Landings, Driveways, Drainage, Grading and Decks. Our reach covers Additional structures such as Docks, Guest Houses, Seawalls, Sheds and Pools. Other Inspections which bring added value to our client is the reports on Rodents, termites and anything that could affect the state of your property. Our resolve is to ensure you get immediate feedback from our holistic home inspection exercise. We go the extra mile to give a detailed report after our initial assessment is sent to you.

Generally, we understand that the business in Queens would push us to new frontiers. We are excited to see what the future holds. This is the time to set a new milestone that would put a new trend in the industry. The wins that would be recorded as a result of the opening of this outlet would bring major wins to every stakeholder.

 

The Need For New Construction Home Inspections

Our years of experience as home inspectors across Suffolk County and Nassau County, NY have taught us that even new construction needs a home inspection. Yes, we might be somewhat biased as inspectors, but there are two reasons to do an inspection on new construction. We detail them below: Issues incurred during construction: Sometimes things […]

The Need For New Construction Home Inspections was first published on Home Inspector Experts

Home Inspection For Rental Properties

As a home inspector covering Suffolk and Nassau Counties in New York State, our clients often ask us if owners should invest in home inspections for their rental properties. Our answer is usually a yes. There are four inspections owners of rental properties should perform.   Four Rental Inspections   Move-in – Unless a rental […]

Home Inspection For Rental Properties was first published on Home Inspector Experts

Q & A Session With Your Home Inspector

Buying a home is everybody’s dream and probably one of the biggest investments some of us will ever make in our lifetime; well, some of us spend the rest of our natural lives paying for it! Having a home inspection done on the property is of course important if you want to know whether your dream home is ready for your family to move in or not. It might turn out that the house is not worth it after all and you can either use this information to haggle for a lower price or simply walk away from the deal.

Naturally, a few questions about the home inspector that will be inspecting your home and the home inspection process are bound come up. For a start, you want to know that you’re getting your money’s worth, and secondly you don’t want to end up with a shoddy home inspection exercise that leaves you with piles of repair or replacement costs in future.

Therefore, it‘s important that every home buyer asks these 5 questions to the home inspector(s) before hiring.

#1 – Are you registered or affiliated to any professional home inspectors association?

First, you want to establish that you’re dealing with a competent person who has deep knowledge of the ins and outs of the industry. You can’t afford to waste time and money on wannabe home inspectors, remember that.

This of course will paint a clear picture of what they are capable of accomplishing if hired. The logic here is… if a higher public authority say… the NHICC (National Home Inspector Certification Council) can vouch for their ability and recognize their certification(s) as a qualified home inspector, then you can trust their expertise too. However, this is not enough to qualify a home inspector.

Note: You are allowed to ask for proof of registration or affiliation (membership card, licenses, certifications). Any professional will understand and actually produce this evidence for you on the spot hoping to win you over; and without taking any offense at all. You can also ask whether they continue to take any more certification courses to advance their skills. If they are NHI certified the better.

It might seem like an obvious thing to do but Michael Del Greco has noted that very few clients ever ask to see proof of certification or licensing. He humorously points out that his license has only been good for his wallet in all his years of experience. Michael claims he can count the number of times he’s had to produce his license to a client. Check out more from his informative personal view:

Questions To Ask Home Inspectors During Home Inspections

I can count on one hand the times I have been asked one of these important questions.

First question you should ask is one that I have yet to be asked by any home buyer since 1993 despite having 10,000 or so clients (except by a few who have read this). “May I please see your home inspector license”?

Please ask. I have been carrying ID’s in my wallet for years not only because I am required to do so by law and so once a year or so I get to show them to a client. If your inspector can’t find his or hers it is time to stop the inspection and try again with another company… see more real experience questions

#2 – Can I be there during the inspection?

Not many home inspector’s will answer “no” to this question although a few would rather you just sit and wait for their report. The reason why you want to be there during the inspection is simply because this is the time you get to learn key details about your new home. You get to find out where all the main shutdown switches are, or to formulate your own opinion and prioritize the problems pointed out during the inspection. Here you can continue to ask for more clarifications on all problems the home inspector identifies as you go about the inspection. You will be surprised that some problems uncovered during this exercise will only take cheap and easy DIY fixes. Here is what Tara-Nicholle Nelson has to say about this issue:

5 Questions to Ask Your Home’s Inspector

Your home inspector’s job is to point out everything, within the scope of the inspection, that might need repair, replacement, maintenance or further inspection – or seems like it might be on it’s last leg. But they also tend to be experienced enough with homes to know that no home is perfect. Many times, I’ve asked this question about an item the inspector described as “at the end of its serviceable lifetime” and had them say, “I wouldn’t do a thing to it. Just know that it could break in the next 5 months, or in the next 5 years. And keep your home warranty in effect, because that should cover it when it does break.”… read more

#3 – How much will it cost me and how do I pay you?

This is very important for the overall success of the deal. Go over the numbers and see if you can agree on a price because this will determine whether business will proceed or not. Actually, it determines whether you get to ask question #4!

Once you agree on a price, try to find out how the home inspector wants to be paid; check, PayPal, credit card or cash? Finally, this is the best time to throw in some bargaining skills and try to haggle for a discount especially if the mode of payment chosen by the home inspector has extra transaction fees.

Paul Wilson however seems to think that the question of price should come last. He also goes on to say that cutting corners in order to save a few dollars is not always the best idea. “There will always be someone who charges less! The question is – are they your best choice?”, he adds. Here’s an extract from his article:

20 Questions for your Home Inspector

A question that almost always gets asked first and yet should be in fact, one of the last and least important in your decision process. What good is a $50 discount if the inspector you are hiring isn’t the most qualified or experienced available. When you are about to make one of the largest decision and investment of a lifetime, this is not the time to think about saving a few bucks by cutting corners. You need experience on your side and lots of it!

 

The amount of the fee should be the least of your worries when you consider how much you are planning on investing in a home. Home inspection is no different than many other professional occupations – you generally get what you pay for. Cheaper is rarely the best. A professional home inspection conducted by a fully qualified individual is well worth the expense… check out the full list

#4 – How long before I get the inspection report?

Once you have the price issue done, or the prices sound reasonable enough for consideration, then you can continue to ask about the inspection report. Some home inspectors will give you full report immediately after the inspection exercise while others will only provide a sketch report and deliver a full report later (usually 24 hrs to a few days).

The main concern here is having enough information to help you decide whether to see the deal through or cut and run. You can also ask the home inspector to give you a honest personal opinion on the status of the house on offer. See if they would consider buying the property if they were in your position. If you’re satisfied with the answer you get, then its time to move to the last question.

#5 – Can you recommend a good contractor for the serious identified repairs or replacements?

Any good professional will be ready to part with this information without butting an eyelid. You know the saying “Show me your friends and I can tell the kind of person you are”? Well, it works on everyone, including home inspectors.

The home inspector should have a solid network of readily available professionals remotely related to their industry. If an inspector cannot name at least five recommendations from the top of their head then this is a red flag; please stop what you’re doing with this home inspector and move on to the next. The inspector should be in a position to point you to a good electrician, plumber, property lawyer, real estate agent or even fellow home inspector.

So there you have it… these 5 questions will definitely lead you to the right decision and the right home inspector. Sometimes you can end up with two to three options interviewing several home inspectors and this can provide a problem by itself. The main thing however is to concentrate on who gives you the best deal in terms of price and all the areas they cover during the inspection. In fact this should come as question #6! How deep does their inspection exercise go?

 

 

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Q & A Session With Your Home Inspector was first published on Home Inspector Experts

Give Your Home a Mini Makeover

Things become boring or old when you have lived in a home long enough. That’s the reason why bringing in “freshness” in the form of a mini makeover can help take the gloom away. But what about the expenses? Don’t you need thousands of dollars to renovate your home?

Well, there’s good news… a mini makeover can fit any budget if done right. You can accomplish a lot on a dime especially if you’re from the DIY camp. FYI, this is GREAT for any pre-sale properties as well. All you need is pocket change and lots of creative thinking.

Research is the first step towards any successful mini makeover exercise. Finding out where to find stuff or who to call from friends and family is always a good way to start. A few referrals here and there can take you a long way especially in terms of saving and getting cool ideas. You can expect more discount offers (hiring or buying) when you take this approach.

So, how do you go about mini makeovers?

First of all, sit down and make a list of everything that you think needs touching up. This means every room, the garage, and finally the outdoors if you have a yard (front or back). There’s even more to include in your list if you have a porch, a finished basement, or patio. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves, everything needs careful planning.

There is a very interesting piece prepared by Stephanie Sisco where a family in New York gets a complete mini home makeover. Sometime a makeover may costs you nothing but time and organization. Chip Cordelli helps the Bruno family get back to perfect order and scenic beauty in just a few mini makeovers as highlighted by Stephanie:

A Room-by-Room Makeover for an Organized Home

The Bruno family of Congers, New York, wrestled with stuffed closets, mayhem in the garage, and the tyranny of toddler toys. Sound familiar?

Clutter coach Chip Cordelli swooped in with solutions (and inspiration!) for turning classic trouble zones into home highlights. Get even more home makeover tips… view before and after gallery here

Now lets get to places that always come last in most of our mini makeover lists, the basement! Ok I get it… that’s where you throw all the junk that doesn’t fit into the garage, right?

On the contrary, basements can be the ultimate chill spots if you know what to do. What do you think of your very own home bar? Complete with soft music and a TV for those Saturday night games… sounds heavenly right? Well you can have it all and Martha Uniacke Breen knows exactly how you can achieve that. Check out her article on basement makeovers:

9 budget-friendly basement makeover ideas

Don’t leave your basement neglected. A little time and effort can turn your basement into a spectacular space your family loves.

Basements are often the spinster relatives of the rest of the house, says designer Robin Siegerman, principal of Sieguzi Kitchen & Home Inc. and author of Renovation Bootcamp: Kitchens. If you have a finished basement but it’s outdated and you want to make it more inviting, or drywalled and insulated (and therefore suitable as a casual living space) but otherwise bare, you can spruce it up without spending a lot of money…. here are 9 more ideas

Your basement is not the only neglected part of your home. Your garage and more specifically your garage door can suffer a lot of neglect from homeowners. Needless to say your garage door is part of your home’s front face and therefore adds to the aesthetic value of the entire estate.

Here are a few tricks to give your garage door a new facelift without as much as touching your wallet. Find out how you can get and use this garage door makeover kit from this enhancing and improving your biggest investment video from DSpaceTV. DIYers will surely love this:

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Give Your Home a Mini Makeover was first published on Home Inspector Experts

Protecting Your Biggest Investment

Some people struggle to own one, while some own a few… but all the same, owning a home is one of the major investments anyone can achieve in their lifetime. It therefore goes without saying that your hard-earned investment will definitely need protection.

There are several way to protect your home;

• Title Examination / Insurance – less understood but very very important!
• Homeowner’s Insurance – also vital for any homeowner
• Burglar proofing – for obvious reasons
• Regular Home Inspections and Professional Remedies (if and when suggested)
• Fire proofing – fire detectors and alarms, sprinklers, extinguishers…
• Regular General Maintenance – quick replacement of broken or missing parts

This might seem a lot… (probably because it is!), but every home owner who wants to live in peace and enjoy their investment will definitely have to cover the list highlighted above. It’s an on going process that only stops when you either die or sell the property. Constant improvements like repainting and good general maintenance to prevent problems like moisture, mold, termites or other pests also help to boost your home’s equity. This puts you in a better position as a seller, or when borrowing from lenders.

Protecting your biggest investment might seem like an obvious thing but Kimberly J. Howard points out a few facts that most homeowners overlook. Even paying down your mortgage loan to remain free of any debt is a way of protecting your biggest asset too! However, her main focus is on “physical protection” and this is what she has to say:

Protecting Your Greatest Asset – Your Home

Your biggest investment is likely your home. You can protect it – in ways that go beyond staying current on the mortgage.

A home is more than a financial investment. It is an emotional investment. The feeling of owing your dream house is the experience of a lifetime. You relish having something that’s all yours – a place where your own style statement tells the world who you are.

There are three crucial areas to focus on: access control (security), fire prevention-response and maintenance… here are the details

But wait… before you get in over your head with excitement as a new home owner, please turn your attention back insurance and more specifically… “Title Insurance”. Please also note that the title examination and insurance process should come before you close! Imagine the shock when you buy a home for your family then get kicked out 2 years later on a technicality just because you did not follow due diligence?

Warning: You can lose EVERYTHING on a home purchase deal for failure of securing a title insurance policy that would probably cost you $250! one-time premium.

The NAIC (National Association of Insurance Commissioners) has given a detailed guide on how home buyers should go about protecting their property investment from matters touching on title insurance. The publication also highlights the importance of learning about title insurance as a home owner or prospecting buyer. Here is a sneak peek of the informative article:

TITLE INSURANCE
Protecting Your Home Investment Against Unknown Title Defects

Most first-time home buyers are familiar with various types of insurance (e.g., auto, life), but are unaware of what title insurance is, and the role it plays in real estate transactions. In the rush to close such transactions as quickly as possible, title insurance is typically an area that consumers commonly overlook in the home buying process.

If you borrow money to finance the purchase of a home or property, a lending institution will likely require you to buy a title insurance policy to protect its interest. As a consumer, it is in your best interest to be well-informed about title insurance, how title insurance works and key areas to be addressed when purchasing title insurance… do you need title insurance?

Now that you have title insurance catered for, it’s time to find out how home insurance works in general. Knowing what’s covered and what’s not covered in your policy is very important and it could save you some serious financial loses in future. Did you know most home insurance policy owners get dropped by their insuring company for making too many small claims?

Well, for those still in the dark about home insurance and what is legally covered in most policies, here’s a short video prepared by Central Insurance titled “Insurance 101 – Homeowners Coverages”. Check out the video:

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Declutter For Pre-Listing

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Protecting Your Biggest Investment was first published on Home Inspector Experts

A Home Inspectors Worst Nightmare

Home inspection can be a perilous affair for home inspectors sometimes. How, you ask? It’s just going around looking at stuff and writing more stuff on paper to prepare the report for the prospecting home buyer (or sometimes seller) right? Wrong!

There are quite a number of situations that leave a home inspector feeling like they are sitting in the front row of a theater watching a bloody horror movie. I remember as a young inspector I did a condominium inspection that was nothing short of a horror show, but that is a different topic for a different time.

For a start, a home inspector is always in danger of coming across trapped animals like raccoons, rats or even worse… snakes and hornets! And in all the weirdest places you can imagine. Another home inspector’s nightmare is of course poor construction work or DIY repairs that end up posing more risk than the purported “first aid” value they add.

Ever gone through a house with so many naked electric wires (some near wet plumbing pipes) that your skin literally cringed? It happens… and some cases are just plain stupid (sorry…) on the part of homeowners who let their houses fall to such state or like in one case (which represents quite a big number by the way…) where tools were stored in an electrical panel! Now how smart is that? That’s you committing suicide and forcing the home inspector to become a witness.

 

Having a flimsy support structure for an extending deck is no better than the poor workmanship and sense of judgement shown on the above photo. Timothy Dahl has collected about 23 individual cases that he terms “cringe-worthy ” for any home inspector. Why would anyone think that duct tape can hold a house together? Check out some of these dangerous situations that home inspectors come across as they carry out their duties from day to day. Here’s an extract from Dahl’s informative piece:

23 Totally Cringeworthy Home Inspection Nightmares

Home inspectors have the eye and experience to catch code violations and household damage before you, the home buyer, get stuck with them. Some problems, such as dirty filters and termites, need to be addressed but are really just mundane problems that any old house can suffer.

These code violations, on the other hand, are disasters waiting to happen. Some are idiotic oversights or corner-cuttings that will accelerate the wear and tear on a home, while others are downright dangerous for anyone living inside… wanna see the “deck of death”? It’s a doozy!

Now, speaking of poor construction or repair judgement (sometimes by paid contractors… sadly), there are situations where a home inspector wishes they were never called! You go up into an attic and realize that the roof could cave on you any second, wet crawlspaces, raw sewerage or failed renovations. Dale Trach has a list of 10 terrifying things that an average home inspector comes across every now and then:

The 10 Scariest Things a Home Inspector Can Find

Every time the toilet flushed, sewage entered the crawlspace through the missing clean-out cap.

Nasty for the poor home inspector, never mind the new buyer. Multiple issues for the home owner: health, sanitation, odour and moisture… here are 9 more

There’s a very interesting video starring Joe Terceira as the host (also a real estate agent) in the “The Home Buying & Selling Show” where Greg McHale shares a few frightening encounters he’s faced during his long career as a home inspector. Seems like home inspection nightmares run across borders!

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A Home Inspectors Worst Nightmare was first published on Home Inspector Experts

Real Estate on Long Island

Welcome to Paumanok, currently known as Long Island, NY.

On the Northeastern end of this Great American Continent lies Long Island, one of the most beautiful and historically rich island God’s green earth has ever seen. We still have villages; not like they did it during the times of the caviar and lobster eating Lenape Indians. Up until and during a large phase of the 19th century, Long Island was still pretty much rural settlement.

Long Island is predominantly covered by Suffolk and Nassau counties which are primarily suburban; and then there’s Queens and Brooklyn which are more like NY boroughs. As you can clearly tell once you come to Long Island, we have come a long way from the old days of dome shaped huts sourrounded by miles of cornfields to … just a bit of that… coupled with more sohisticated artitecture from our time.

According to early accounts recorded by the first European settlers, Indian houses in the area were dome-shaped structures from 10 to 20 feet in diameter, covered with grass. Clay covered openings at the tops of the dwellings prevented them from burning when fires were lit inside: the vents allowed smoke and heat to escape. – richmondhillhistory.org

Real estate on Long Island now ranges from single to multi family homes to commercial buildings to industrial property and warehouses. You can also find rentals in almost every part of Long Island.

The weather in Long Island also marches most neighboring coastal areas with warm humid summers and snowy winters (although a bit warmer compared to inland areas).

A near complete list of all the towns and villages in Long Island can be found on the Long Island dot com website:

Long Island Towns – Your Long Island Neighborhood Guide

Long Island has more towns and villages than Hollywood has movie stars, and it can get a little confusing – even to those of us who are born and raised here.

Long Island New York is comprised of two counties – Nassau County and Suffolk County, two cities – Long Beach and Glen Cove, numerous local towns, villages, hamlets, postal zones and designated places. In Nassau County we have three towns – Oyster Bay, Hempstead, North Hempstead, and two cities – Long Beach and Glen Cove. In Suffolk there are ten towns – Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Smithtown, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold as well as two Indian reservations – Poospatuck and Shinnecock. In addition, there are local hamlets and villages within these towns… see the complete breakdown of neighborhoods

Perhaps you will be interested in learning that Long Island has become a lucrative property market especially for new and growing families. We’ve helped thousands of Long Islanders choose their dream home. Check here for the Long Island communities we serve with our detailed and thorough home and property inspections. It is due to the availability of parks, boating and fishing waters, sufficient public infrastructure, social amenities, shopping spots, awesome communities, as well as countless annual cultural events for all family members to enjoy.

You can choose from the lavish neighborhoods of the Hamptons or the simple quiet life in the Northern agricultural towns in Suffolk. Katherine Chaffer shares some nice information on why you should invest in a home in the Plainview hamlet. Check out her reasons and well structured arguments:

Buying in Plainview

Plainview is diverse, Meringoff says, both in terms of the people who live there and the sizes, styles and prices of homes the community has to offer. He says you can find ranches, capes, Colonials and split-levels on lots ranging from less than a quarter-acre to a full acre in size. The price for a starter home can be in the low $300,000s, with high-end homes selling for more than $1 million. Another draw, Meringoff says, is Plainview’s strong resale value… find out more valuable tips

In addition to close home communities such as Plainview, there are many secluded estates for those who want to spend a little higher for their privacy. Diane Polland showcases an 8 acre water front property at Kings Point with 3 palatial residences. See the magnificent architectural design and flowing gardens in the compound. Are you into yachting or sports?:

Call us now for more available options in real estate on Long Island.

Find your dream home now!

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Real Estate on Long Island was first published on Home Inspector Experts

Declutter For Pre-Listing

As a home inspector in the Suffolk and Nassau Counties, we see a lot of homes just prior to being listed for sale. Pre-listing home inspections are quickly becoming common practice in some areas of the country because its benefits to a home owner can be numerous. However, as a home inspector we also see a lot of overly-cluttered homes clearly not ready for listing or attractive to a potential buyer. Below are some simple ideas on how to de-clutter your home prior to listing it.

 

It can be emotionally difficult to de-clutter and it can be a bit difficult because you do have to decide what you can hide by storing away neatly in a closet or off-site. (Do not over-stuff your closets; it can make your house look like there’s insufficient storage.) We even gave a mention to all of our clients on Google Plus to make sure to declutter your homes prior to inspection. We want you to get the most out of your inspection. Check out our post on Google Plus:

 

 

 

There are several key reasons for decluttering: A de-cluttered room makes it look bigger and captures “visual” square footage, it can highlight the home’s positive features because they’re no longer hidden under clutter, de-cluttering means de-personalizing so a potential buyer can envision themselves living in your home.

 

Here are some ideas for de-cluttering:

• Make the time over several days. It can be difficult with busy schedules to spend an entire day de-cluttering your home. Make and take the time over several days to begin de-cluttering, organizing, and putting things away.
• A place for everything. Make sure you dedicate space for everything or consider getting rid of it. Clutter builds up either because you didn’t know where to put something or didn’t take the time to put it away. Time to address both issues: if there’s no space, make one or get rid of it; if you didn’t put something away because of not taking the time, make the time now.
• A little bit at a time. De-cluttering can be overwhelming. Start with small things easy to deal with items. Start with small rooms or the least cluttered rooms and build from there. If you tackle it one space at a time, it won’t feel as overwhelming.
• Through strangers’ eyes. Look at your home through the eyes of a complete stranger. Stand back and really take a look at each room. What do you see? If there’s even a remote feeling of clutter, keep going. Remove furniture pieces if a room has too many pieces in it. Taking a picture of a room can be very helpful. The camera shot is critical and can reveal what you might not be “seeing” through a homeowners’ eyes.
• Keep it up! Once you de-clutter, keep things in their place. Take time every evening or morning, to put things away. Don’t let things and clutter build up again! Make so that when you get a last minute call to show your home, it’s ready to go!

 

As home inspectors working across Suffolk and Nassau counties, we are always happy to talk to potential clients about their home inspections. Contact us today to discuss your home or your future home!

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Declutter For Pre-Listing was first published on Home Inspector Experts

What First Time Homeowners Need to Know

We’ve seen it often enough as home inspectors across Suffolk and Nassau counties: a new and excited home owner unwittingly causes damage or problems for themselves.

 

Here’s a list we’ve compiled based on an article in houselogic.com.

• Know where you main water shut-off valve is located. You’d be surprised how many home owners have no idea where their main water shut-off valve is inside their home. Water can cause enormous damage in a very short amount of time. A burst pipe can soak your floors, drywall, and valuables in minutes and cause thousands of dollars in damages. The main water valve is located at the point where water enters your home. Every family member should know where it is.
• Before you dig up your yard, make sure you know where your utility lines are buried in your front and back yards. Calling 811, the national hotline for digging safely, can get your local utilities out to your home to mark where all your underground utilities can be found. It can be dangerous to knick a line or gas pipe!
• Check your soil levels. All the soil around your home needs to drain away from your dwelling by at least 6”. The accumulation of water, rainwater, or snow at your foundation can put unnecessary pressure on it and eventually lead to cracks and thousands of dollars repairing your foundation.
• Do you have adequate attic insulation? One rule of thumb is to ensure you don’t see the top of your joists. If you do, your insulation is likely inadequate. Contact as as professional home inspectors and we can take a look for you and make a recommendation.
• Stop before you hammer in that nail! Use a stud sensor to detect hidden items behind your drywall. It can help detect studs, ducts, and cables. They’re not 100% foolproof, but it’s better than just hammering or drilling into a wall to find out your cut a cable. You don’t want to go deeper into a wall than you really need to, by the way. Some rules to keep in mind: 8 inches to 2 feet horizontally between outlets and vertical locations above and below switches are no-go zones. Don’t drill or nail into those areas where electrical wiring is located!
• Cutting down a tree, even a small one? Call a professional. You’d be surprised how tricky and difficult it can be to cut down a tree and control where it lands. Get it wrong and it could be fatal at worst and very expensive at best.

 

 

We’re always happy to work with our clients on home maintenance inspections to help them keep their properties in top shape through the years. By the way, we have created a great info graphic on what you should know about your new home. If you live in Suffolk or Nassau counties, give us a call today so we can provide a free estimate on an inspection based on your needs!

What First Time Homeowners Need to Know was first published on Home Inspector Experts