by cfbi1 | Apr 16, 2014 | Home Inspection
Florida is renowned for its hot, sunny, and humid weather. It makes Florida a vacation hot spot with guests from all over the world traveling to it each year. The thing about tourists is that they only visit for short periods of time in the warmer seasons; they get the best weather (sometimes) and often choose not to visit during the wet seasons.
For those who live in Florida year around, they know all about the ups and downs of the weather.
Florida residents understand the importance of preparing for hurricane season. If you are a Florida homeowner, you need to be asking about wind mitigation service offered by professional home inspection companies.
Part of the responsibility of homeownership in Florida is to ensure your home is hurricane proofed and there are correct fitted shutters for all openings. If you follow the weather, and are advised that a named hurricane is coming your way, then it’s best to be prepared beforehand.
Be ready and have everything in order weeks before hurricane season starts (June 1st-Nov 30th).
Avoid last-minute preparations to your home and make sure the roof panels are strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds. Consider a professional inspection to help determine the areas that need replacing or repaired, and done in time.
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The inspector will come out to your home and assess how it would hold up in the chance of a hurricane making landfall. If it passes inspection, you can give it to your insurance company and they offer a discount on the annual premium.
If you are in need of any help or information on the condition of your storm panels, then contact us. Our trained inspectors can help. They will inspect the current panels installed on your home, and give any recommendations needed in order to improve the efficiency of your home’s protection.
Know that your home can withstand the battering of a hurricane, and keep you safe at the same time. Learn more about wind mitigation services on our Services page.
by cfbi1 | Apr 15, 2014 | Home Inspection
You and your family’s health and safety should be priority when it comes to choosing a home to live in. Many obvious factors can be checked in order to gain information on the place you want to hang the sign, “Home Sweet Home”.
Many people check local crime rates, they check the levels of education provided by schools, they look at the level of medical care and medical facilities close by.
We’ve mentioned several times throughout previous blogs on how to get information on the above factors, but have you thought about checking the level of Radon?
Radon gas is odorless, colorless, and can be silently poisoning you and your family.
Let’s take a quick look at the facts about Radon Gas:
- Radon is colorless and odorless, making it impossible to detect, unless you have the right testing equipment.
- Radon is found in Florida, and across many States.
- Radon is the second cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Smoking is the #1 cause of lung cancer.
- Radon is found in 1-in-5 homes in Florida each showing unsafe levels.
- Radon is created by Uranium break down in the soil surrounding homes.
It’s evident that Radon is a serious health concern and can have grave consequences. Please know and understand that radon is unsafe high levels can be prevented.
Get in touch with a professional, local home inspection company. Test the soil surrounding your home and the air quality in your home in order to know if it’s it at a safe level and radon-free.
If you have any concerns regarding Radon, and worry that it is affecting your home, then contact Central Florida Building Inspectors, Inc. we offer radon testing, and can put your worry to rest.
by cfbi1 | Apr 14, 2014 | Home Inspection
Anybody that has been through the homebuying process will tell you it can be an extremely stressful and a testing time. There are a number of important factors that need considered when buying a home, such as location,
pricing, and the current condition of the structure. Another factor is the life expectancy of major systems in the home.
You need to be certain what you finally choose is the best investment that you can take. The best way to determine that is with a pre-purchase inspection report.
A professional home inspection should be an unbiased, detailed report of the home’s true condition. As a homebuyer, you need reassurance and a trained inspector’s advice can help bring that assurance you need.
Home evaluations can take anything up to 3 hours, and in some cases longer, it depends on the age, location, and size of the property. It is highly recommended that when the walkthrough takes place you attend it with the inspector.
Advantages of attending the walkthrough…
- 1. You will be able to see the true condition of the property first-hand.
- 2. You will be able to ask any questions that come to mind. (Remember to ask as many questions as you can because it’s the inspectors job to explain the answer.)
It is important to understand that a home inspector’s job is not just to point out and highlight the negative factors of any property that is inspected. It is also the home inspector’s job to promote and highlight the positive attributes.
A home inspection is a very valuable service, but it is sometimes ignored and overlooked. Many people see is as an added cost and too much of an extra strain on an already tight budget. The truth is, by avoiding or ignoring a home inspection service you are stepping out in blind faith. When it comes to providing a roof over your head, and providing your family with a safe home, you can’t afford not to hire a home inspector!
by cfbi1 | Apr 11, 2014 | Home Inspection
You’ve decided it is time to sell the house. A number of reasons exist that could have made you come to this conclusion. It might be your family is growing out of this house. When you first purchased it, you only had one child that was fine in a two-bedroom home, now it’s not. Or, another could be you prefer a better area or just want an ‘upgrade’.
Whatever reason you may have to sell your home, some serious items need considered before placing the sign out in the front yard. Things like, how the landscaping appears. What does the entry way look like? Are there visible cracks or water stains on the ceiling?
You don’t want to steer a prospective buyer away from your home if certain things are not fixed before trying to sell.
Although it is not required, a pre-listing inspection by a certified inspector, helps you know precisely what needs fixed for the home to sell quickly. On the other hand, the report could also help you determine if it’s better to sell in an AS-IS condition.
If you sell it in its current condition due to the inspection report listing major fixes are required, it means the sale price needs lowering. This is not ideal if you are trying to sell it for extra money to assist purchasing the next home.
Based on the report received from the inspection company, get an estimate of the costs to repair.
If the costs to repair major items is upwards of $10,000 but the fixes increase the value of the property by $15,000 investing in the repairs might be the better choice. If the value does not exceed the cost of repairs, you might be better off selling with an AS-IS contract. This is an essential decision to make about your future, hire an inspector.
Photo Credit: wikimedia.org
by cfbi1 | Apr 7, 2014 | Home Inspection
If you are a first time homebuyer, everything can quickly become overwhelming and sometimes the emotions can takeover leaving your judgments from being the best they can be.
So, it’s important to not let your stress dictate every decision needed in the process. More often than not, if you are properly prepared for the steps of buying a home, you’ll feel better about it and make better choices.
Just as you would prepare for a job interview, also prep and find questions to ask during the inspection service. Don’t forget to write them done and bring them with you. It’s easy to get distracted and forget what you wanted to ask in the first place.
Assuming you’ve done the necessary research finding the right inspection company to check your home, here a few important things to ask about during the evaluation.
What is the Life Expectancy of each Major System?
This is a biggie, usually a qualified and experienced inspector can give you a ballpark estimate of when a major system might quit on you. Typically, the answer is not going to be exact; at least you have an idea as to what you need to save for when it comes to replacing one of those systems should you purchase the home.
Is this the appropriate amount of Insulation?
In order to keep your utility bill low after buying the home, it’s essential to have right amount of insulation. In the attic, insulation seals in the heat and vice versa during the cold months. Ask the inspector about insulation inside the walls.
Will you be checking the Septic Lines and Sump Pump?
It’s also imperative that you ask the seller when the last time the septic received maintenance. The absolute last thing you want after buying the house is to deal with overflow. Ask the inspector when it’s necessary to have the septic inspected again once you’ve purchased the home.
It’s encouraged to attend and participate the home’s evaluation, in the end, you’ll be the one dealing with repairs. Find out the most important things about the house before finalizing the contract.
Please contact us with any of your questions or concerned, we’d be happy to help.
by cfbi1 | Apr 4, 2014 | Home Inspection
For those who do not know what a building inspection involves, it is a visual evaluation of the current condition of both residential and commercial properties. For any property owners, investors, or prospective homebuyers a quality evaluation is a vital service.
A professional home inspection gives accurate and detailed information regarding the property that has been inspected. A finished report can prove invaluable and helps to make the best choice when deciding about the biggest financial decision that one can make.
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The quicker that one gets a residential or commercial property inspection the better, as in any contract negotiation process, time is of the essence!
1. Primarily, the buyer/investor will want to know what sort of condition the property they want to purchase is in. The buyer/investor will need estimated costs and figures of any repairs that are major fixed on the property before finalizing the sale contract.
2. The seller of the property also needs an expert opinion from a professional home inspector. Sellers must be confident the property they listed is in a suitable condition and ready for a quick sale. They need to assess any repairs worth fixing to make their home more desirable to buyers.
A home inspection is not solely intended to highlight just the defects and concerns of the home that is being inspected. A professional inspector also highlights the property’s positive attributes, which helps relieve the buyer or seller of any stress or anxieties that they may have about the transaction.
When a home inspection is requested, the home’s major systems are scrutinized, including the internal and external structure. The plumbing, heating/air conditioning, electrics, and roof should all be inspected to show each meets the high standards required by the American Society of Home Inspectors.
If you would like to know every element that it looked over at the time of an inspection, feel free to view Central Florida Builder’s Inspection List.
