by cfbi1 | Sep 25, 2013 | Home Inspection
Recent trends show that Orlando in Florida is quickly becoming a very popular city to relocate. Many people travel there for vacation from all parts of the world, as well as, to escape the colder climates from where they come from. It can be agreed than that property investment is at an all-time high and only looks to increase in Central Florida considering the previous trends.
When the bank foreclosures, and the economy was struggling the real estate market suffered severely, but the market has been picking up a little over the recent years, and now many high quality properties can be picked up at very generous pricing.
When one is looking to purchase a home, it is the biggest single investment that can be made; this means that the decision on what property they are looking to buy is the right one, and not the biggest, costly mistake they ever make. It is essential that any potential property be professionally checked for damage by its previous occupants, and checked for any signs of aging due to when it was built.
Today, there are many homes sold ‘AS-IS,’ in some cases the sellers are not willing to cover any repair costs. It is basically, what is seen is what one gets, and this includes the repairs to any damages or replacements that are need done. This is why it is highly important for any buyer to get an experienced home inspector to carry out a professional home inspection reporting on any potential repairs. In addition, get an accurate evaluation on any future replacement or repair costs.
In most cases, the buyer has the right to walk away if the repair costs are too high; however, this is subject to the sales contract in place though.
If the potential home has small defects left undetected, then these small issues can soon amount into major issues costing the new homeowner thousands of dollars in repairs. That is why more people need to know the benefits of having a home inspection on their property, ensuring that it really is a dream home worth relocating to, instead of a home of nightmares.
by cfbi1 | Sep 23, 2013 | Home Inspection
Home inspectors consider and assess many aspects of a home, in order to give a professional and accurate report on the home for sale. The report includes what needs fixed internally and externally in the structure. One of the more important factors, (although they are all important) is the foundation of the building.
Today is a great opportunity to clear things up and provide an explanation on foundation inspections.
It is essential, as well as, required by law that any building structure must have a solid and sound foundation, as listed in the official regulations. The reason for this is it must support the weight of whatever is built on top of it. If the foundation is not built correctly, then whatever structure built on top of it will likely fall to the ground, or start to crack, due to an unstable and unsafe foundation.
In all cases, it’s very important to have a professional, qualified home inspector evaluate the house or investment property. Yes, you might be “in the know” of construction and spotting repairs, but it’s smart to have a trained professional lend expertise on what he/she finds wrong in the house.
A home inspector review includes the following:
- Ensuring the floor is smooth and level. If they are not level, this could indicate and/or point to possible foundation issues under the flooring
- Walls will be checked for structural cracks.
- The surrounding area above doorways is checked for cracks and crevices.
- All windows, surrounding areas, electric wiring, HVAC system, and more (read a full list of inspection items, here)
It’s important to recognize that serious foundation issues are often caused due to the soil settlement. This does potentially have the capacity to pull apart your home and leave it all askew and unsafe.
If the Home inspector has determined the foundation unstable, then the next step is to contact a qualified, professional contractor to assess the damage and decide if the foundation can be fixed without knocking down the structure.
It’s the responsibility of the home inspection to point out structural and system faults in a home, so whether you’re buying, or selling, it is very important to seek out the services of a professional home inspection company.
by cfbi1 | Sep 20, 2013 | Home Inspection
The process of buying a home is a very significant and stressful process for those involved, for both the buyer and the seller. For both parties involved the best and most effective way to de-stress the whole situation is to be fully aware of the condition, in which the home being sold/bought is.
The National Association of Home Inspectors acknowledges how important it is to have certified home inspector carry out a survey on a property. When properly performed, it will give both parties the peace of mind necessary before making such a large investment.
The benefits of hiring a home inspector are that it could save buyers thousands of dollars down the line in repair costs of a home that is not in tip-top condition when purchased. Keep in mind the reason for a home inspection: a professional home inspection provides all the information needed regarding problems that could arise after the purchase.
The hired home inspector will be checking and looking for issues within the electrical system, roofing structure, plumbing, and the foundation of the home. Some key points to keep in mind when selecting to hire a home inspector:
- Check the credentials of any potential home inspector verify the state license
- Ask for proof of insurance.
- How do you know the inspector, was he referred and who referred him? References from past clients would be a good start.
- Be present at the actual inspection and ask all the questions that you need to ask, don’t hold back.
- A thorough home inspection will last a couple of hours.
- Is the inspector affiliated with a credible, professional organization, like the American Society of Home Inspectors.
A home inspection is for benefits both the seller and the buyer. When done professionally might mean the difference of happiness and enjoying the reality of a dream home or a reality of endless home improvement repairs.
by cfbi1 | Sep 18, 2013 | Home Inspection
A professional visual home/commercial inspection includes review of the full property site. The building’s exterior is closely evaluated, the roof will undergo a thorough inspection, with chimney, attic, and crawlspaces all checked. A full inspection of the current heating and plumbing system that is in place and their functioning within the property in question.
Professional companies will specialize and understand the importance of having access to crawlspaces in order for them to correctly evaluate the condition of the foundation and look at the structural issue within the crawl space. It’s also a great opportunity to find any plumbing or electrical issues located within the crawl space.
An experienced company will disclose if there is to be any additional construction to the building under inspection and verify if it has been built under the correct construction and safety codes that apply. All built-in appliances within the home will be tested to ensure they are not malfunctioning and working correctly, as well as, energy and safety tests performed, the results and advice from those tests will be clearly explained.
If the home you are looking to buy, or perhaps sell was built prior to 1960, then our extensive report will answer the very important seven seismic disclosure questions, these are questions that the seller must provide the answers to for the potential buyer.
It’s important to know that a home inspection does not grade a home on worn down carpets or torn wall paper. Essentially, the inspector is looking for serious structural issues that if left in its current condition would be a hazard to the occupant’s life, and current on all health and safety codes in place. All areas will be checked for neglected maintenance and accurate repair cost will be reported. It is smart to have a home or commercial building properly evaluated before buying or selling.
by cfbi1 | Sep 17, 2013 | Home Inspection
It far too easy to be seduced by the look and appearance when buying your new home, it can have a great look and feel about the place, meaning you can forget about the shabby brick work or the unnatural gurgling coming from the boiler system, in the excitement of purchasing.
Recent research, which has been carried out by the RICS, has revealed some shocking truths many homebuyers don’t know about. A large number of first time homebuyers are unknowingly setting themselves up for thousands of dollars in repair bills. These bills and repairs on their new home might have been avoided, brought to light, if an experienced home inspector viewed pre-purchase.
The buyers due to a general lack of understanding regarding the actual home buying process miss these issues. Many buyers are putting themselves and family at risk because they are not or don’t understand the importance of getting independent expert advice from a qualified home inspection company.
Only a qualified and experienced surveyor can give you an accurate evaluation of the current state of the home and an accurate evaluation of how it will be 5-10 years down the line.
Make sure your new home is not a ticking time bomb
It would be fair to say that young first time buyers would be more at risk when looking to step onto the property ladder; it is a massive investment for anyone involved. It is wise to ensure that you are not putting out all your life savings on a property that could cost you even more in repairs that will leave you close to bankruptcy.
Understanding that serious defects and problems are hard to find and need an experienced trained eye to unearth them is what should push the homebuyer towards getting an evaluation of the property they are looking to purchase. You don’t want to be stuck in a home you can’t live in and a home that is unsellable.
by cfbi1 | Sep 16, 2013 | Home Inspection
In the majority of home buying cases, if there is a lender involved they will require a home inspection. This is part of the process of closing on a new home. The advantage of home inspections is if something comes up at the inspection, the seller will be required to fix it before the sale is completed. (Check the agreement for the inspection clause). As the buyer, you have the right to decide on the home inspection company.
Try to arrive early at the property to be inspected. This allows time for the inspector to get his equipment set up, take a preliminary survey of the interior, and get a picture of the front of the property. The picture will provide reference points of the roof, and exterior, which are essential in the evaluation process.
From the outside of the home, the water meter is checked to determine any leaks from the system or underground. All fences surrounding the property would also be checked, pools, spas, barbecues, ponds, irrigation systems, sheds, patios, plumbing system, outside ac system unit, to name a few.
The structure of the home is reviewed as well, the foundation, walls, windows, doors, the gas meter the main electrical panel, all are assessed.
The inspector will need access to the roof to get an accurate account of its current condition, and determine the need for repairs. Same goes for the attic and crawl spaces all will be included in the evaluation to give a detailed and accurate report of the home’s condition.
In order to give a correct evaluation, we address every component and system that found on the property (not including specialty services: Mold, Radon Testing, Termite, and Thermal Imaging). All key elements, repairs are digitally photographed to complete the report.
