by cfbi1 | Jul 3, 2014 | Home Inspection
It would be fair to say, those looking to buy a home do not have extra money to just “throw away”; buying a house is a massive investment that takes up most (if not all) of a person’s finances. Therefore, the average homebuyer should be working towards making the best investment decisions. They don’t want to buy a home that is rundown, with no prospects for a future sale.
Buying a rundown home can be avoided by requesting a home inspection. Buying a home is one of the biggest ventures a person can make. A home is a massive investment, and one should only purchase when they know exactly what they are getting into.
A homebuyer wants to get their monies worth; they will most certainly not want the hassle of having to get repairs fixed or having to put up with living in an unsafe house. These issues, if known about beforehand, could help in the decision not to buy the property.
Buyers looking to hire a home inspector should make sure the inspector is certified from the American Society of Home Inspectors. It is recommended buyers attend the home inspection in person. This is a great time to ask any questions and get the answers on the spot from a professional inspector.
A typical professional home inspection service can cost anything from $200 on up depending on size and age of the house. Once the inspection is complete, a full report with all details of house, digital photos, and more is presented to the buyer.
The inspector will be looking at the property for issues concerned with the roof, the heating, plumbing, crawl spaces, termite infestations, and many more aspects. Having an inspection report empowers the buyer with valuable information to make an informed decision. Having a detailed report gives the buyer an opportunity to walk away from the contract, give the seller an option to fix the repairs, or negotiate on the asking price.
A professional home inspector is trained and knows what to look for and their expertise can save a lot of money, time, and more importantly a lot of grief and hassle.
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by cfbi1 | Jul 2, 2014 | Home Inspection
You need to be aware that breathing in airborne mold spores and continual exposure to high levels of mold, can lead to the development of health problems. Even if you are not sensitive to mold spores, you can easily develop a number of allergens that can affect your breathing and cause other health concerns.
Your health is not the only thing that can be damaged, if left untreated, mold growth can also cause serious structural damage to your property, carpets, and furniture that have been in contact with it. The Centers for Disease Control advise that identifying the type of mold is unnecessary; it must be treated and removed. If left untreated, it will continue to affect the health of those living in the home.
The best way to determine the stage and the level of damage caused in your home or property due to mold is to have a mold inspection by a professional home inspection company.
It is common for people to be exposed to some form of mold each day, and in most cases, those exposed show no signs of reaction. It’s when large mold spores are present and large quantities are breathed in is when you need to be concerned. Mold can trigger asthma, in some rare cases, when the toxin levels are extremely high there have been recorded deaths.
If you are a homeowner looking to sell your property, or even if you aren’t looking to sell, it’s always good measure to check the mold presence in your home. Let a certified mold inspector evaluate and treat any issue. It’s essential for your health and your family’s well-being that any mold presence is not ignored.
If you are, in anyway worried about mold in your home, then contact a local professional home inspection company and request a mold inspection.
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by cfbi1 | Jul 1, 2014 | Home Inspection
For most people in Florida, finding their home has termites instantly fills them with fear. For a homeowner trying to eradicate termites and kill them off is very difficult to do. The only successful way to remove the the problem is have it treated by professionals. They use specialized equipment and treatments.
Termites often go unnoticed and are difficult to locate and find, hiring a professional home inspection company that includes a termite inspection as part of their services is the way to go. A professional inspector can help advise homeowners on the current damage, and the next steps to get rid of the pests and wipe them out of the home.
The subterranean termites found in Florida build their nests underground and create multiple tunnels to gain access to food sources. Unfortunately, food sources are sometimes the wood that is used in the foundation and joist holding up the house. Termites are veracious and can make easy progress through damp and dying wood.
As a homeowner it is wise to check crawl spaces and the foundation area for termite activity and presence. The key to limiting termite damage and their presence is catching it early and getting a specialist to strategize the best treatment plans.
Termites are very small and can enter your building through tiny cracks in the foundation walls and through small holes in the structure at ground level. Termites have the ability to infest any building and cause serious damage to the foundation and that can bring your house crumbling down.
If you are, in any way, concerned about the presence of termites in and around your property it would be highly recommended that you contact a local professional home inspection company. Ask about the different types of inspections they provide and if a termite inspection is included in the services.
by cfbi1 | Jun 30, 2014 | Home Inspection
You may have heard of a four point inspection service, but you may be unfamiliar about what is includes. A professional four point inspection is not the same as a full home inspection, hence the name “four point inspection”. The main areas associated with the home’s health include these four systems, HVAC, Roof, Plumbing, and Electrical.
In most states, home inspections are not legally required from the buyer, but insurance companies are now requiring a four point inspection (4-point inspection) is carried out on all homes built 30 years ago or more. Anyone who owns a home older than 30 years, or anyone wanting to buy an older home, are now required by the insurance companies to submit a 4-point inspection before the insurance company offers coverage on that property.
This is what a typical 4-point inspection includes an evaluation of the structure’s roof, electrical system, plumbing system, heating and ventilation and AC system. Insurance companies will not risk insuring a property with major issues in any of these primary areas covered in four point inspection, unless they are repaired and brought up to current standards.
Contacting a local home inspection company and requesting a four point inspection service is the first step in ensuring you have the full details needed to have any major repairs fixed on the property. Based on the report, fix any necessary repairs, to ensure your home qualifies for home insurance coverage.
If you are looking at buying insurance for your home, then make sure you inquire today about the benefits of a four point inspection. Also, sometimes the insurance company doesn’t need all four areas inspected; it may request only the electrical, if that is the case, let the inspector know right away because that changes the price quote.
A professional four point inspection is the only way to guarantee you get the insurance coverage you need to protect your older property in case of theft, fire, or weather damage.
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by cfbi1 | Jun 27, 2014 | Home Inspection
When you are looking to buy a home or property it is important to hire a home inspection company who can check the house for structural damage. Some damage is fairly obvious to see and is clearly visible, sagging roof lines, leaning walls are easy to spot. When structural defects, like the ones mentioned are found, it is always the best practice to get a professional qualified home inspector’s opinion and assessment on the damage.
The roof is always the easiest spot to identify structural damage and this can be done by viewing it at a distance. What you are looking for is sagging in the middle of the roof structure or at the two ends. A sagging roof points to possible foundation damage and also the movement of load bearing walls.
When checking walls for structure damage it’s easiest to place a level along the side of the wall to check if the wall is balanced and straight. Depending on what type of foundation your home was built on will determine what ways it will need to be checked.
In some cases, the building may have shifted, meaning that it’s not square with the foundation. A flooded basement could mean soaked wood; when wood soaks up water it expands pushing the walls out of sync. A qualified home inspector will have experience in checking the condition of your foundation.
When the structure for damage you are looking for cracks in the walls, look near windows and doors and around the corners of the building. Cracks are fairly easy to spot but depending on the level of damage they may not come cheap to repair.
A professional home inspection will have you covered in terms of checking your building or property for structural damage and other aspects of the structure. If you are looking at buying a home, then do not rely on your own expertise, rely on the expertise of a certified and licensed home inspection company today to take you through the process.
by cfbi1 | Jun 26, 2014 | Home Inspection
The dream of anyone buying a home is wishing that they had the luxury of snapping their fingers and all their belongings would magically move from the old house into the new one. In a perfect world, that’s how the entire buying and moving process would go, snag free and simple.
But, life is not that simple. Buying a home is far from simple it can be one of the most stressful and confusing situations you are likely to ever to face. Buying a home is a massive step and large investment, and when you are the buyer, you need to be sure of what you are buying into. Is the investment a sensible one?
A home inspection is a clear and proven way to get the information needed to decide whether the property you are looking at is suitable to buy, but more importantly, is it worth the asking price. Every buyer should take the time to educate themselves in what a home inspection includes and the added results it brings.
The primary purpose of a home inspection is that it protects the buyer. Most property purchases, nowadays, should only be closed after the buyer requests a home inspection be carried out. The report offers valuable and trusted information of the property’s major systems, letting you know if you’ll need to replace anything within the first few years of buying it.
It’s important for buyers and homeowners to understand that the buying and selling process can run a lot smoother if they look to hire a home inspection service. If you are looking at buying a home, or perhaps trying to sell a home, then look into the benefits of hiring a home inspector. A certified inspector can advise you on what needs fixed immediately, and whether or not the home is suitable to buy.
Search for the best home inspection company in your area, and ask what services they provide that help you through the buying process.
