Category Archives: Home Inspections

Jul 07

Free Termite Inspections are Usually not Guaranteed!

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Often, home inspectors will offer “a free termite inspection” included with their home inspection price. Almost always, home buyers aren’t aware that such termite inspections come with no guarantee whatsoever! When a licensed pest inspector prepares an inspection report, the inspection is also usually not guaranteed, so that if termites are discovered after the home is purchased, the purchaser is not protected against paying for related repairs. They usually will, however, guaranty most houses if they are treating them with pesticides. Unless, for example, there is no moisture termite barrier on the foundation top under the sill plate.  Newsday published an article on this subject and outlined how real estate lawyers in many states will recommend an independent termite inspector:

“The engineer found no termites, but when he wouldn’t give a guarantee, I suggested [the buyers] bring in a licensed pest controller,” Minella said. With a written guarantee, buyers would be protected against paying for repairs in case termites were found after they moved in.”

In some of my home inspection cases, separate licensed termite inspectors found infestation problems and these reports were used as negotiation tools because the buyers wanted the houses regardless. The slightly higher cost for a separate termite inspection may be worth it for a number of reasons. Pest applicators that offer WDO (wood destroying organism) termite reports are usually competitively priced because the inspectors anticipate that some of these inspections will lead to work down the road. As a matter of fact, this gives them an incentive to make an extremely thorough inspection in order to find infestation. In one case, a termite inspector found a clean house but found infestation under a log right next to the house. In this situation, treatment was recommended in the report.

I became certified through InterNACHI to inspect for termites and other WDO (wood destroying organisms) that I offer for free along with a home inspection, using a separate WDO inspection form.

(Revised 12-07-16)

Termite photo by Scott Bauer

Tags: Long Island termite inspections, Home inspectors offer termite inspections, Hamptons NY termite inspectors

Jun 08

Twin Fork NY Home Inspections

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Recently, I had the privilege of performing various inspections on both the North Fork and South Fork of Long Island that were filled with surprises. On the plus side, an antique clam rake was found in the crawl space of one house and a spare toilet hookup was found pre-existig in the garage of another. Two serious drawbacks included the discovery of termites and evidence of asbestos-like material on heating pipes.

I won’t state which houses had which, but the home buyers are thankful to have known about these issues before deciding on a final purchase offer. Both buyers intended to go ahead with the purchase of their homes.

When I asked one purchaser why he called SHI he said that he had called someone else recommended by a real estate agent, but the other company did not answer the phone in a timely manner. At SHI we aim to respond quickly and inspect carefully.

Recent SHI home inspections on the North Fork and South Fork:

619 Maple St, Greenport, NY

20 Phoebe Scoy Rd, East Hampton, NY

650 Old Shipyard Ln, Southold, NY

292 Little Noyac Pth, Southampton, NY

165 Springville Rd, Hampton Bays, NY

If you want to close a deal fast and need a reliable inspector for either your North Fork or South Fork home purchase, give SHI a call at 631 377 2046.

Tags: North Fork NY home inspector, North Fork NY home inspections, best North Fork inspector, fast North Fork inspector, South Fork home inspector, South fork home inspections Twin Fork NY inspector

Feb 15

Recession Buster – $425 Guaranteed Maximum Fee for a 4BR Home Inspection in Suffolk NY!

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guaranteeSHI has lowered the fee for a home inspection of up to four bedrooms including a basement. It used to be $500 and now it is $425 with no extra travel fees or hidden costs for any location in Suffolk County NY! Because of inflation, this price will not be indefinite. So call at the time of your inspection to verify the current price. Give us a call at 631 377 2046.

Tags: best price home inspections Long Island, best price home inspections in Suffolk NY

Nov 27

Increased Home Inspections After Hurricane Sandy

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Grace-presbyterianThere have been some aftershocks of Hurricane Sandy in the real estate market that have been noted in the aftermath of the storm. For example, homes that had already been inspected have been reinspected – just in case there were any fresh damages caused by the storm. A press release from the Business Journals site describes the situations:

“Many home sales as well as contracts that are in progress will be put on hold until homes can be inspected or re-inspected for damages caused by the hurricane. If you’re selling your home, don’t be surprised if a buyer interested in your property wants a second inspection of your home. And if your home is under contract, be aware that properties in areas impacted by the hurricane may require another appraisal by the mortgage lender. Estimates at property damage range from $60 billion to as much as $90 billion to date on homes in seven states.”

The site lists a number of other factors as well: Fewer homes are listed, sales contracts are being put on hold, fewer people are looking to buy homes near the damaged areas, lower home prices, and, as a plus, there are lower interest rates. The article offers a summary of the situation:

“Hurricane Sandy has inflicted much damage to homes and businesses along the East Coast. It would be difficult to overstate the devastation of this storm,” Habib says. “To some, the storm could bear some bad news extending well beyond property damage. For potential home buyers, lower home prices and continued low interest rates may offer a small silver lining to an otherwise distressing situation. Ultimately, buyers who were on the fence may find that the cost of purchasing a home has become even more attractive,” Habib says. “That means good news for both home buyers and home sellers.”

Hurricane Sandy changed the landscape in more ways than one. I pray that the victims of the tragedy find a sense of peace and the help they need in this time of great need. About 50 members of Grace Presbyterian Church, who were able to go on a Saturday, went on a bus to Breezy Point, NY in order to help victims with the clean up of their homes. That’s the context of the photo of damages included in this post.

Tags: increased home inspections after Sandy, two inspections common after Sandy

Oct 28

What is Greatest Source of Home Energy Loss?

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As the winter season approaches and energy costs increase, people may be wondering, “What is the greatest source of heat-energy loss in a typical home?” and “How can I save on heating bills?” The answer is quite simple, “Air infiltration is the greatest source of heat-energy loss and a few simple solutions can help dramatically.” As a licensed home inspectors, we have been trained to detect problem situations that may be noted on a report and remedied by home sellers and potential home buyers.

The greatest source of air infiltration in a typical home is the hatch that leads up to the attic. In cold climates, this

hatch can be a problem because attics are typically insulated on the floor and the hatch door is usually just a thin piece of uninsulated plywood. This is not good. There are at least three remedies for this situation.

 

Firstly, an insulated hatch cover that rests upon the hatch area above would be a first line of defense against the cold. Weather stripping at the connection between the hatch door and the surrounding floor is also important. Attached is a photo of a simple loose-fitting insulated hatch door cover that simply rests on top of the hatch area, as noted in photo from Sustainable Life Solutions.

Secondly, an insulated cover can be placed underneath the existing stair hatch to offer another line of defense. This product in the photo is also provided by the same company. This additional hatch cover has a finished look and is ready to install.

hatch-cover-150x150Thirdly, weather stripping may be applied at all locations where edges of closing pieces meet together, including the original plywood door connection, the insulated hatch cover above and on the edges of the lower hatch cover.

These simple solutions can help to save money on energy bills in winter. Other sources of thermal drafts include fireplaces, AC wall units and outlets that are poorly insulated. SHI can visit your home and give you a high-tech energy inspection using the latest infrared technology to determine the sources of heat loss in your home.

Tags: greatest source of energy loss in home, Infrared home energy inspections, how to save on heating bills, home energy conservation,