Thursday, March 31, 2016

Home Inspections

Home Inspection:

This is a must for new and old homes alike. An inspection will determine the condition of the plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical systems. The structure should also be examined to assure it is sound and to determine the condition of the roof, siding, windows and doors as well as the safety features of the home. The lot should be graded away from the house so that water does not drain toward the house and into the basement. Most buyers prefer to pay for these inspections so that the inspector is working for them, not the seller. Don’t let minor deferred maintenance issues or non major discrepancies ruin the deal for your dream home.
 
Keep in mind that no house is perfect and anything & everything can be fixed. The question is – at what cost? You & your Real Estate Agent should discuss discrepancies found and decide if you want or need further negotiations. Your Real Estate Agent is obligated to look out for your best interests.
 
What is a Wind Mitigation:
 
As a homeowner with windstorm insurance, state law entitles you to certain premium reductions, but without an inspection, you can’t get them! If you haven’t had a windstorm insurance inspection at your current home, you are PROBABLY PAYING TOO MUCH FOR YOUR WINDSTORM INSURANCE!

During a wind mitigation inspection, a certified inspector reports on the key features that may decrease the amount of damage your home suffers during a hurricane or strong windstorm. These features fall into several categories, such as exterior construction type, roof shape and construction methods, age of roof covering, door and window opening protection as well as the actual year the home was built. Another factor may be the elevation of a property and how it relates to wind speed.

What Is a Four Point Home Inspection?

A four point home inspection generally includes but is not limited to a skilled inspection of the roof, the electrical system, plumbing system and the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system. The different systems on your home have a varying but somewhat predictable life span. Most of the information gathered for a four point inspection pertains to just that. However, the information is not limited to the life expectancy of the systems. Also, considered are issues such as type of wiring used in the home and even the manufacturers of the equipment. Also look for signs of equipment or system failures. The report will help the homeowner know what areas need to be rectified in order to gain the coverage they need.

What Is a Roof Certification?

A Roof Certification Inspection is usually done at the request of the insurance carrier. They will typically request it due to the information they have on file is indicating that the roof covering is approaching the end of it’s expected life. The inspection is used to document the most recent dated of complete replacement. Therefore, it is extremely important for the homeowner to have a copy of the permit and/or contract of the most recent work completed.

The inspection can take up to 1 hour to complete and is comprised of the report with permit documents and photos of your roof.  If no documents of a recent re-roof are available, the inspector will estimate the useful life remaining.