Informative Home Inspections

Real Estate Inspections

Inspections provided by Informative Home Inspections, LLC

A home inspection is a visual, non-invasive evaluation of a home’s structure, including interior and exterior components and systems. The purpose of the inspection is to identify issues that need immediate repair, and those that will need repair in the near future. The inspector will also document health and safety issues. By the end of the inspection, the client will have a thorough understanding of the condition of their home, and the report will document defects and deficiencies found on the day of inspection.

A thorough home inspection can potentially save you thousands of dollars in surprise repair or replacement costs. Or, it may make you aware of an issue(issues) that are too concerning or costly for you to address. (See paragraphs 20 and 21 of NYS MLS Standard Form Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate). When making an investment of this magnitude, having an unbiased evaluation of the property condition will help you make decisions before getting to the closing. More importantly, the document can serve a guide to property maintenance and improvements for years to come. Documenting the homes condition can help avoid “Buyers Remorse,” highlight defects/deficiencies in the home to be used for repair negotiations with the seller(Sellers Concession), and help you prioritize your ‘To Do’ list as a new home owner. The cost of the home inspection is money well spent in order to protect your investment, your budget, your health, and your sanity.

• Pre-purchase Inspections. IHI has been providing home inspections since 2014. We pride ourselves on being truly INDEPENDENT and unbiased. As a home inspector, my goal is to protect your interest, period. Whether you decide to buy the home or not, you will have an unbiased evaluation of the home’s condition, any defects and deficiencies found the day of inspection, and a bit of a look into your new ‘to-do list’ as the buyer of this home.
  • It is our core belief that a home inspector should not market to, or solicit real estate brokers(or their agents), for referrals to clients and home buyers. To us, this is a clear conflict of interest. The referral process between agents/brokers and inspectors is currently accepted “industry standard.” This practice raises the question, “who is the home inspector’s client?”
  • When you make an offer to purchase a property, you will likely use the NYS Standard Form Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate. Prior to home shopping (or making an offer on a home), you may want to review this document with your attorney.
  • With regard to the home inspection process and the condition of the home, pay special attention to paragraphs 20 and 21. Click here to view a Standard Form Contract for Purchase and Sale of Real Estate Form.

• Pre-listing Inspections. Prior to listing your home, it is recommended that you review and thoroughly understand the pros and cons of completing the Property Conditions and Disclosure (commonly referred to as a PCD). These forms are typically provided to sellers by agents and brokers at the time of listing. We can consult with you about the condition of your home. However, you may also want to review this document with your attorney prior to signing or listing your home.
  • New York law requires you to disclose known home defects to the buyer. Under todays law, you, as a New York home seller, could be found liable to a buyer for having failed to disclose certain property conditions or defects in the course of the sale.
  • Alternatively, if you choose not to complete this form, it is typical that the seller will be obligated to provide $500 to the buyer at closing.
  • Click here for NY Property Conditions and Disclosure Template.

• Healthy Home Assessments and Testing. This is especially important if you are trying to narrow down the cause of lingering health issues.
  • “You cannot heal in the same environment that made you sick.” ~Tyler Henry Koelewyn
  • Personally, I would like to see health care professionals be more inquisitive about their patients indoor environments. We spend more time inside than any other generation, this can and does have an impact on our health.
  • Radon Testing
  • Water Testing
  • Mold Assessment

• Lead Assessments and Inspections: Especially important during pregnancy and before you bring any baby home.

• Mold Assessment- A thorough evaluation of the property with special attention to the area in question. Following the site visit, a written assessment (the mold remediation plan), is prepared by the Mold Assessor. It confirms the visual presence of mold, in most cases; the cause of the moisture intrusion. Its purpose is to serve as a guide for the cleanup project. It details for the Remediation Contractor & Remediation Workers what must be done, how it is to be done, and how you will be able to tell if all the mold has been removed. The specific requirements are listed in Section 945 of the Labor Law. A mold assessment completed by a NYS Mold Assessor MUST be completed prior to any work with the intent to remediate mold.

• New Homeowner and Biennial Assessments: To prioritize and budget for maintenance and repairs. Understanding the condition of your home and being engaged in a preventative maintenance plan is the best way to limit surprise system failures and protect your investment.

If you purchased a home after we have provided you with a home inspection, Informative Home Inspections(Informative Project Solutions) can not/will not also provide home repair, maintenance or improvement services for a period of at least two years following the date of inspection.

NYS Home Inspector Lic. # 16000068064
NYS Mold Assessor Lic. # 01337

Whether you are on the hunt for your next home or have already got your tool belt broken in – I highly recommend the book by inspector and author Dylan Chalk “The Confident House Hunter”  -the book will “teach homebuyers and real estate professionals how to look at and understand houses like a pro”.