Inspection Services
There are many times when an inspection can give you an advantage.If you're buying a home, getting a home inspection means you know about any problems and their solutions before you move in.
If you're selling a home, getting a home inspection means you know you're complying with full disclosure laws, and means you can consider selecting contractors rather than waiting for the buyer to do so. If you've just done extensive remodeling, a home inspection can help you make certain the contractors did the job correctly.
New Home Inspection
Because the quality of new construction quality is often not what it used to be some years ago, many buyers have independent reviews of their properties during various stages of the construction process, including slab, frame, and final inspection. This relatively inexpensive inspection protects your purchase, prevents unpleasant surprises, and ensures the quality home that you’ve dreamed about.
Pre-Sale Inspection
Whether you are selling your home on your own or using a realtor, it’s always a prudent idea to have a professional home inspection. Knowledge is power. All homes have strengths and weaknesses: I will help you answer how serious the problems are and which must be immediately addressed and which can wait. The more you know about your home, the more prepared you will be for negotiation.
1-Year Warranty Inspection
Most builders provide a one year warranty for new construction. Generally during this period of time the buyer develops a "punch list" of corrections for the contractor to repair under the warranty coverage. Some defects will not be obvious to the untrained eye. It is prudent to obtain a home inspectors list of items that will most likely be repaired by your builder at no cost to you. You will be reassured knowing that potential problems were addressed before they grew into something that could cost you a great deal down the road.
Previously-Built Inspection
The best way to ensure that you are well informed about the strengths and weaknesses of a property is to have a professional home inspection. Home inspectors are trained to identify problem areas both small and large that may have been overlooked by the previous owners and to identify which require immediate attention. Let your inspector spot the problems (new and old), before you commit to a major investment and decision. A trained professional has seen it all and will provide invaluable help in turning you into a knowledgeable consumer. Home owners can identify problems in the making and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. Sellers can understand conditions the buyer’s inspector may point out and put the property in better selling condition by making repairs
Foundation Certification for Manufactured Homes
Need manufactured home foundation certificate, also known as a HUD Manufactured Home Foundation Certification, is a document that verifies that a manufactured home's foundation complies with the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or other relevant authorities.
Manufactured homes, also called mobile homes or trailers, are built off-site and then transported to their final location. The foundation certification is necessary to ensure that the home is securely anchored to the ground and meets safety and structural requirements.
This certification is often required for various purposes, including financing, insurance, and resale of the manufactured home.
-Lenders typically require this certification to ensure that the home meets certain standards before providing financing.
-Similarly, insurance companies may require it to ensure that the home is properly anchored and less prone to damage in case of natural disasters.
The certification process involves an inspection of the home's foundation by a licensed professional engineer or inspector. If the foundation meets the required standards, a certificate is issued stating that the foundation is compliant. If the foundation does not meet the standards, necessary repairs or modifications may be required before certification can be issued. Overall, the manufactured home foundation certificate provides assurance to stakeholders that the home is structurally sound and meets regulatory requirements.
203(k) Consultant
Tri-State Home Inspections is a certified 203(k) consultant and can help you with your FHA insured mortgage.The 203K mortgage is an FHA insured mortgage that allows repair costs included into the mortgage itself. That means buying a house that may need a little work to make it perfect for you by getting just one loan to pay for repairs and pay for the house too. For more information on a 203(k) mortgage click here
Environmental Hazards
My job as your professional home inspector is to alert you to the possibility of unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Just because some of these hazards are invisible doesn’t mean they call for less vigilance on your part. Mine is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property. While I may be able to alert you to possible problems, my basic inspections are no substitutes for specialized contaminant testing.
MOLD
Mold (fungi) is present everywhere, indoors and outdoors. There are more than 100,000 species of mold, at least 1,000 of which are common in America. Species of Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus are some of the most commonly found species. Mold most likely grows in bathrooms, basements, and anywhere else where there is dampness or water. Many types of mold routinely encountered aren’t hazardous to healthy individuals. Too much exposure to mold may cause a worsening of such conditions as asthma, hay fever, or other allergies. Fevers and breathing problems in a vulnerable individual are possible but unusual. When moldy material becomes damaged or disturbed, spores, which are reproductive bodies similar to seeds, can be released into the air. Exposure can occur if people inhale the spores, directly handle moldy material, or accidentally ingest the spores. Since all molds need water to grow, mold can grow almost anywhere where there is high humidity, dampness, or water damage. Most often molds are confined to areas near the water source. Removing the source of moisture through repairs or dehumidification is crucial in preventing mold growth. Correcting underlying water damage and cleaning the affected area is the best way to treat mold. If mold contamination is extensive, a professional abatement company may be needed. Excerpts from The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Environmental & Occupational Disease Epidemiology, “Facts About Mold”.
RADON
Radon is a radioactive gaseous element produced in the disintegration of radium, a radioactive metallic element. It cannot be detected by the senses and can be confirmed only by sophisticated instruments and laboratory tests. The gas enters a house through pores and cracks in the concrete or through floorboards of poorly ventilated crawlspaces, especially when wet ground allows the gas to escape easily through the soil and disperse in the atmosphere. Radon is a lung carcinogen: the National Academy of Sciences estimates radon causes some 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths annually. The U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend all houses be tested for radon. Houses with high radon levels can be fixed.
Excerpts from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Indoor Radon”.
Energy Audits
America’s existing housing needs help. Many of the 128 million homes in this country were constructed before modern energy and building codes were established. These homes often suffer from performance problems ranging from inflated energy consumption to poor thermal comfort to indoor air quality issue
ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION (EMR / EMF) TESTING
Reduce Magnetic Fields.
Electric Fields, Radio Frequency Electromagnetic frequencies (EMF) and wireless radiation (Radiofrequencies or “RF”) have now become the largest, fastest growing and most hazardous set of building toxins. While it is impossible to completely avoid EMFs in society, we can find the sources and reduce exposure in critical spaces.