New York Home Inspections

A home inspection is a visual examination of accessible areas of a home and property. Often mortgage companies insist on a home inspection report before agreeing to a mortgage. A pre-sale inspection brings to your attention problems you may not be aware and a preview into the information the buyer’s inspector will provide.  In short, you will be better prepared to realistically negotiate the selling price of your home before exploring the sale market. It also settles questions about the condition of your home for all parties involved in the sale/purchase process.  If effect, the price negotiation process is shortened because both parties have a professional opinion provided by an inspector of their choice.   

Depending on the size of the property, the inspection process usually takes up to three hours, during which time the home is examined from the ground up. It includes observation and, when appropriate, operation of the plumbing, heating, air conditioning, and electrical systems, as well as structural components, such as the roof, foundation, basement, exterior and interior walls, chimney, doors and windows.

Home sellers may choose not to correct every defect found in the inspection report.  Instead, they acknowledge the defects to the buyer and explain that the asking price has been adjusted to reflect the estimated cost of repairs.

A home inspection can serve as a multi-purpose tool.  An inspection helps the seller comply with full-disclosure real estate laws.  With an inspection report in hand, you are less likely to overlook a defect or material fact for which you could later be held liable. You are now prepared to stage your home and focus on negotiations.

Do not confuse Home Inspections with Appraisals.  Home Inspections are used by buyers and sellers to understand the condition of the home in question.  Appraisals are used by mortgage companies to ensure the mortgage loan amount is not more than the value of the property.

The content of this article is provided for general information only and not meant to provide legal advice. An attorney should be contacted for specific legal needs.

According to the National Fire Protection Association fire strikes a home in the United States every one to two seconds.   Fires serious enough to receive a fire department response occur approximately every minute.  Of the nearly 45,000 lives lost to fire, nearly 80% are home fires.  Children under the age of twenty reflect nearly one third of lives lost in home fires.  In order to combat these statistics, it is important that children receive training and education specific to fire safety.

Now that you have settled into your new home, you probably will be contacted by your homeowner’s insurance company.  Their representative will ask to schedule an appointment in order to conduct an insurance inspection of your new home.  If you have not received an advance letter informing you of this requirement, make sure you contact your insurance representative to verify you have been selected to have your home inspected. 

When you receive an insurance quote, software is used by your insurance representative to estimate the home's replacement value based on the information you provide. 
Although the estimating software used is efficient, the best way to verify the cost to rebuild your home is to conduct an onsite insurance inspection.  You will need to be home for the inspection and should expect the inspector will ask to see each room along with the basement and utilities which include heating/cooling equipment, circuit breaker panel, plumbing and water heater.  In addition, the interior and exterior of your home will be photographed.  

While this may sound like an intimidating process, we are happy to help.  As our client you can benefit from our experience conducting insurance inspections on behalf of leading insurance carriers.  We know what is expected and can help you prepare for the insurance inspector.  When you make your appointment with us for your pre-purchase inspection, let us know you are interested in insurance inspection preparation.  There is no additional cost for our clients.