Attend The Inspection
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"It is always a good idea to attend the home inspection. The 2 to 4 hour of the inspection will give you time to talk to your home inspector about the issues they might be finding during the inspection. The inspector can also give you maintenance and improvement tips to help you keep your home healthy. All this knowledge can come in handy."
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CBI is a 34 Year Founding Member of both:
The American Society of Home Inspectors
and
The Florida Association of Building Inspectors
Also members of:
International Code Council
National Association
of Home Inspectors
Orlando Regional Realtor Association
And accredited with:
The Better Business Bureau
Since 1986 |
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CEPA, a sister company of Certified Building Inspectors, provides Mold, Radon and Lead testing for both Residential and Commercial properties.
Commercially we also provide Environmental Phase One Assessments and Transaction Screenings.
Through our services, clients stay informed of environmental issues which may currently pose potential health risks or could later create financial distress for a future buyer or lender.
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How Long Does The Home Inspection Take?
| "The on-site inspection averages to 2 to 4 hours, but can vary based on the size, age and general condition of the home being inspected. Smaller properties will take less time, while large and complex properties will take longer."
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Out There!
Another problem solved with science!
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Should Home Buyers Or Sellers Pay For Code Violations?
City-code enforcers have inspected the small office in the garage and the new owners say it was there when they purchased the home. But the previous owner never obtained a building permit to construct the office.
So who is responsible?
According to the city, the onus is on the current homeowner to file the paperwork. Once a complaint is made, the city inspects the work in question. If the work was constructed properly, the current homeowner can apply for a retroactive permit to protect herself and subsequent owners. If there are violations, the homeowner can bring the work up to code or demolish it.
Given the proliferation of remodeling projects and lenders who are examining properties more closely, counties are seeing an uptick in code complaints.
The homeowners said a home inspection was done on the property before they bought it in 2006 and have done nothing to the home since. However home inspectors only note potential problems not code infractions.
Sellers are required to disclose work that needed a building permit. Those who don't are either misleading the buyer or were not aware a permit was required.
Prospective buyers are encouraged to research the property at their local municipalities Assessor's Office to make sure records match what's at the property. If they don't, they should ask the seller to furnish building permits.
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Questions About Manufactured Homes?
The Manufactured Housing Program is a national HUD program established to protect the health and safety of the owners of manufactured (mobile) homes through the enforcement of the federal manufactured home construction and safety standards and administration of dispute resolution. Consumers can find just about everything they want to know about a manufactured house on the program's website, and as Inspectors of these types of homes we recommend the site as a resource to clients who are buying or selling one. The FAQ answers basic questions such as what to do if the HUD Label, a metal plate affixed to the outside of the manufactured home, and/or Data Plate are missing. Both are necessary to complete a sale. More complex technical issues are also covered, including foundation requirements in the section covering appraisal and property requirements. All this and more can be found on www.HUD.gov. |
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More $$ To Look For Chinese Drywall?
 Does Certified Charge Additional To Look For Chinese Drywall When Performing A Pre-Purchase Home Inspection?
NO!
Our inspectors are already looking at the major components which would give us an indication to the presence of Chinese "Toxic" Drywall. To charge an additional fee would not be honest. Certified Building Inspectors (CBI) does a visual documentation method which is widely used and the most commonly accepted method of determining the risk of having Chinese drywall present. This method consists of visibly inspecting the exposed metal components, electrical connections, A/C coils, plumbing lines and backside of visible areas of the drywall (as seen from attic or available openings). Discoloration and pitting corrosion are the markers identified. We do this as part of a general home inspection or on its own. Keep in mind that this method is subjective, as different levels of exposure will cause different levels of discoloration and corrosion. The margin of error will increase in homes with low vapor levels or if there are fewer boards (out of the many) of Chinese drywall in the home. There are other forms of testing however, none as yet have been sanctioned through the EPA. These other methods are not usually feasible to sellers or financially viable to a buyer. The two most commonly used approaches are air sampling and material testing. Both are quite costly ($1200-$1800 per sample) they require a certified specialist to administer and a certified laboratory to analyze. For more information see the news stories (done with Channel 9) linked on the left side of our website. YourCBI.com |
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