Buy Your Side Inspections Blog

Appraisal vs. Inspection

Appraisal vs. Home Inspection. Although they appear to be the same – they serve specific purposes. The appraiser is concerned with the VALUE of the property based on a set of criteria such as the local real estate market, home’s age and features. The home inspector is more concerned with the CONDITION and FUNCTION of critical systems of the property based on standards and codes and can make recommendations for repairs.

Here are a few things the Appraiser does:

• Measures the exterior of the home taking photos of the outside including any improvements that add value such as landscaping, driveways, pools, workshops, etc.
• Notes property topography, drainage, boundaries, adjacent land uses, and potential hazardous conditions
• Lists the material and quality of construction for the home and any detaching buildings.
• Notes any damage observed such as settlement, rotting wood, broken windows, curled roof shingles, and possible termite damage
• Takes pictures of the interior of the home noting room placement, quality of construction and improvements and updating such as appliances, home entertainment, security systems, etc.

Here are some of the main components inspected by the Home Inspector:

• Walls, floors, columns, ceilings, roof structure
• Exterior walls, doors, windows, garage door operators, decks, balconies, steps, railings
• Vegetation, grading, driveways, walkways
• Eaves, soffits, and fascias
• Roof coverings, flashing, skylights, chimneys, and roof penetrations
• Drainage systems – gutters and downspout
• Interior plumbing drain, waste and venting systems
• Interior water supplies, distribution system, and fixtures
• Hot water systems
• Plumbing shut off valves
• Electrical main entrance and distribution panels
• Connected devices and fixtures
• GFCI and AFCI receptacles
• Smoke detectors
• Location of panel boxes
• Heating & Cooling equipment, operating and safety controls
• Chimney, flue, and vents
• Fireplaces
• Condensation lines
• Ceilings, Walls, Floors, Steps, Railings
• Counters and cabinets
• Doors and windows
• Insulation
• Ventilation of attics
• Venting systems and fans
• Dishwashers, ovens, ranges, disposals, and microwaves

Having a full Home Inspection done by Buy Your Side Home Inspections will take all the guesswork out of buying or selling a home. It removes the potential “surprise” factor, and with the economy as it is these days, that’s a wise action to take!

Call Tommy Joynes of Buy Your Side Home Inspections at 407.780.0911 today!

Keys to Your New Home

Congratulations – you’re a homeowner. You have the keys to your new home. Now, what should you do to protect your investment? Here are a few recommendations for routine maintenance to help maintain your property. This list is not intended to be comprehensive but provides a good foundation. For more home maintenance tips and energy saving advice contact your Buy Your Side Home Inspections 407.780.0911.

As soon as you move in:

• Change all locks on exterior entrances to your home.
• Locate the main shut-offs to plumbing, electrical and heating systems.
• Replace batteries in all smoke detectors and install fire extinguishers near stoves, in garages, and near fireplaces / wood stoves.
• Address any items on the Home Inspection Report that require immediate attention.

On a monthly schedule:

• Test all GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) devices.
• Check your fire extinguishers to be sure they are fully charged.
• Tighten loose toilets and repair/replace faulty flush mechanisms.
• Ensure water is not leaking during showering.
• Check all plumbing fixtures for leakage and repair or replace as needed.
• Check grout and caulk in bathrooms.
• Replace or clean heating and cooling air filters.
• Secure gutters and downspouts and remove any debris.

Twice a year in the Spring and Fall:

• Check your roof coverings, chimney and flashings for damage.
• Check for evidence of leakage, condensations or critters.
• Trim tree branches and shrubs away from your home.
• Inspect the exterior walls and foundation of the house for damage, cracking or movement. Look for bird nests, insect and critter activity.
• Clean and test windows to be sure they are operating correctly.
• Add caulking and weather-stripping if needed. Inspect for evidence of rotten wood.
• Check all walkways for movement and repair any trip hazards that may develop.
• Clean and repair window and frames as needed.
• Test the garage door opener to ensure the auto-reverse function is working properly.
• Clean and lubricate rollers, tracks, and hinges on the overhead doors.
• Clean or replace exhaust fan filters.
• Clean and inspect all appliances as suggested by the manufacturer.

Once a Year:

• Replace smoke detector batteries
• Have the heating, cooling and water heater systems cleaned and serviced.
• Have chimney inspected and cleaned.
• Be sure the rain caps and vermin screens are secure.
• If you have well water, have your well tested and have your pump and service tank inspected for leaks or evidence of wear.
• Have your home inspected for wood-destroying insects (termites, carpenter ants, etc.)

Fast Track the Sale of Your Home

You’re ready to sell your house and you want the best possible purchase price for your home. During the sales process, a Home Inspection is performed and, in most instances, paid for by the buyer and conducted right before closing the sale. You can potentially shorten the process and fast track the sale of your home by removing obstacles before they can interfere with the final sale. In today’s buyer’s market getting a Pre-Listing Inspection, sometimes referred to as a Seller Inspection, can be very beneficial. Here are just a few benefits to a Pre-Listing Home Inspection.

• Once your home is listed, it could sell faster because there are virtually little to no surprises and stalls by potential buyers.  Your sales agent will have fewer issues to address and negotiate on your behalf in the final stages of an offer. Some buyers even wave the home inspection altogether.
• Your home could sell for more money.  After the Pre-Listing Home Inspection, you can discuss with your selling agent what areas need to be addressed ahead of listing your home to improve your home’s appeal. A Pre-Listing home inspection can help your agent set realistic price expectations and can be used to substantiate a higher asking price by disclosing to potential buyers that problems don’t exist or have been corrected.
• You decide what repairs you are able to make, shop for competitive contractors and have time to make the repairs prior to listing your home. Any issues you are unable to address ahead of time can be reflected in the purchase price.
• You choose the Home Inspector based on reputation, credentials and fees rather than being at the mercy of a buyer’s choice of inspector.
• You can schedule the home inspection when it’s convenience and can be present during the inspection to provide any explanations of current conditions, details of equipment maintenance and improvements. (Normally not done in a Buyer’s Inspection.)

If you are planning on buying or selling a home in the near future in Central Florida and Osceola County, we believe strongly that having a full home inspection is a must! During the negotiation process there is no greater strength in the process than being able to prove the true condition of the Central Florida home. Call Tommy Joynes and Buy Your Side Home Inspections 407.780.0911. thefloridainspector.com 

Vigilant homeowners recently spotted what they thought was dirt blowing into their home around a window. Upon inspection of their vinyl sided home, they were surprised to learn that moisture intrusion was the culprit.

Luckily for them, the home wasn’t sided with stucco. Because it was just vinyl siding, which does a fairly good job of allowing the wall to dry out, the damage was far less severe. If this had been stucco, the damage likely would have been much more extensive; the repairs, much more expensive.

The only visible evidence of this water damage was little black flecks that had made their way through the window and landed on the carpet.  I suspect those were little pieces of rotted wall sheathing blowing into the home during periods of heavy wind, but I’m not 100% sure.

This is the type of damage that home buyers try to avoid when buying any home, and this is why some home buyers choose to have moisture testing performed on homes with vinyl siding.  Vinyl does a great job of hiding this kind of damage.

If you’re buying a home with vinyl siding or you already own a home with vinyl siding and there is concern about water intrusion, have moisture testing performed.  Vinyl sided homes with no moisture barrier should always raise concern, but moisture intrusion can still occur when a moisture barrier is present.

Give us a call. We’re BUY YOUR SIDE. 407.780.0911

Thousands of real estate transactions happen on daily basis in and around Osceola County and it’s important for homebuyers to protect themselves in as many ways they can. One of the simplest is to hire a home inspector. Home inspection offers both the immediate and long term benefits to the homebuyer. It can also be beneficial for the home-seller as it can avoid deal-breakers. If the issues and problems can be resolved before being identified by a potential buyer, the home-seller has more chances in getting their asking price.

Benefits to the Homebuyer

Homebuyers invest a sizable chunk of money to buy a home. It’s important to identify any deficiencies that may cost extra money and stress – an inspection by a qualified third-party will disclose the facts. All the major and minor defects are revealed. In some cases there may be critical structural defects that may be as good as rebuilding the house. There can be some problems related to the safety of occupants, and buyers may find they’re not able to use the house at all until those are taken care of. Or, the defects may eat away a lot of money and time to rectify them.

Another benefit home inspection offers is that the homebuyer can get quotes for needed repairs and use them to negotiate the price with the home-seller. Moreover, a home inspection eliminates buyers’ remorse about problems later on.

The home inspector checks and reports about ins and outs of the property: areas like basement, structural, construction and safety issues, roof condition, electrical, water lines and heating, air conditioning or ventilation systems. This gives notice to the homebuyers what needs attention to repair or replace and they can get quotes and fully evaluate the costs involved, giving them the ability to plan what should be done when and make their budget.

Benefits to the Home-Seller

A home-seller also benefits from a home inspection as it helps avoid problems later on. Before listing the house for sale, a home inspection helps the seller recognize the potential problems with the home so they can be addressed before showing the property to potential buyers. The home-seller can prepare for the sale of the home, reduce problems and get a better price.

They can also eliminate the chance of over-inflated estimates presented by the buyers at the time of the negotiations. Multiple quotes for repairs can be obtained, and a job can be done properly as well as help avoid making urgent repairs two weeks before closing. Most importantly, all issues and problems are resolved before a potential homebuyer shows up. Home-sellers not ready to allow inspection, and firm on price reduce the likelihood of a sale.

These are some of  the red flags that should send a Central Florida home buyer back to the negotiating table…

1. Wood Destroying Organisms: Termites and other pests that can damage and destroy your home: The home you have suddenly fallen in love with may also be adored by a family of wood destroying central florida termites. It’s vital to know of the presence of Termites and to immediately develop a plan to either remove these wood destroying organism, or rethink your potential home purchase. The same goes for other wood-devouring pests like powder-post beetles. Removing these pests are  of course the first step. Buy Your Side Home Inspections in Central Florida, and specifically in Osceola County, is connected with the best in Pest Control services. The decisions you make at this juncture is paramount in dealing with Central Florida based Termites.

2. Water Damage and Drainage issues: Poor drainage can lead to extensive wood rot throughout your home, or your potential home purchase. Problems are usually caused by missing, improperly installed or damaged gutters and downspouts. Improper grading can lead to water standing or actually seeping into the home. In Central Florida water damage in the home is frequent and serious problem. Mold growth, pest invasion, wood rot and many other issues are a direct result of water damage taking place around our homes. Prevention and quick reaction to water issues is imperative to protect your osceola, brevard, polk and seminole county florida home. If you are buying a home and water damage is evident, a thorough inspection and investigation is a must!

3. The Presence of Mold in Central Florida Homes: Where moisture builds up or seeps into a home, so grows mold, a threat to human health as well as to a Central Florida home’s actual condition and structure. Improper ventilation can be the culprit in smaller, more contained spaces, such as bathrooms. But think twice about buying a property where mold is pervasive — that’s a sign of long-term moisture issues and should send up one of the largest red flags possible. Home Inspectors are equipped and experienced in discovering Mold. Don’t trust your eyes or those attempting to sell you a house. It’s buyers beware in a major way when it comes to mold!

4. Faulty Home Foundation: A cracked or crumbling foundation calls for immediate attention and repair, with costs that can range  from moderate to hugely expensive. Water seeping into the home, wood destroying organisms, structural integrity and  potential high utility expenses are directly related to a faulty foundation.

These 4 red flags are literally frightening for the typical home owner or home buyer. Call Tommy Joynes for help. His experience in discover the most minute home inspection issue is unparalleled in Central Florida. Call 407.780.0911 today for the best in Oseola County, Brevard County, Orange County and Polk County Home Inspectors.

Defects are simply areas that we identify in a home inspection that present a safety hazard or need repair to properly function. Electrical issues usually present safety concerns for obvious reasons.

When you look at your home electrical panel, you’re used to seeing the metal plate screwed to the front it. This is called a deadfront. While you’re accustomed to seeing it in your home with circuit breakers arranged in two rows protruding through an opening in the plate, the panel is actually manufactured as a solid plate that is perforated with rectangular shapes called knock outs or twist outs.

As your home inspector, we’ll tell you an electrician can twist and snap individual knock outs and remove as many as needed to accommodate the number of circuit breakers that are being installed in the panel. The result is an installation with no openings in the front of the panel assuring that live wire connections or the metal bus bars that run down the back of panel box and connect the breakers to the electric service cannot be touched when the panel door is opened.

If too many knock outs are removed or a breaker is removed from the panel, you can hire an electrician to remedy the issue. Also, you can purchase plastic blanks at any hardware store and snap them into the opening created in the deadfront. Be certain the main breaker bringing electrical service into the home is OFF before you attempt any repair in the electrical box.

Because a missing knock out allows the possibility of electric shock, it is a safety defect that your home inspector will call out in an inspection report.

Need a home inspector? We’re Buy Your Side Home Inspections. Give us a call: 407.780.0911

Sometimes, as a result of reviewing the home inspection report you should run the other way. Most of the time, the inspection will give you the tools you need to further sales negotiations with the seller or adjust your budget to make the house move-in ready.

Your report will give you a list of items that need to be fixed or replaced – mostly minor – so you can secure estimates and get a realistic picture of financial implications.  Here a couple of things to be aware of:

• Wading Through the Technical Jargon – Home inspection reports are loaded with “tech talk” that can be intimidating to some. If you have any questions about what’s being said ask for plain language clarification. For instance, a commonly noted defect is “reversed polarity at wall receptacle.” While this sounds onerous, it simply means that two wires are installed backwards and it’s something an electrician can fix in just a couple of minutes.
• Overwhelmingly Long List of Minor Defects – A list of easy-to-remedy defects may take up a page or two of the report summary but it’s quite possible that 33 of 35 items notes are simple things. Sort through your report to identify the big defects on which to base your decision, and pass over things like a missing electric receptacle cover plate or leaves backing up the gutter.
• Suffering from “Perfect Home” Syndrome – Searching for and buying your home can be a very emotional experience. Sometimes, there’s a tendency to think of the home you’ve set sights on is near perfect … especially if you’re a first-time buyer. If you think you’ve found your ideal home, we nearly always find a couple of defects. Don’t let your emotional response to the house’s lack of perfection get in the way of your purchase of a very acceptable house that really may be ideal for you.
• Give yourself enough time after the home inspection to reflect on the items covered in your report and, perhaps, get a few contractor estimates so you have them as part of your consideration set. Try to schedule the inspection as early as possible during inspection period.

Having time and information on your side will help you render your best possible decision. We inspect every house as of our founder’s mama was moving in. We’re BUY YOUR SIDE. Call today: 407.780.0911