OUR SERVICES

Home Inspection

Buying a home is one of the biggest investments most people ever make. Your decision will affect you for years to come and the inspectors at Central Real Estate Inspections understand that.

Rehab/Renovation Consulting

Imagine you want to purchase a home in your dream neighborhood. Stock of available homes is low but there is “that one that needs some work” still for sale.

Radon Testing

Whether your home is in the city, a suburban town, or a rural community we always recommend it be tested for radon. In fact, according to The World Health Organization, The U.S. Surgeon General, The Environmental Protection Agency…

Mold Assessment/Air Sampling

Mold is a multi-cellular fungus that requires three things to grow:

– Moisture/water (generally more than 55% indoor humidity levels)
– Organic food source (paper, fabric, sheetrock, etc.)

Home Energy Scores Services

At Central Real Estate Inspections, we are committed to home energy efficiency and are proud to offer a Home Energy Score provided by our U. S. Department of Energy certified inspector.

Residential Thermography

Often used in conjunction with the Home Energy Score process, residential thermography also has other uses. Primarily at Central Real Estate Inspections we use this technology…

Sewer Scanning

Did you know that as the homeowner you are responsible for the pipes that run from your house out to the sewer connection? For some people this connection is in proximity to your property line…

Chimney Scanning

What’s up your flue? A chimney inspection is basically the same thing as a sewer scan, but for the chimney. This is recommended for all solid fuel burning appliances, which typically means a wood-burning fireplace or pellet stove, any time there is a sale or transfer of a property.

Water Analysis

Reasons to have your water lab tested:
1. Lead Contamination – The presence of lead at certain levels can have potential health risks to you and your family.
2. Arsenic is tasteless – 20% of untreated drinking water in the U.S. contains some level of cancer-causing arsenic (USGS).

FAQ.

Is a home inspection expensive?

It is far more expensive to skip a home inspection before you purchase. The cost of a home inspection can be a fraction of the cost of repairing the problems that the inspection brings to light. You’re about to make the biggest purchase of your life, and this is your only chance to protect yourself with a professional home inspection and property report.

You can purchase everything you need to paint your own house, fix your own roof, even rewire your house. The one thing you CANNOT purchase is knowledge and experience.

You want the best home inspection possible. Saving money by using a “bargain” home inspector or an unlicensed contractor could cost you thousands of dollars in repair costs in the long run.

A thorough property inspection performed by a qualified inspector will range in price based on square footage. Choosing your inspector based on the cheapest price is not always the best approach. We are a firm believer that you get what you pay for and with Central Real Estate Inspections you are choosing to work with the best.

Our professional inspectors have the experience and training required to recognize current and potential defects in the systems and components of the home during the property inspection.

Not only are our inspectors trained in and familiar with the components of a home, proper installation methods and necessary maintenance routines but we have also developed and perfected a systematic approach in evaluating all aspects of a home during the home inspection. This way, no stone is left unturned.

What are the limitations on an inspection?

A real estate inspection or home inspection is not an appraisal or a check for compliance with building codes; it’s also not an evaluation of environmental hazards. See the NYS Standards of Practice for more information on the limitations of a home inspection.

What if the real estate inspection reveals problems?

No house is perfect, not even new construction. Finding problems upfront is actually a good thing.

It’s important to understand, however, that a home inspection report should not be treated as a seller’s fix-it list. It is an impartial report on the honest condition of the property. Once you have your property report in hand, your real estate agent can help you decide how to proceed.

Most of your residential inspection report will be maintenance recommendations and minor imperfections. This can become a “to-do list” for after you move in.
These are nice to know about, however, the issues that really matter will fall into four categories the main two being:

Major defects: Major defects prevent an item or service from working properly or at all. Structural defects, inoperable units, and things that may hinder your ability to finance, legally occupy, or insure the home.

Safety hazards: Examples include exposed, live buss bar at the electric panel, mold growth in the living space or a damaged chimney.

Anything in these categories should be addressed. Often a serious problem can be corrected inexpensively to protect both life and property.

Most sellers are honest and are often surprised to learn about defects uncovered during a real estate inspection. Realize that sellers are under no obligation to repair everything mentioned in the property report. Before you let something from the home inspection “kill the deal,” remember that no home is perfect. Keep things in perspective.

It is inappropriate to demand that a seller address deferred maintenance, conditions already listed on the seller’s disclosure, or nit-picky items.