Home Inspection Information for Attorneys
Question: I looked at a report and it was 96 pages long. Is there any part of the report I should point out to my clients as being essential for them to read?
Answer: The information in the engineering report is included to provide the home buyer with information on which to base their decision. Prospective purchasers should be aware of the findings in the report, the expense analyses, and any other recommendations made regarding the home they are considering purchasing. Click here to view a sample written report .
Question:
Why should the buyer use a Licensed Professional
Engineer who is also licensed as a Home Inspector?
Answer: The State of New York, in their online brochure "What You Should Know About Professional Engineers and Their Services"1, lists one of the reasons that a Licensed Professional Engineer should be used to "evaluate the structural integrity, electrical, and/or mechanical systems of a house prior to purchase or renovation". The State of New York also has laws in place to make sure the general public is protected when it comes to selecting engineering services. Our Licensed Professional Engineers also meet the requirements to be licensed as Home Inspectors, giving your clients an edge..
1http://www.op.nysed.gov/profengb.htm
In the State of New York, you can verify online that you are retaining a Licensed Professional Engineer. Click here for more information on online license verification .
Question:
You always include a termite
report in your inspection reports. Are these
termite reports accepted
by banks?
Answer: The bank generally requires a termite treatment and a warranty should any active termite infestation be found. It has been our experience that, if there is no evidence of termite infestation and no previous termite treatment, banks will accept the termite report.
Question: The termite report expires within 60 days. Is there any way to get an extension?
Answer: The NPMA-1 form has a 60 day expiration date set by the designers of the form. For the home buyer's protection, a termite warranty from a termite treatment company should be obtained at closing.
Question:
My client informed me that the house is in excellent condition.
Should I recommend an inspection by an Engineer?
Answer: It is your client's perception that the house is in excellent condition. Heimer Engineering's staff of Engineers has examined many houses, which have a new interior paint job, new windows, new appliances, etc. The interior was completely renovated and updated. Examination by Heimer’s Engineers revealed that the same house had an old boiler, an old hot water heater, faulty wiring, water in the basement, suspect asbestos on the pipes, and termite infestation with structural damage. In addition, plumbing was old, the roof had not been properly installed, and the siding and trim had been poorly painted. The Engineer found that the air conditioner system only served the top floor. The prospective purchasers had focused on the interior renovations and the new appliances, and were completely unaware of all the other defects until the inspection was performed.
Question:
My client is purchasing a house that is old and in rundown condition
and the client plans on fixing it up. Is there any reason for
an inspection by a Licensed Professional
Engineer?
Answer: Unless your client is willing to risk the expenses of problems that your client is currently unaware of, an inspection by a Licensed Professional Engineer is essential. In addition, the expense analysis contained in the written report helps home buyers understand the expenses in fixing up an old and rundown house. Most buyers purchasing rundown houses have no idea what they are getting into.
Question:
My client is considering buying a newly constructed home. Is an
inspection by an Engineer necessary? Will the local building inspector
find all the problems before they issue a Certificate of Occupancy?
Answer: New homes can have defects just as existing construction. In a recent inspection of a house supposedly ready for delivery, defects found include no boiler. There was a hot water heater, and the prospective purchaser had mistaken this for the heating system. The builder of the home was unaware that his heating contractor had come back and removed the boiler. Had a Engineer not performed the inspection, these buyers would have purchased the house only to find that the heat did not work when the heating season arrived.
Question:
My client is planning on hiring a contractor to do renovations.
Would it be better to have the contractor perform the inspection?
Answer: A home buyers planning renovations should get cost estimates from the contractor. However, cost estimates for anticipated renovations are not a substitute for an inspection performed by a Licensed Professional Engineer who is also a Licensed Home Inspector.
Question:
How long has Heimer® Engineering, PC been in business?
Answer: Heimer® Engineering, PC, has been in the business performing home inspections and building inspections since the late 1960s. Heimer Engineering's Licensed Professional Engineers have performed over 80,000 inspections.
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setup an appointment with Heimer Engineering PC for a home inspection, building
inspection, condominium inspection, coop inspection, or Professional Engineering
consultation, to find out about other Professional Engineering services offered,
or for more information, call us anytime at 718.544.3000, 212.563.4777,
516.487.2100, 631.858.5500, 914.576.6100, 845.638.4900, or 800.605.1500
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This web site is best viewed with at least Microsoft® Internet Explorer version 7.0 or Mozilla Firefox 2.0. Other web browsers may not display this web site properly. Heimer Engineering's licensed Professional Engineers are ready to serve your home inspection, building inspection, coop inspection, and condominium inspection needs. All Heimer Engineering's licensed Home Inspectors are also licensed Professional Engineers. HEIMER®, HEIMER INSPECTIONS®, FOR A GOOD LOOK®, WE LOOK GOOD®, and HEI-LITE® are registered trademarks of Heimer Engineering PC. Heimer Engineering is not an environmental testing company, and does not inspect or test for any environmental hazard. All inspections are performed only after the client signs an appropriate agreement. Click here to download an agreement. The use of this web site is governed by our Terms of Use.
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