Month: December 2016
The technical inspection of a dwelling generally consists of carrying out a complete examination of the property in order to determine the state of all its elements: the mechanical systems, the general disposition of the building and the aesthetic-environmental conditions. It is a useful information if you want to buy a home, but also if you want to sell, especially in these times when the market is more still than ever.
Certificates of Professional Inspection of Housing (IPV certificates) can therefore be a decisive factor in closing a buy-sell operation. You can hire both the buyer and the seller (or both, at the same time). For the buyer, it assumes the security that the property that interests him is in perfect condition, or the possibility of raising a possible discount if there were any defective elements. For its part, the seller can display this information to potential buyers as a guarantee that the home has no problem.
In summary, experts point out that the IPV certificate can benefit the following people:
An optional certificate
The IPV certificate is the document that certifies the state of a home. It has been used in the main countries of the world for years, as a security measure in the operations of renting, buying or selling, and now also in Spain. In general, it is recommended that the inspection be carried out before requesting a loan, in this way, any problems that the housing will have will be detected before allocating time or money to obtain the financing. Often, it is the buyer who has the responsibility to pay for the independent inspection of the home.
The IPV report does not replace other technical reports or other documentation that is mandatory when conducting a home purchase transaction. Nor does it have anything to do with the inspections that can be done by an architect or a surveyor, because they follow the Technical Building Code, while the work of the Inspector in charge of the BTI contemplates other characteristics of a house, just as important, As a record of the state, operation and sanitation of the house being inspected. Nor should it be confused with the appraisal of a property, since an appraisal is an estimate of value by a professional appraiser.
Elements to inspect
What is an inspection?
The standard practice of inspectors requires inspectors to assess the status of a series of components of a home and submit a written report to the buyer. The IPV Inspector performs a detailed examination of the dwelling, which it reviews in its entirety, even in the intermediate areas. Check levels of acoustics, brightness, ambient humidity and carbon monoxide; Water, electricity and gas facilities; Check the condition of floors, walls, ceilings, tiling and baseboards, open and close doors, windows, blinds, drawers, furniture.
It also checks the proper functioning of appliances, heating, ventilation, toilets, faucets, siphons, drains, sanitation and general hygiene of the house. That is, it defines the general state of habitability of the dwelling and reflects it in a written and photographic report, easily understandable, that is called IPV certificate.
The Inspector IPV studies about 400 points in the report of rent of a house and about 550 points in the report of sale. The basic aspects that are reviewed are as follows:
The person who hires this service should insist that all these points be detailed in the report provided by the inspector. In addition, it is highly recommended that you meet in person with the housing inspector after he or she has completed the study. In this way, you will have the opportunity to ask all the questions about any defect in the house and to obtain an estimate of the cost of the necessary repairs. It will also give you an opportunity to ask questions about maintenance. All these data are, for the buyer, a great utility to negotiate the final price with the seller.
You should know what the inspector should do when he reviews the interior and exterior of a house:
Home inspectors will enter and analyze most of the components involved in buying a home. This is a valuable tool for homeowners and for buyers. Buyers will be able to make informed decisions to bid on for properties. For their part, the owners of the houses will know the type of repairs or improvements that the house needs to be able to sell it. Inspection companies will document the safety and general condition of the house at the time of inspection. Visual tools are used to make assessments.
The visits of the inspectors last about 3 hours, for a minimum inspection, and between 5 and 6 hours if a thorough inspection is desired, both with specific evaluations. Depending on the age and size of the house, this task may take more or less time to complete. Buyers will benefit from doing the inspection. Although a written report is made at the end of the inspection, it does not compare with the inspection with the representative who has the necessary experience and knowledge.
Make sure the inspector has knowledge about all important parts of the house. This includes electrical, gas filter systems, as well as heating and air conditioning appliances. The roof and the attic are areas that must be checked, as do the interior and exterior structures, including the condition of the walls.
Ask for evidence that your property inspector has taken courses to give you an adequate analysis and that you also have the tools to do the inspections. These home assessments can be used to calculate the amount of money that will be needed to make the repairs after a purchase. All the information collected is taken into account when making an offer for a house. Skilled inspectors can detect faults in a home that are not easily noticeable to someone who is not trained.
When considering a property for purchase it is very important to subject it to certain inspections to ensure that it is in good condition and that the sale value corresponds to the real state of the property. Inspections may not be mandatory if the house is purchased in cash, but they are highly recommended. When the property is financed, the lending bank does require certain inspections to be carried out before the purchase.
Recommended inspections include: plumbing system (condition of pipes, drainage, taps, etc.), electrical system (wiring, if it complies with the code of electrical installations, condition of switches, sockets, barkers control panel, etc.) , roof, general structure of housing, presence or absence of termites, septic tank, and if you have pool, check if it works properly and if there are leaks. If annexes have been constructed to the original property, the potential buyer must ensure that the relevant permits have been requested from the municipality and that building codes are complied with.
It is also often reviewed if the house has lead-based paint (toxic agent) widely used until 1978, levels of radon (radioactive agent that leaks from the ground up and that at high levels causes lung cancer), water conditions That arrives at the house or the well if it has a private one (test of chemicals or toxic or bacteriological agents in the water).
Potential buyers should tune their eyes when checking the property: leaks in walls and ceilings, presence of rotten wood, good ventilation in the attic, air conditioning units and their maintenance, existence of storm and hurricane protectors, good condition of windows And doors including the garage, proper water pressure and the space below the house is dry, clean and free of obstacles.
At the time of buying with bank financing all they demand is the inspection of roof and termites but insists that “ask the inspector where is everything Where to locate the structural problems so that there are no surprises later the roof, for example, has a useful life of approximately 25 years, if the house to buy has more years than this then the owner has to think about rebuilding the entire roof.
To avoid getting into trouble with the municipality and, besides the house, acquiring a violation of building regulations in the county where the property is located, it is recommended to investigate whether there was any added to the original property and if the permits were obtained.
If there is a bank loan involved, it is necessary to obtain the original plans of the property (survey) to delineate the boundaries of the land, to ensure that there are no crossings with the properties.
When an inspection company is selected, it is recommended that this provides a guarantee of their work from 30 to 90 days after the purchase, and that future owners require the inspector is licensed and safe, because if errors then there is no way amend committed.
Another tip to consider is to be present when all the inspections are carried out. Normally the inspection lasts three hours and a half and you have a complete diagnosis of what is good and what does not work.
Inspection costs vary from company to company. A full inspection can be between $ 300 and $ 500 or more. If the septic tank is required to be inspected it would be about $ 100 to about $ 175. Roof and termite inspection can cost about $ 250. And if individual inspections are hired separately its price goes from $ 175 to $ 300. The price for inspections of small rental apartments can be around $ 200 to $ 350.
The best way to find qualified inspectors is through the real estate agent who assists the buyer in your transaction. The agent must recommend at least three different companies for the buyer to choose according to his taste.
In general, the purchase and sale contracts contain a clause that says that 1.5 percent of the purchase price will be used at the expense of the seller if a problem arises with the property. They also give a period of time commonly of 10 days to carry out the inspections. It is vital to check the terms of the contract as to what aspects of the house can be inspected, if it contemplates possibilities of negotiating the sale price in case of problems and if it allows to leave the transaction in case there is no agreement. It is recommended to use an model contract of sale, that contains fair conditions for both the seller and the buyer.
Insulation
If you want the best energy cost and the comfort of the occupants of a place, the insulation for the structure is an important factor to take into account. The “R” value used when talking about insulation means resistance to thermal energy flow through a material at 70 degrees F; The greater the value of “R”, the better its insulation characteristics.
Ventilation Roof shingles
Ventilation proper to a home, or any important structure, is essential to your well-being and long life. Without adequate ventilation, the structural members of a building can be destroyed in a relatively short time.
Some defects found: