New Home Purchase
Typically, most buyers contact a home inspector immediately after the contract or
purchase agreement has been signed. However, your thoughts about home inspection
should begin before then. You should be sure there is an inspection clause in the sales
contract before signing, including any contingencies relative to radon testing.
You might wish to consult with Source Buildng Services LLC prior to submitting your
offer or the acceptance of the offer to be certain that contingency deadlines can be
met by your Inspector. This clause should specify the terms and conditions to which both
the buyer and seller are obligated.
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Pre-Sale Inspection
Sellers can benefit from a home inspection as well. A home inspection gives the owner
the opportunity to make repairs that will put your home in a better selling condition.
Being able to address any issues before putting your home on the market puts you in a
proactive mode. It isn't just a matter of fixing issues that arise later. Keep in mind
that potential buyers may decide to exclude your home from consideration, even if you are
willing to address concerns.
You don't even have to be buying or selling. Homeowners may gain additional insight into
their homes and identify problems in the making, before they become critical, costly
repairs. You may discover issues developing that might still be covered under a warranty,
or limit the costs by reducing damage that may be caused.
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Commercial Buildings
A commercial property investment requires gathering knowledge and taking a risk.
Property inspection increases the amount of information available when it's most crucial.
The bottom line is that a commercial building inspection gives the client an overall
understanding of the general condition of the building. This allows the client to move
forward with business planning, negotiations and remodeling or renovation with a knoweldge
of current systems. An inspection reduces surprises. When it comes to large real estate
transactions that can be a great peace of mind.
For some, that needed knowledge is limited to an inspection of the roof. Others may be more
interested in knowing that electrical outlets are safe. Still others want a ceiling to
floor laundry list of items, noting the good and the bad. Comfort levels are different,
but a thorough, unbiased inspection can usually help point people in the right direction.
Source Building Services LLC has the training and expertise to do a number of different
kinds of commercial property inspections, including:
- Comprehensive inspections for buyers and sellers
- Pre-lease or exit inspections for tenants to protect damage deposits
- Partial inspections of the roof or general structural conditions
- Inspections to meet lender requirements
- Walk-through pre-bid assessments for potential buyers
- Maintenance inspections for property management firms
- New construction progress inspections and final inspections
In apartment complexes, inspectors look at a representative number of units, or
all the units, or sometimes just the common areas and the roof. Again, for the
buyer, these options help pinpoint possible areas of concern, and overall
maintenance issues. Sometimes specialized equipment, such as an infrared camera,
helps pinpoint leakage or heat loss areas that help with longterm planning.
In some instances, a client may not even be purchasing the building itself.
The client may be purchasing the business occupying the building and an attached
lease. An inspection in that instance can reassure the buyer that the building is
sound and reduce concerns about assuming the lease. It can also make for an unbiased reference for the property management firm overseeing building maintenance, more good
information for all parties concerned.
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Condominium
Source Building Services is a leader in condominium inspections. When we inspect a unit,
we inspect all rooms, including toilets, showers, and sinks, all appliances, stoves,
stove anti-tip brackets, fireplaces, dishwashers, microwaves, doors, windows, etc.,
safety testing garage door openers, locks, electrical outlets (polarity, grounding,
etc. with electrical tester), open and inspect electrical panels, furnaces & A/C and
other heat sources for heat distribution.
We will also inspect all exterior components directly attached to your unit. We will
enter, if safely accessible, the attic, roof, and crawlspace, testing for a variety of
concerns, not limited to moisture intrusion, pest activity, and a variety of safety hazards.
It is recommended that you review the most current meeting minutes for the
Home Owner Association and review the most current "Reserve Study" that was completed
for the complex. Reserve studies are provided to give an association insight on when
components will need to be repaired/replaced. For example, a Reserve Study should tell
you when the roof was last serviced, cleaned/sealed etc. depending on the material and
when will there need to be a new roof installed. This information will give the home
owner association the details to properly assess there fund reserves to see if there
are properly collecting due to pay for a new roof, driveway, etc.
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Mobile/ Trailer Homes
When you are buying a home, you might hear the terms modular homes, manufactured
homes and site built homes. It's important to understand how they all differ, no matter
whether you are purchasing an existing house or plan to build on land that is subject to
restrictions. The differences can affect a home's price and its resale value, and even
dictate whether or not it can be built on your land.
Mobile/manufactured housing must be inspected differently than traditional site-built
housing because they are built to HUD regulations which affects the design and construction
methods. Some important points include the non-removable chasis, bracing and support
systems, the 4-wire electrical service common to all manufactured homes, polybutylene
supply piping, wind/load/thermal zone ratings, metal roofing, skirting, under wrap, and
potentially hazardous aluminum wiring. Specific attention to foundation support, window age and
quality, and roof systems is important in detemining the value and safety of a Mobile home.
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Farm/ Agriculture
Although they can be categorized as general commercial buildings, Farm and Agriculture based property can have some specific areas that need to be checked and inspected. Building sites tend to have very little improvements so attention to water buildup, and leakages is important. Pole buildings, steel buildings, and storage buildings of all ages and sizes can be found interspersed within the same farm cluster. Experience and attention to detail is required in order to perform an adequate inspection.
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Radon Testing
Radon occurs naturally from the break down of Uranium in the soil.
This break down results in a radioactive carcinogen gas called Radon. It can
cause skin and eye irritation, respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, and in
enough concentration can cause lung cancer. The EPA states that it is the 2nd
leading cause of lung cancer in the country. More information from the EPA about Radon
can be found in their
Citizen's Guide to Radon.
Radon comes up through the ground everywhere and in some cases can be trapped inside your home.
Source Buiilding Services can perform a test in your home to determne the level of
radon gas it contains. The process is pretty simple, canisters are placed in the lowest
level of the home for (3-5) days then sent to a laboratory for results. If the results
meet or exceed EPA action levels then it is recommended that a mitigation system be
installed.
If radon levels in the house are high, a mitigation system will reduce them and provide
a safe environment to live in. Mitigation systems can range from $500.00 - $1,500.00.
The average cost of a radon test is around $100.00 and that is a small investment to give
you and your family piece of mind.
The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) compiles an annual graph of estimated
Radon level samples for each county:
WDHS- Estimated Radon Measurements for Door County
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Mold, Asbestos, and Lead
Mold Mold and mildew exist in many environments on the planet.
Typically we think of mold growing on old food. We simply throw it away and think
little of it. Mold and mildew are types of fungi. In the realm of home inspections
many people consider mold and mildew to be near the bottom on the list of important
problems. But in the last decade or so studies have revealed that an increasing
number of people are being affected medically by mold and mildew spores in the air
they breathe. Not only that, mold and mildew are a serious threat to your home’s
health.
A home inspector will be present in areas often conducive to mold growth;
spaces such as damp basements and crawlspaces, around plumbing and foundations,
in bathrooms. Mold and mildew grow in environments where there are ample amounts
of moisture, even inside walls where there is inadequate ventilation. Moisture can exist
in and around a home for a number of reasons: humidity and leaks being the most prominent.
A professional home inspector’s report will disclose potential incidences of mold and mildew.
These are indication of moisture that can not only harm the structure of your home,
but also affect you and your family’s overall health.
The inspector will recommend testing by a qualified mold specialist in these cases.
Asbestos While the word asbestos has become synonymous with health hazards,
there are many materials that contain it. Just because asbestos or asbestos containing
materials (ACM) exist within a structure, does not mean they are an immediate health
hazard. Asbestos becomes a health hazard when the material containing the fiber is
disturbed, launching particulate asbestos fibers into the air you breathe. The reasons
outdated ACM are removed from many structures is the danger of deterioration that also
results in asbestos becoming airborne.
Asbestos is no longer used in new construction. If your home inspector suspects
that asbestos containing materials may be present in your home, he might recommend
a specialist conduct an in-depth asbestos inspection. Vermiculite, a material used for
insulation and gardening products, can contain harmful asbestos. In recent years more
and more information has become available on vermiculite.
Lead There are a number of different ways in which lead can be introduced to
your home and family, and lead ingestion can affect your child’s health over time. For this reason
agencies like the EPA and HUD make educational materials on lead poisoning readily
available.Lead can be present in outdated paint materials which chip and peel. Lead
can also be present in your family’s drinking water. Typically lead does not
exist in the actual water source, municipal or well, but leaches from the walls of lead
plumbing pipes.
Like asbestos, lead paint becomes a health hazard once the material containing
it is disturbed. For this reason many home inspectors will advise you against
removing old paint yourself until you test it for lead. The EPA states that most
homes and residential structures built after 1978 are lead-free. For home buyers
looking at homes older than 1978, there are legal disclosures you are qualified to
receive regarding any existence of lead-based paint in the home.
During a general home inspection an inspector might observe what appears to be
the existence of lead pipes or lead-based paint. In such cases he might recommend
further testing by a qualified specialist.
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Water Quality Testing
If your family gets drinking water from a private well, what health risks
could you and your family face? The EPA regulates public water systems; it does not
have the authority to regulate private drinking water wells. Private, individual
wells are the responsibility of the homeowner.
Unlike public drinking water systems serving many people, private wells do not have
experts regularly checking the source of the water and its quality before it is sent
to the tap. These households must take special precautions to ensure the
protection and maintenance of their drinking water supplies.
To help protect your well, have your water tested periodically. It is recommended that water be tested
every year for total coliform bacteria, nitrates, total dissolved solids, and
pH levels. If you suspect other contaminants, we can test for those as well.
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Maintenance and Safety Inspections
We can help determine the current condition of your house, rental property,
condominium, or apartment complex. The purpose of this inspection is to identify
key items that may need maintenance or replacement in the near future or may pose a
safety hazard to yourself or others.
You get an full report covering the roof, exterior caulking and grading, stairs and
railings, exterior and interior electrical, automatic garage door opener, furnace,
water heater, sump pump and/or floor drain, and electrical panel/sub-panel inspection.
For rental properties, a safety hazard could be repaired and help prevent a lawsuit.
Just like an automobile, parts of your home can be maintained to prolong their lifespan.
If there is an item that needs to be replaced in the near future, you can budget for it
instead of having a surprise.
These inspections have also been great gift ideas for friends and family!
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