Blog – Page 1513

Verifying a Home’s Ventilation

September 8, 2011 Southwest Florida home inspections southwest Florida home inspector

Every home has ventilation systems of some kind in place, ever since technology was invented to make homes far less drafty and far more comfortable than they were decades ago. After all, we need a way to keep air moving through a home – especially in a place that has a climate like southwest Florida.

It’s important for Realtors to understand how important a home’s ventilation system is to the comfort level of the home – because at the end of the day, if your client isn’t satisfied, he or she won’t buy. The trick is this: a venting system isn’t as easy to understand and evaluate as it may seem.

That is why hiring trained professionals to conduct home inspections in Collier County is of vital importance before you present any home.

Common Home Ventilation Problems in Southwest Florida

Homes in Collier County have many of the same common issues as other homes do in other parts of the country – except the hot and humid climate intensifies the need for effective systems. For starters, a home has to be properly sealed from the elements. Otherwise, all the hot outside air will penetrate the home and turn it into a sauna – and no one in Collier County wants to live in one of those!

But, it is possible for a house to be sealed too tightly. Usually this happens in this day and age because people want to be as energy-conscious and efficient as they possibly can be. The problem with that is a home that is too tightly sealed will gather interior moisture and humidity and could cause clothing and furniture to rot, as well as cause mold development and health issues.

Using Home Inspections to Spot Potential Problems

Fortunately, it is rather easy for you to spot these ventilation problems that could sink a sale: hire a professional home inspector! Home inspectors who are properly certified by the state of Florida can professionally evaluate a home’s venting systems in order to make sure there is a good air circulation going on, as to avoid any of the above problems.

Check any southwest Florida home before the sale to protect your business and your client.

Keeping a Home Up to Code

September 6, 2011 home inspections naples home inspection

Every day, Realtors such as yourself show hundreds of homes to interested buyers from all across the country here in southwest Florida. Some of these homes are very new, but most of them have at least a few years of “experience” when it comes to being lived in before.

You’d be surprised just how many code violations can potentially hit a home in just a short amount of time. Not every homeowner maintains his or her home the same way, after all, so if you are contracted to a home that has had its fair share of previous owners, you could have potential code violation problems.

Hiring home inspectors in Naples can help you avoid this problem today.

Finding Potential Code Violations with Careful Home Inspections

Your average community’s list of housing codes is often an inch thick – so big, in fact, that a Realtor can’t possibly be expected to know each code and what violations look like in real life. These code violations can come back to bite people, so it’s best to take care of them.

Home inspectors in Naples can help you pinpoint each code violation or potential violation, explain to you the severity of the potential violation, and offer advice on addressing the issue before the home is presented to a client. For example, under Florida state code, renovated buildings often are subject to codes from which other existing residential buildings are exempt. One major example is energy-efficient measures mandated by Florida law.

Homes that were built relatively recently, during the housing craze from 2000-2005, are particularly susceptible because, unfortunately, many builders cut corners and took shortcuts in order to fulfill rapidly-growing demand.

Finding the Right Home Inspectors in Naples

Having home inspectors in Naples to inspect each property is a wise decision, as you can see. Finding the right professionals in southwest Florida basically involves finding inspectors who are fully certified with the state of Florida (per recent Florida law) and offer a standard report that covers every major area of the home. That is the first step in keeping the reputation of your business intact.

Spy on a Septic System Before the Sale: How Home Inspections in Naples Can Help

September 1, 2011 home inspections naples septic system

Many existing and new homes in Collier County today have septic systems as a way of collecting and disposing of human waste produced by the property. These systems require less maintenance and cost less per household than traditional sewer systems, but should be properly built and maintained. If they are improperly constructed, or aren’t maintained regularly, new owners could be in for a nasty surprise later.

When showing homes to potential buyers, it is important to address the septic system, as any informed buyer will want to know about the waste disposal method used for the property. You also want to be able to provide a good health assessment of the septic system to limit your liability in case something goes wrong later.

This is why home inspections in Naples are highly recommended for any property with a septic system before a sale occurs.

The Makings of a Healthy Septic System

For the most part, septic systems in Collier County are designed similarly like septic systems elsewhere. A home with this system will have three essential components: the holding tank; the pipes; and the drainage field.

Solid waste enters the septic tank through the piping, and is broken down by bacteria in the tank. This solid material settles to the bottom of the tank; the excess liquid is then allowed to seep into the drainage field.

If any of these components is not in proper working order, damage to the system, internal plumbing, and yard could result. Common problems include clogged and/or collapsing drainage fields, clogged pipes, overflowing tanks, and blocked inlet drains. These repairs are quite expensive and could occur anywhere from a day to a year or more after the sale is complete.

Home Inspections in Naples for Septic Systems

Fortunately, you can help your clients – and yourself – avoid this trouble by getting qualified home inspections in Naples ordered for your property. Collier County inspectors must be certified by the state of Florida and should have expertise in quickly and professionally examining a septic system to see if it is good to go – or a major problem waiting to happen.

«‹ 1512 1513 1514 1515 ›»