Residential Home
Inspections....
You have reached our Residential Home Inspection
page. Suncoast Inspections provides a wide range of services, the column to the left and the
red bar across the top will assist you in navigating our site.
Our
ten point inspection of residential homes
covers all of the vital areas within the home from the foundation to the roof and
is considered the most thorough inspection in the Tampa Bay Florida area.
Whether you’re buying, selling, building a home, or simply
looking for peace of mind, turn to the only inspection company that
creates a “video” paper trail.
See our Customer Testimonials.
The following 10 point items are checked for function, current
condition, life expectancy and proper installation. We are the
only company that provides cost estimates on all repairs.
The 10 Point Digital-Video Taped Home
Inspection
-
The
Site
-
Grading Conditions
-
Soil Conditions
-
Drainage around the exterior walls
-
Driveways and Sidewalks
-
The
Structure
- Exterior, Interior Walls,
Floors and Ceilings
-
Foundation and Roof Structure
-
The
Roof
- Exterior
Finish Assessment
- Attic and Insulation
-
The
Air Conditioning System
-
Condenser and
Air Handler
- Ductwork
Design and Installation
-
Suction and Drain Lines
-
The
Plumbing System
- Main
Lines, Waste Pipes, Drains
- Clean
Outs, Fixtures and Faucets
-
Water Heater
-
The
Electrical System
- Main
Service, Switches
- Outlets
and Fixtures
-
The
Appliances
- Range,
Dishwasher
- Washer,
Dryer, etc.
-
The
Windows and Doors
- All
Moving Parts and Structure
-
The
Sprinkler System
-
Timer
-
Sprinkler Heads and Coverage
-
A
Room by Room, Item by Item Video Production
SI.com is the only inspection firm that
provides cost estimates on all repairs and life expectancy on major
components.
We also inspect swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, seawalls and docks.
We perform mold and indoor air quality inspections, lead, radon,
termite, septic tank, irrigation well inspections, carbon monoxide and
water testing. GIVE US A CALL (727) 734-8822 OR
ORDER ONLINE This is what Donald Trump
has to say about inspections:
Excerpt of
'Trump: Think Like A Billionaire'
By
Donald Trump with Meredith McIver
Chapter 1
PART I
Real Estate
When people hear the name Trump, they think of
two things: wealth and real estate. So while this entire book is
dedicated to the creation and enjoyment of wealth, I need to start with
the basics. The basics, for me, are all about property. Real estate is
at the core of almost every business, and it's certainly at the core of
most people's wealth. In order to build your wealth and improve your
business smarts, you need to know about real estate.
What follows is some great advice. There are some
helpful tips here for first-time apartment renters as well as for
multiple-home owners. So read on.
A building
inspection is not often required, but you should always require it yourself.
A knowledgeable, licensed inspector/engineer can detect weather the
heating unit is functioning properly, whether the air conditioning is
sufficient, whether a sump pump is needed, and so on. Think of a
building inspection as an X-ray; the inspector will be able to see
through the entire house and identify any systemic problems. For
instance, what sort of materials were used for the house’s piping?
Galvanized? Brass? Copper? Synthetic? Galvanized pipes rust and don’t
last as long as brass pipes, which don’t last as long as copper pipes,
which don’t last as long as synthetic pipes. Only a building inspector
will be able to see this level of detail within a house or apartment.
If the inspector
makes you nervous or you sense that he or she is working too quickly,
find someone else. The inspection is too important to be careless about
it.
Sometimes the
problems inspectors find are fixable at a reasonable cost, but other
times they find things that cannot be fixed without major renovations or
even a teardown. The inspector will provide an objective, independent
report that may or may not affect the value of the home, but either way,
you can request price adjustments based on the inspection.
Another quick
tip: Some investors make the dumb mistake of assuming that new
constructions do not require building inspections. Wrong! New
constructions often have the largest problems, particularly if the
build-out and construction were sloppy. In addition to structural,
plumbing, and electrical woes, new constructions can be vexed by mold
infestation and other problems typically associated with longer-standing
buildings.
Below is further explanation on our 10 point inspection.
1. The Site: This is an extremely important part of our
inspection as most resale lawsuits arise out of poor drainage. The
finish grade must slope away from the exterior walls. This is
called "positive flow". If the finish grade slopes toward the
dwelling it is called "negative flow". Negative flow can can cause
damage to the foundation, invite termites and enter the building if it
gets high enough.
Cost estimates are given. 2. The Structure We are looking for excessive or
unusual cracks or indications of movement and settlement in the walls,
floors and ceilings. We can determine if it is settlement or just
normal shrinkage of materials.
In most cases the foundation is covered but the typical slab on grade
has an exposed edge. In older homes with crawl spaces the masonry
piers are typically installed on top of the finish grade without a
foundation. That's why older homes have the so called quaintness when
the floors roll up and down throughout. On the contrary this could
be a huge expense.
The roof structure can be damaged by past or active leaks. It is
common to find defects in the installation of the trusses, plywood
sheathing or hurricane uplift straps. There are thousands of homes
in Florida with roof sheathing stapled to the trusses not nailed. One
of the biggest problems in new construction is the fact that steel
reinforcement is no longer required if fiber mesh is used in 3000 psi
concrete. We find brand new concrete slabs with an 1/8' wide crack and
deflection.
Cost estimates are given. 3. The Roof SI.com determines the current age (most
agents hate this) and its life expectancy. A roof can only be
properly inspected by walking on it. The only time we do not walk
the roof is if the slope is too steep or if conditions exist that are
unsafe, (the tiles or shingles are wet with fungus and algae growth) the
roof is too slick.
Potential defects include missing shingles, deterioration due to age,
deferred maintenance, aggregate loss, cracking or broken tiles, loose or
shifting tiles or just poor workmanship.
The soffit and fascia are examined for water stains, wood rot and
overall condition.
SI.com also checks the roof from the underside in the attic to
confirm the nail patterns are correct.
Cost estimates are given. 4. Heating & Air Conditioning System
(HVAC) The condenser and air handler are examined determining
their make, age and capacity (are the the proper size for the square
footage of the dwelling). The current condition and life
expectancy is provided. The suction and condensate lines are
assessed. The ductwork is examined for leaks, loose connections, holes
and punctures. The current condition and life expectancy are
given.
Efficiency and design are taken into consideration during our
inspection. If we find evidence the system is poorly designed it
will be stated in our report. Cost estimates are given.
5.
Plumbing The type of water supply and waste lines (pipe) are
provided along with the age, current condition, life expectancy and
clean-out locations.
Exposed water and waste lines are visually inspected. Water
stains are noted and determined to be active or a past water event.
All plumbing fixtures; faucets, sinks, tubs and showers are inspected
for current condition and leaks. The water heater is examined,
providing the make, age, size, water temperature and current condition.
Cost estimates are given.
If you have a well we highly recommend the well and pump be checked
by a licensed well contractor.
6. Electrical The main service entrance cable, mast
and meter box are examined.
The electrical service cabinet (electrical panel) is examined for
defects, under and oversized breakers and improper installations.
All readily accessible switches, outlets and light fixtures are tested.
7. Appliances The age, current condition,
function and
life expectancy are provided. The range, oven, refrigerator and
dryer are tested with a laser temperature thermometer.
8. Windows and Doors The readily accessible
windows are inspected for obvious defects such as cracked or broken
glass, damaged frames or missing screens. The exterior is
inspected for a good consistent caulking bead. The frames
inspected for damage and function. The walls and floors below
windows are inspected for water stains indicating a possible leak.
9. Sprinkler System The system timer and zones are
tested for function manually. The heads are tested and confirmed
to be functioning. The type of water supply is noted. If a well
exists we verify function only and exposed pipes for leaks.
If you have a well we highly recommend the well and pump be checked
by a licensed well contractor.
10. Video
In 1992 SI.com was the first inspection firm to video taped every
inspection. We feel this has set
us apart form everyone else. Many try to imitate us but they soon
fall to the way side. It has provided our clients with
important information for litigation after they have moved in.
The video documents what we do, what we did, what we found and the
current condition of the dwelling at the time of inspection. The
video is archived in our vault for at least five years. If you
ever need it, it is there for you. If you wish to purchase a copy
there is an additional fee for production and edited copies.
SI.com also inspects swimming pools, spas, hot tubs, seawalls, docks,
mold, radon, termites, lead, carbon monoxide and water testing for an
additional fee.
SUNCOASTINSPECTIONS.COM INC.
(727)-734-8822
CALL NOW OR
ORDER ONLINE |
