Difference Between Home Appraisal and Inspection did you know

What is the Difference Between Home Appraisal and Inspection?

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The home buying process can be confusing. There are so many steps and an entire glossary of terms to remember. It’s no wonder that many first-time homebuyers regret their purchase. One of the biggest mistakes people make is assuming an appraisal is enough. They forgo the home inspection and rush to sign and snag their deal. But a home inspection is just as important, if not more important, than an appraisal. If you like to live without regret and want your real estate investment to be a dream home and not a haunting nightmare, you need to know the difference between home appraisal and inspection.

Buying a home is a lot like buying a car. The first thing you want to do is understand the value of your intended purchase and then its condition.

If you look up the value of a 1990 Chevy Impala with 100,000 miles, you’ll compare that cost when you take a trip to a dealership. It will help you spot an overpriced car. But there is no “Blue Book” for homes. The real estate market will be different depending on each unique property and its surrounding neighborhood, and an appraisal is performed to determine a house’s value.

difference between home appraisal and inspectionWhat is a Home Appraisal?

A licensed third party performs an appraisal to identify the worth of the property. Lenders commonly used them to determine if the value of a house is in line with the asking price. 

They’re looking for factors such as:

  • Location
  • Size
  • Age
  • Building materials
  • Energy efficiency
  • Safety
  • Obvious damage

If the current homeowner has set the cost above the property’s worth, the lender will refuse to approve the loan unless the price is adjusted.

If a home appraisal is far above the asking price, suspicion arises. Why do they want less? Is there something wrong with the property that they aren’t telling you? 

This is why a home inspection is important.

Why Do I Need a Home Inspection?

You need more answers; ones that an appraisal alone cannot fulfill. Determining the condition of a home is crucial to make an informed decision as a buyer.

Returning to the vehicle comparison, you wouldn’t buy a car without knowing what’s under the hood. How old are its parts, and how many car accidents has it been through?

It would be handy to have a mechanic check out the engine, wouldn’t it? Then you wouldn’t have any surprises! 

A home inspector works for you similarly. After they check the home you want to buy, you receive a complete understanding of the entire property from the perspective of a trained professional with immense knowledge. 

What is a Home Inspection?

A licensed third party performs a home inspection to identify the condition of the property. When you plan to buy a home, a home inspector investigates the property with an expert’s eye and meticulous attention to detail. 

A home inspection report thoroughly outlines the health of all major components of a house, including its:

  • Roof
  • Foundation
  • Plumbing
  • Electrical
  • HVAC

These are all expensive and essential parts of a home. If the property has faulty or aging components that require repair or replacement, you will want to know before you sign on the house.

Buying a home is an enormous investment. You’re paying a lot of money to receive something of value, not a financial burden. Even though it might look beautiful, there could be hidden issues that cost large sums of money to fix. 

The larger the home, the more expensive the repairs. For instance, a faulty HVAC system can cost upwards of $10,000 to $30,000. If the roof is nearing the end of its life expectancy and it’s leaking, you will need an extra $20,000 – $100,000 to replace it. 

By having a home inspection performed, you get the inside scoop about the health and safety of the property and what renovation projects could be in the near future. At that point, you can decide if you will close the deal or walk away.

Let’s Recap: Appraisal vs Inspection

When you intend to purchase a home, an appraisal determines the value of the property while an inspection identifies its current condition. With these two factors in mind, both the lender and the buyer can move forward in the house buying process with security and confidence in their choices.

Are you looking to buy a house in the Tampa Bay Area? Learn as much as you can about the property before you sign. Divinity Inspection Service wants to help you choose wisely. 

Schedule an inspection today! 

new construction home scaled

What to Look Out For in New Construction Homes

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You’re at the end of the home buying process, and you are ready to move into your home, right? Wrong.

New construction homes should always have a final home inspection before you close that deal. You need a walkthrough from a certified and highly trained home inspector to check everything. When you get those keys in your hand, you want to feel confident in what you own. If issues were brought up before, now is the time to make sure they are fully resolved. All major systems should be thoroughly checked over. New construction homes are far from perfect and having a home inspection will help you to detect any mistakes before you inherit them.

new construction homes

Confrontation about New Construction Homes?

Sometimes, when you discuss hiring an inspector to evaluate new construction homes with the sellers, they attempt to discourage you from doing so. They might tell you that the home has already been inspected, it’s covered by a home warranty, or better yet, that they won’t fix anything the inspector reports.

These are warning signs that you really need to get a final inspection. They know that their work isn’t up to our standards. 

When contractors/sellers try to talk you out of an inspection, do not give in. You owe yourself to know exactly what you are buying. Now that you are certain that you want a final inspection, let’s discuss the most common issues reported when we inspect new construction homes.

Incomplete Work 

It may surprise you to know that it’s common to find unfinished work. Contractors are human, and sometimes they get distracted and make mistakes. Whether they forget to install hardware, child safety features, or improperly install something, it’s our job as your home inspector to spot these inconsistencies and report them.

The selling party should respect our report and make the repairs before you move in. 

Structure

Yes! It’s possible to buy a newly constructed house and have a cracked foundation, problems with the grating, or other structural defects that you don’t want to deal with. When you buy a house, you want it to be perfect, and we are here for you to make sure that you get exactly what you paid for. 

Don’t settle for less! If the structure of your home isn’t sound, it compromises the durability and safety of the building.

HVAC

Your HVAC system is one of the most important major appliances in your home. It’s also exceedingly complex. In order to heat and cool your home effectively, the right size and adjustments are necessary. 

When the heating and air conditioning are negatively impacted, comfort isn’t an option. That’s why an inspector will check for leaks, thermostat issues, and the overall size of the unit to determine if it was installed correctly.

Plumbing

You want the right pipes to be used and there to be no leaks present. You also want your cold and hot water settings to be where they should be. 

These are all a part of your home inspection. We want to make sure that when you move into your new construction home that you don’t end up with extensive water damage.

Electrical 

Bad electrical installation is a recipe for fire. Before you move in, you want to have your electrical system checked for big mistakes that could cost you more than just your home, but your life! 

From the wiring to the circuit breaker box, a qualified home inspector will check the entire electrical system for errors so that you can rest easy about your investment.

Windows and Doors

Especially in Florida, we need our windows and doors to be well sealed and leak-free! Between rain, hot air, humidity, and pests, the invaders rapping at our windows and doors are plentiful and unwelcomed.

We believe that the outdoors should remain outside and will rigorously examine all of your windows and doors for defects and improper installation. When you hire a home inspector to perform the final inspection of your new construction home, every detail matters!

Final Inspection for New Construction Homes

Please, do not pass up this essential step in the home buying process. The last inspection is crucial to determine if the contractors built your home correctly, and the experts at Divinity Inspection Services are here to help you. 

Unlike many other home inspectors, we are contractors ourselves and know the ins and outs of new home construction. Every aspect of your property is our expertise and we will identify any abnormality in the work done. Contact us now to schedule your final home inspection today!

 

 

information what is home inspection contingency scaled

What is a Home Inspection Contingency?

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When you are ready to own a home for the first time, there are so many terms to learn. The entire home buying process can make your head spin! 

information - what is home inspection contingencyOnce you fall in love with a property, the next step is writing your offer. You are far from finalizing the sale, so don’t worry! After an agreement is made on a price, the seller(s) will pull the house from the market, temporarily allowing you to settle a few details. 

 

Now, you have to figure out if you’re in love with the idea of this property or the actual condition it is in. The last thing you want to do is rush in and buy it on a whim. 

To help you determine what problems the house has, you will need a home inspection to answer questions like: 

  • Can you simply move in and live there? 
  • Will the pipes burst? 
  • Is the roof going to leak? 
  • How old is the HVAC unit?

Buying a home is a tremendous investment, possibly the largest investment of your life. You want to make an educated decision and carefully plan for the future. That’s what makes a home inspection contingency a powerful tool in the home buying process.

Defining a home inspection contingency

Before we can define what a home inspection contingency is, we need to understand what a contingency is. A contingency is a condition set in place that states that if A happens, C follows, but if B happens, D follows. 

When you buy a house, a home inspection contingency states that (A) if the house passes a home inspection (C) you will buy the house. However, (B) if the house does NOT pass the home inspection, (D) you walk away from the sale with no obligation. 

The home inspection is a key component in determining if you will become the new homeowner. 

You will be responsible for the task of hiring an inspector to perform the home inspection at a designated time. The allotted period could be as short as 5 days if it’s a competitive offer or as long as 17 days.

In that time frame, you must have the inspection performed, receive the report, and the seller needs to put in the disclosures.

But there are a few things that you need to understand about home inspections.

A home inspection is not a test

There is no hard pass or fail concerning home inspections. An experienced professional will find something wrong with every house, no matter what. Even newly constructed models will have errors in the craftsmanship or a building code violation hidden inside or on the external components of the building. 

So how do you determine if a house “passes” a home inspection? That’s where the grey areas lie in these agreements. 

Your home inspection may give you leverage

You have the choice to walk away if the deterioration or damage laid out in your home inspection is more than you are willing or capable of handling.

But, you might be able to use those problems to your advantage. The paperwork has yet to be filled out and you have a professional diagnosis of the condition of the property. You don’t have to leave the negotiations table. 

Instead, use the home inspection report to come to a new agreement with the seller. Your real estate agent may be able to convince them to offer credit for the repairs or make some repairs themselves. These would be new terms and conditions laid out in the official deal. 

Location is everything

This is where you need to be careful. Once the time for contingency is up, the sellers can choose a different buyer to work with. 

If you have a trusted real estate agent, they will tell you if you have a chance to negotiate repairs or a lower price. Sometimes your only option is to take it or leave it. 

If you are buying in Wesley Chapel, you won’t have much room to negotiate because the market for that neighborhood is hot. The demand is high, and if you won’t buy at the seller’s price, someone else will.

But other neighborhoods may be more forgiving. Always consult your real estate agent. If you are the type of person who likes to haggle, have your agent avoid popular areas.

Contingency removal

Have you agreed on the price and decided to move forward with the process? Now, you will sign off and remove the inspection contingency. Contingency removal is a legal statement that declares that the home inspection report can no longer affect the deal. 

You cannot cancel the contract from this point on because you received and legally accepted all information and disclosures about the property. The condition has been met, and you’re on your way to closing the deal and getting the keys in your hand. 

Home Inspections in Tampa Bay

If you are thinking about buying a new home, and you need a home inspection performed on the property, schedule an appointment with an inspector today! Get in touch with Divinity Inspection Service.

House under protection are home warranties worth it scaled

Are Home Warranties Worth It?

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Does a home warranty really safeguard your new investment? The providers claim to protect the integrity of your major appliances and home systems, but they also leave plenty of loopholes to jump through. If they offer you a home warranty on the home you intend to buy, then you need to know exactly what this warranty entails and how it works before you sign. You want to know in advance: Are home warranties worth it?

What is a Home Warranty?

The agent or seller includes a home warranty in most home sales. It’s a gesture of good faith to ease the worries of the homebuyer. Much like a warranty on a car, it creates a sense of security in the large purchase being made.

People see them as insurance policies that cover the cost of repairs when things go wrong, but that’s not the case. A home warranty is not the same as home insurance. 

A home warranty is a service contract. The company helps to keep everything up and running and only replaces what cannot be repaired.

How Does a Home Warranty Work?

A home warranty company doesn’t repair or replace anything themselves. They only serve as the middleman. 

When something goes wrong in your new home, you will contact the home warranty company and make a claim. Then they will charge you a deductible and tell you if your contract covers the claim.

What’s NOT Covered By Your Home Warranty Contract?

Chances are, you didn’t read the entire contract. It’s long and has a lot of complicated legal jargon. But you should pay close attention because it’s filled with an extensive list of exclusions that will allow the company to deny your claim. 

Home warranty contracts are intentionally confusing. They can be difficult to understand and contain a lot of gray areas.

Exclusions are typically the most common complaints; e.g. for appliances such as your:

  • Refrigerator
  • Washer
  • Drier
  • Central AC Unit
  • Heating Unit

Contracts may state that it covers the main HVAC unit, but fail to mention that secondary units are separate. Other surprising exclusions may include:

  • Structural Problems
    • Doors
    • Windows
    • Walls
  • Outdoor Systems
    • Septic System
    • Exterior Plumbing
    • Pools and Hot Tubs

It’s also important to note that a home warranty will not cover problems documented in your home inspection report. They are referred to as “pre-existing conditions.” 

Now you understand more about your contract. Let’s move on to the home warranty process. 

Contractors and What to Watch Out For 

Assuming that you are in luck and they accepted the claim, now what? They pick your electricians, HVAC specialists, roofers, plumbers, and so on, and send them to your home.

Many new homeowners are shocked when their home warranty doesn’t allow them to choose the contractor that works on their home, but that’s the way most companies do it. They have a large directory of local independent contractors whom they have partnered with and find one near you.

These small businesses receive new leads (customers like you) in return for offering specific services at a reduced rate. You will still pay something out of pocket. It is not free. And not everything the partnered contractor does will be at discounted prices. 

Contractors accept this partnership because it is an opportunity to profit. Sometimes they will arrive knowing that the home warranty does not cover the repair and will offer to fix it for their regular price. Out of convenience and/or desperation, the homeowner may agree to the work.

Many contractors will purposely look for other issues to remedy. If none are at hand, they can make up problems that don’t exist. Imaginary conditions or code violations mysteriously appear. 

So, Are Home Warranties Worth it? Why Home Inspections Help You Make the Most of Your Future Home Warranty

A home warranty does not cover pre-existing conditions, but how do you prove a problem was present before you bought the house? A home inspection report can outline exactly what was wrong with your home before you closed the deal.

They cover the rest, right? 

Wrong. 

It should work that way, but some companies argue that the inspector missed something. That’s why Divinity Inspection Service includes a meticulous report that not only documents defects but also notes what works properly at the time of inspection. When you have hard proof of what was and wasn’t working within the home before the deal is closed, it forces home warranty companies to cover repairs that are within their contract.

Let’s get back to our question: Are home warranties worth it? Our answer: Some can be, provided that you:

For inspectors you can trust, contact Divinity Inspection Service today!

 

sewer pipe inspection

What Is a Sewer Pipe Inspection (And Why Do You Need Them)?

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Your sewer line is a mystery. Deep under the earth is a pipe that runs waste from your home or business to the public sewer system. Unless you have x-ray vision, you won’t be able to see any problems that develop in that pipe until it’s too late. Blocked sewer lines can cause waste to flow back up and into the building. Broken and leaking pipes can lead to sinkholes!

Do you want a disgusting, stinking, and unhealthy situation on your hands? Absolutely not!

What should you do? Get a sewer pipe inspection!

What is a Sewer Pipe Inspection?

What is a sewer pipe inspectionWhen you need to find the precise location of a problem in your sewer line, a sewer pipe inspection is your best solution. Digging around to search for the clogged or broken pipe section will waste both time and money. And we aren’t talking about a little money. A simple sewer pipe inspection can save you thousands of dollars!

Instead of tearing up your entire front yard, hire a certified inspector who uses a special waterproof camera called a sewer scope to snake through the waste line. This professional-grade equipment has a light to illuminate the pipe properly so that the camera can see clearly. It offers the inspector both video footage and a measurement of how far down the pipe the camera is located.

Prevention is Key

Buildings that were constructed over 20 years ago should definitely receive a sewer line inspection. Especially if you are interested in buying the property or have already purchased it, you will want to check for issues before they cause serious damage. Divinity Inspection Service can perform a sewer scope inspection along with our home inspection for an additional cost.

Types of Sewer Pipes and Their Problems

Sewer pipes come in all shapes and sizes.

  • They make the newer sewer lines from mostly PVC (plastic) which do not corrode. However, they can still suffer from multiple situations that can put your home or business at risk. It’s always best to check on them every few years.
  • Cast iron sewer pipes have an average life expectancy of between 30 and 50 years. Even though they last long they are prone to corrosion, and there is a possibility that something will go wrong. Having a sewer line inspection every one to two years will ease your worries and pinpoint trouble before it can wreak havoc on your property. 
  • Vitrified clay pipes (VCP), otherwise known as “clay tile pipe”, are a ceramic line made from clay and shale. They are a high-quality product that is completely resistant to rust and decomposition that metals face, but they can crack. Your greatest risk with VCP sewage piping is tree roots. They can puncture or push the clay pipes out of alignment. If you have trees located around the sewage line, it’s necessary to have a sewage pipe inspection once in a while to check for disruptions in the waste flow.

Common Issues for Sewer Pipes

Now that we covered what type of pipes there are, let’s focus on the most common issues.

Offsetting

When sewer pipes are newly installed, they line up perfectly in a straight line. There are no gaps or separation between pipe sections and the flow of waste runs through smoothly. But over time the joints can wear down. 

Vibrations from vehicles, construction projects, and ground impact from falling tree limbs can abruptly offset the alignment. When the pipes shift or disconnect, the line is no longer straight. Just like a large crack in a road, the gap isn’t just unsightly, it spells big trouble. The sewage can leak out, roots can crawl in, and sewage gets stuck.

Vibrations from vehicles, construction projects, and ground impact from falling tree limbs can abruptly offset the alignment. When those pipes shift or disconnect, the line is no longer straight. Just like a large crack in a road, the gap isn’t just unsightly, it spells big trouble. The sewage can leak out, roots can crawl in, and sewage gets stuck.

A Belly

Your private sewer line should be straight and tip slightly down to allow gravity to pull waste away from your property and into the public sewage line. Just like the foundation of a home can sink and cause complications, when your sewer line sinks, it can create a curve that levels out at the bottom. 

Instead of sewage flowing down steadily, it flows down the curve and stops or slows down considerably before it can reach the main line. It settles in your sewer line instead of leaving. Whenever anything sits for too long, it gunks up and becomes immovable. 

Clogs

No matter how perfect your pipes might be, a clog can still happen. Luckily, this is one of the easiest situations to handle. As long as the pipes themselves are in perfect condition, a licensed plumber can safely remove a clog.

When people assume that a sewage line problem is “just a clog” there can be horrible consequences. If the clog has resulted from broken pipes, routing the pipe blindly won’t solve the actual issue. As the damage progressively gets worse, so does your repair cost.

Sewer Pipe Inspection in Tampa Bay, Florida

When you need a sewer pipe inspection performed in your residential or commercial property in Tampa Bay, Florida, contact the professional inspectors at Divinity Inspection Services and schedule a visit. Our team experts are trained to notice every minute detail. We will quickly and accurately identify all sewer line trouble and report it to you.