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Property Condition and Inspections

CONTENTS

I. The Big Issues of Property Condition

II. Property Inspection Services

I. The Big Issues of Property Condition

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Mold can cause health problems to persons who reside in the property.

Urea-Formaldehyde Insulation can also cause health problems to persons who reside in the property.

Asbestos has been recognized as a health hazard since

Lead-Based Paint is a health issue, especially if children are present.

Ground Water contamination comes from a variety of sources.

Radon is present in the ground in most areas of the country. It only accumulates in homes if there are specific problems with the structure.

Underground Storage Tanks are generally decades old, installed when standards were lax.

Electromagnetic Radiation is something many home buyers are concerned about.

PCB’s are highly toxic, and a great concern if they are present.

II. Property Inspection Issues

(UNDER CONSTRUCTION)

Property Inspection services provide an invaluable service, but have limitations which are important to understand. Unless you are paying upward of $2,500 for a property inspection, the likelihood is that the inspector’s contract strictly limits their liability for any errors or omissions which they make. Most property inspection service contracts limit their liability to the price you paid for the inspection. This, of course, is trivial compared to your cost in addressing any major problem with the property which they may have missed.

Nevertheless, most property inspection services work hard and are extremely conscientious. They are especially good at identifying issues which you may miss, unless you are extraordinarily well versed in the construction trades.

Some buyers prefer to use General Contractors to do their inspections. While they cost considerably more, they have a lot to say for them. Property inspection services are not licensed in Florida. General Contractors are subject to a very strong licensing system. Their knowledge of building construction is obviously much stronger, and they can put whatever conditions they discover into much better perspective for you, because most are equipped to give you quotes on the cost of correcting whatever problems they uncover.

By the same token, though they aren’t licensed and may not have as many years of training and experience that contractors have, most inspection services are nevertheless very diligent, have excellent, highly comprehensive checklists, and may uncover items a contractor may miss. Generally thinking, these would be relatively minor issues. So, the bottom line is, each category of service provider has its strengths and weaknesses. With time and experience, you will identify professionals you go back to again and again.

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The BIG Issues of Property Condition