Meticulous Home Inspection Corp

Do you have an underground oil tank on your property that you are worried about because you are selling your house? You should be, but its not the end of the wo...rld. The possibility of a major leak is small, but any leak of oil into the soil can affect the water table, and the soil. Have your property checked if you think one exists and if an underground tank is found, it is best to deal with it before an inspector comes in and shows evidence to the buyers of an underground tank. Home inspectors have only their vision and we often see oil lines coming through foundation walls (see picture) indicating an underground tank, or a 'Petrometer' on the wall used to check the level in the tank. And don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous! Check out my 100 plus 5 star google reviews, and also Angieslist and Yelp. www.meticuloushomeinspection.com 631 902 6761

Water and electricity when mixed gives you a possible fire hazard, and this happens more than you would think. Look at the rust in this service panel from water... entry in the first pic. The exterior service (see second pic) sometimes has putty on some areas to keep water out, but this repair often fails over time. So when buying a condo, co-op, townhouse, or home, don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous! 631 902-6761 www.meticuloushomeinspection.com.

Electrical Box Inspection. By Meticulous Home Inspection

Inspection of Kitchen island and receptacle

Thinking of buying or selling a home? Discover upfront what you need to know about your home.

Does your vent trap screen look like this? This opening is part of the plumbing/drainage system of a typical home, and as you can see the screen is clogged with toilet paper. This typically means a back-up has occurred, and the cesspool likely needs service. Older homes like the one this is from can have drainage issues for many reasons such as old steel drain pipes that rust internally and clog, or from other issues such as roots growing into old cesspool and drain piping. ...Simple hair clogs can also affect drainage, but in older homes, most home inspectors will mention galvanized steel piping as a possible issue if it exists. Sometimes this piping is not visible when you are looking at houses that are supposedly renovated, so always look under the sink where the piping enters the wall. This is an indication that someone renovated only the accessible piping, and left the old drain piping within the wall. This is one of my big pet peeves as many prospective buyers are duped into thinking the home is completely renovated, yet the 60 year old drain piping was not completely changed to pvc

How to invite termites into your home for a meal of a lifetime. Many people have flower beds in front ad around their homes, but if you hire a landscaping contractor to freshen up the beds in the spring, make sure they do not do this (see picture). I inspect home after home with soil and mulch against the siding, and this can foster termite activity. The first piece of lumber on the foundation is the sill plate which is the base for the wall studs (2 by 4's) that form the wal...l skeleton. When you put soil against the house, the wood is now BELOW the soil line, and is now far more susceptible to wood rot and termite infestation. Regrading the soil around your house is so important, and I often find termite damage in the home when the siding is beneath the soil line. You should have at least 1 inch per foot of slope away from your house, and in some cases wood and stone retaining walls should be removed so proper grading can be performed. Any questions regarding this or any questions regarding your home are cheerfully answered, so don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous!

Many inspectors have no background in construction (we do!), have no associations with inspector organizations (we do!), and if you hire a franchise company (you won't know) you pay much more for a home inspection. So don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous! https://www.meticuloushomeinspection.com/

How many layers of roof shingle are okay on a roof? Three? Two? The roof shingle manufacturers in the US generally will not honor a warranty on your roof if not installed by a licensed roofing contractor. Roofing contractors that install multiple layers of shingle are hacks, and should not be in the business of roofing if they install a second layer on your roof. The inspection I did in Lynbrook yesterday had three layers of shingles, and look how wavy the most recent layer i...s (see picture). The underside of your roof is plywood, or sheathing as it is called, unless it is an older home and may have tongue-in-groove sheathing. This sheathing must breathe, as well as the shingle, and when the newer layer rests on the previous layer or layers, it cannot breathe properly, and will deteriorate quicker than it should. When you install multiple layers it also makes it nearly impossible to install flashing also. Flashing is installed beneath the shingles and behind the siding to keep water from getting in to the house. Hire a licensed and established roofing contractor when you have a roof installed, and check online reviews, as well as the BBB. And if you have any doubts about the quality of the job, or if its installed properly, call Meticulous Home Inspection for an inspection. Don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous!

Want to sell your house with a minimum of hassle, and NO renegotiation? Want to assure the buyers' inspector does not kill the sale cause he is new to the business and green? Want to avoid a buyer asking for $5000 for a $500 repair? Then you need to have your house inspected BEFORE it goes on the market. Many inspectors come up with prices on repairs not based in reality - how could they price a roofing repair if they are not a roofing contractor? How can someone say to the ...buyer that the plumbing repair will cost $1200 if they are not a licensed plumber? Well folks it happens every day here on Long Island. Home inspectors are NOT supposed to be quoting prices, but many do! If you have a house inspected before you hire an agent, you avoid all the BS of a ridiculous price reduction if you already know what your house will need. This can calm the buyer because they all want to know "How much will these things cost to repair?", and buyers all want a price reduction after their inspector checks out your house. I see it all too often. You can also get an inspector who your buyer hires that is hell-bent on killing the sale cause he notices a scared buyer who, if he scares them enough, can get another fee for the next inspection, and the next, ... Don't be ridiculous, and call Meticulous! Meticulous Home Inspection will show you what need to have repaired on and in your house, and then you can get contractors in that will provide REAL pricing. Real pricing from a reputable contractor is the BEST way to show the buyer you are pro-active in addressing the issues found in your house, and this stops the renegotiation! You can price the house properly and sell with a minimum of problems this way, so the money you spend beforehand saves you much bigger money after the inspection! Call Ray Wilson at 631-902 6761, and sell your house for the right money without the hassle! See more

A simple deck railing can cause foot or ankle injury. The photo shows the railing off to the side of the steps, instead of above the edge of the steps, and this is a trip hazard. My report reflected this, and I recommended to the buyer it be removed and a proper railing installed. This is a very common issue, and I have even found this on a new homes' stoop. How they got a CO was beyond my understanding.

Home security is as simple as a small piece of metal. These are pictures of two doors in a newly renovated home in Shirley, and as you can see no latch plates are present at the door jambs. While this is not a big deal, it can be if someone is trying to enter your house without permission, and can mean the difference between getting in or not. ... Both of these entry doors had deadbolts, but both did not enter the jamb when I attempted to lock the door, so this house is nice and easy for a burglar to enter. If given the choice between two homes to break into - the easy one or the harder one - what do you think the burglar will do?

This is what the top of most peoples brick chimney look like. The concrete crown is cracked, and water enters the chimney when it rains. This can cause issues that can escalate in cost, and if the chimney is regularly maintained, it will save you money in the long run. Have your chimney serviced regularly by a qualified and licensed chimney sweep, and avoid the issues I see and write up on a regular basis.

See the rusty spot? Know what it is? This is 70 plus year old galvanized piping in a house in Sea Cliff NY. When you purchase an old home, this type of thing is common, and is in need of updating. But this is not visible when its hidden within the wall of the kitchen and bathroom, and it could be leaking within the wall too. This is one of the many things found by Meticulous Home Inspection on a regular basis, and we mention this to buyers so they understand the limitations o...f older homes. While it may put off some buyers, the client expected issues would come up like this, and now they can move forward with their purchase knowing whats behind the walls that they cannot see. So don't be ridiculous, call Meticulous! Please like and share.

Are you freaking because your house is being inspected for the buyer of your property? Here are some tips to make it go smoothly. 1 - Go shopping. Get out of the house and go somewhere. Your agent should be there to let the inspector in and stay there while the inspection is going on.... 2 - If you stay home, do NOT contest everything the home says as this does not go well for most sellers. The inspector is there to do his job and is not putting down your house. He is protecting the buyers interest. 3 - Clean out the debris, clutter and boxes/stored items so the inspector can access everything like the service panel, crawl space entrance, basement, garage, etc. If the home inspector cannot do a complete job and has to return, he generally will want a return fee (mine is $150), and in my case I feel the listing agent should make sure all is accessible by communicating this to the seller. The buyer should not have to shell out more money for re-inspection and I tell these often unhappy buyers to INSIST the seller or their agent pay this fee for not having the house properly prepared for inspection. 4 - Have your heating system and chimney cleaned and serviced by a qualified heating contractor and chimney sweep before the inspection and have the receipt on hand to prove it. 5 - Get the car out of the garage so the inspector does not have to worry about scratching your paint job. 6 - Remove the dog poop from the yard. I try to avoid stepping in it, but sometimes this is impossible. Inspectors generally will NOT pay for your carpets or floors to be cleaned if they track your dogs poop into your house. 7 - If you had additions to your home, have the CO's from your municipality on file or accessible. Home inspectors generally do not look up to see if CO's are in place, but the bank appraiser for the buyer will. If you have an illegal deck, patio, addition, finished off garage, etc. it WILL BE FOUND OUT. If you lie and do NOT have these, and the buyer cannot buy the house because you LIED, I insist the buyer seek re-imbursement of the inspection fees from the selling side for lying about the status of the house. Put your self in the buyers shoes, and minimize the things the inspector can find wrong with your house so the buyer does not become scared away from your home. This is done by maintaining your house and property. Major repairs like renovations should be bolstered with receipts and work orders from licensed contractors. I find way to often poor workmanship throughout peoples homes and I relay that to the buyer every time.\ One of the biggest things that scare buyers away is the inspector stating that workmanship appears unprofessional on item after item in the house because it is usually very easy to spot electrical, plumbing and roofing work performed by your 'Uncle Teddy' or your 'boyfriend or cousin who used to build houses'. -Ray

A tree grows in chimney. This is a chimney on a rental home in Islip that has not been maintained, and as you can see a small tree is growing from between the bricks above the roofline. This is a serious issue if a brick is dislocated and falls to the ground - especially if you are under it while mowing the lawn. Or while your kids are playing.... Even if the chimney is no longer in service they must be maintained or they fall apart. The chimney is probably the most non-maintained thing I see on homes that I inspect for potential buyers, and some buyers will walk away from the sale for safety reasons like these. If not maintained, then repairs become more expensive, so spend some money on yours to maintain it so it does not get to the point where major repairs are needed.

The wire you see is obviously damaged, but someone did not repair or even mention this visible little gem. I always wonder what is above the finished ceilings that could be like this, The fool who did this has no regard for fire safety, or any other kinda safety, and should not be handling a torch. These issues and more are part of what I see daily as an inspector in Nassau County, as well as in Suffolk County.The buyer was also quite surprised to see this and is having second thoughts.

Do You Need A Home Inspection? Don't Be Ridiculous Call Meticulous!!! Click the link below to schedule today.

This is a pic of a 69 Pontiac Firebird I got at a home inspection years ago, Bought it for $5500, now have over $18000 invested due to nose/hood black-out, detailed engine compartment, trunk battery, and needs dash, console, gauges and interior. Then she is done!

When I perform an inspection of a home that is in a valley or low area, I mention to buyers and put in the report that this is an undesirable situation, but if regrading is done this should alleviate (most times) the problem. When heavy rains soak the soil, hydrostatic pressure (hydro meaning water, and static meaning not moving) builds up in the soil and can push against and through the foundation. This can sometimes be visible in the basement if the basement is unfinished, ...but can be hidden if the basement is finished. Efflorescence (see picture) is the whitish chalky powder seen on foundation walls from water intrusion, and here on Long Island is a common thing to see in the basement at a home inspection. This powder is from water that evaporates leaving the calcium salts and minerals behind. Regrading of the property is usually the best way to combat these issues, as well as proper placement of gutter downspouts and splashblocks at these discharge points. Most homes have poor grading, and many do not have splashblocks at the discharge points, and then you are asking for problems. Keeping gutters maintained, and grading the soil so it is sloped away is the best way to keep the basement dry. Painting your basement walls with special paint to keep water from penetrating is a complete waste of time and money. If you have water coming through your foundation, a layer of expensive paint will not likely do a thing but drain your wallet unnecessarily. Regrade the property and keep your gutters maintained.