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My wife and I are planing on getting a house in the Bronx. This house is fully renovated and before we sign anything should we hire a home inspector or engineer to see the property? The owner told us that they had an city inspection done a few weeks ago and pass with no violation.
Absolutely - without a shadow of a doubt. I wouldn't buy a house built in the 90's without a thorough inspection - never mind a place that could have structural issues, insulation problems, wiring problems, past fires that could have had an impact on the roof beams, substandard plumbing, etc. Spend the money now to be sure of what you're getting into. If issues ARE discovered, you can choose to walk OR work with the seller on a lower price. And do your research on the home inspector you bring in. Treat the choosing of the inspector in the same manner you would research various surgeons who were going to operate on you. Make sure they're licensed and you check them out with the BBB. Best of luck to you and your wife. I hope it all goes smoothly for the two of you.
It is always good practice to have your own home inspection when purchasing a property. You should meet with the inspector at the property, as well as your agent, and the owner may be present, but should not interfere with the inspector. This report is for your benefit, and will let you know if the renovations are to code, and whether or not the fixtures and appliances are in good operating condition at the time of inspection.
All of this information can be used to decide whether or not you wish to continue with a purchase, and/or to negotiate the final price of the house. I would not advise proceeding without your own home inspection, as the cost is minimal when compared with potential outlays for undisclosed/unknown issues that manifest once the house is your own. It can be very difficult to prove undisclosed issues, unless they are patently obvious to anyone who walks into the home, so lawsuits against sellers/agents are expensive, time consuming, and may not result in sufficient recovery after legal expenses to make the necessary remedy(ies) to the property.
A qualified home inspector can identify any problems, and if you have any identified structural issues, you can then hire an engineer to determine the scope of any identified issues, and cost to remedy. And, if there are inspection issues that do not require the use of an engineer, you have a negotiating point for a seller concession or allowance to fix the problem. You can write an offer on the house that is contingent on the results of your own independent home inspector's report, which is generally a standard addition to a contract, and would only be an issue in a red-hot seller's market when houses sell in a matter of hours, i.e., not the current market conditions.
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My wife and I are planing on getting a house in the Bronx. This house is fully renovated and before we sign anything should we hire a home inspector or engineer to see the property? The owner told us that they had an city inspection done a few weeks ago and pass with no violation.
Should I hire an engineer or a home inspector?
I'd get an engineer. They're much better about finding problems an inspector may miss, and they're more versed in local building code.
Other then that, what everyone else has said is right on: never take the owners word for it. Get your own engineer to inspect. City inspections don't cover everything.
GET ONE!! The city inspector literally just looks around for any visible damage. A coat of paint, a drop ceiling can cover a multitude of sins. We didnt get one, and now have found 4 dead electrical outlets, and a few other surprises. Its worth it!
Not to beat a dead horse but GET AN INSPECTOR.
What the City is looking for and what YOU, as a homeonwer should be looking for are two VERY different set of criteria.
I'd get an engineer. They're much better about finding problems an inspector may miss, and they're more versed in local building code.
Other then that, what everyone else has said is right on: never take the owners word for it. Get your own engineer to inspect. City inspections don't cover everything.
I second this. Get a structural engineer. They will be able to pinpoint any issue with the foundation, joists, beams, lintels, etc.
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