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When buying homes in Miami, a great investment, it's standard practice to check out equivalent sales in the area to get an idea of value. But what do you do next?
You can do a walk-through and see that the back door sticks, but why? Maybe it because a hinge is loose but it could be much worse. It's possible with some homes in Miami that something is wrong with the foundation.
It's unlikely you'll be able to pinpoint the problem unless you're a building inspector.
Claude McGavick, a board member with the Florida Association of Building Inspectors, says, "A good home inspector will look at 800 to 1,000 things in a home." He says inspectors follow standard guidelines that tell them what to look at and how to look at it.
Here are some tips for finding an inspector:
» Word of mouth is one of the best ways to choose an inspector for homes in Miami. Home inspectors in Florida are not licensed but that will change as of July 1st.
» Search professional organizations databases. They train their members and giving them inspection guidelines. Here are three places to start:
· Florida Association of Building Inspectors 800-544-3224
· American Society of Home Inspectors 800-743-2744
· National Association of Home Inspectors 800-448-3942
According to the Florida Association of Building Inspectors, standard inspections involve a visual examination of the Miami real estate property from top to bottom. The inspector will check the heating system, the central air-conditioning system, the interior plumbing and electrical systems, the roof and visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, the foundation, basement and visible structure. The inspector should tell you about any system that may be near the end of its serviceable life or not up to par, and why. It's very important to pay special attention to the roof and to termite damage of Miami real estate properties.
In general, expect to pay about $300 to $500 for an inspection, says McGavick, who also is an inspector with Home Check Home Inspection Services of Bradenton. The size of the Miami real estate property, the age, special structures and so on can affect the price.
It's not up to the inspector to tell you whether or not to buy a house in Miami. No house is perfect; you must decide which imperfections and eventual repairs are acceptable.
Source: http://miami-info.com/news/category/miami-real-estate/
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