Florida Homes & Travel

THE PURPOSE

Generally the purpose of the Building Survey or Home Inspection is to allow a Qualified Building Professional to examine the property in detail and to identify any risk to be incurred financially or structurally by the purchaser or lenders. The basis of the findings and subsequent report will determine if the sale will be re-negotiated or succeed with conditions. If a Survey of Home Inspection is not carried out the buyer assumes all risk.

UK

Home Inspection in the UK is generally known as the Building Survey. These Surveys are carried out by degree-qualified surveyors with considerable experience and qualifications in the construction industry. The industry is regulated by the following professional organizations;
The Royal Chartered Institute of Surveyors, (RICS) http://www.rics.org.uk
The Chartered Institute of Building, (CIOB) http://www.ciob.org.uk
The Association of Building Engineers, (ABE) http://www.abe.org.uk

To ensure you have a professional survey it is advisable to check that your surveyor is accredited to either of the above organisations. A common Standard of Practice and Code of Ethics exists to ensure the high level of competence is achieved within the industry protecting the buyers.

FLORIDA

Many people are unaware that the Home Inspection industry in Florida is unlicensed and unregulated. This unfortunately means that anyone can literally be working in the industry with little or no knowledge of construction or local building standards. Property in Florida is constructed differently as opposed to UK Building Standards and standards are not as stringent. It is imperative that before purchasing a property a professional Home Inspection is carried out. Several professional organizations have been established to assist with setting up a common Standard of Practice. Membership to these organisations is Not mandatory therefore current members are clearly demonstrating their ability and professionalism for consumers who recognise the importance of regulation.

The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) http://www.ashi.org aims to assist with regulation of the industry by requiring all inspectors who wish to become members obtain a minimum inspection experience of 250 inspections. These inspections reports are examined and graded to ensure the Professional Practices and Code of Ethics are maintained. When ASHI is satisfied with the inspector's competence, the inspector is then required to take and pass a state exam. The exam is designed to test the knowledge and experience of the construction industry together with construction fault diagnosis and remedies. Becoming a member demonstrates to the Real Estate Industry the inspector's level of professionalism.

POINTS TO REMEMBER.

      · Always ensure your Realtor has a local knowledge and experience of the area you are purchasing your property.
      · Identify from your Realtor if your potential property has sustained damage from any recent hurricanes or tropical storms. This should be detailed in the seller's disclosure.
      · Always check with a Professional Organization for recommended inspectors.
      · Never use an unqualified, unlicensed or uninsured inspector.
      · Several properties are now subject to having an insurance inspection before renewal of  policies because of the recent increase of hurricane damage.
      · If a Survey of Home Inspection is not carried out the buyer assumes all risk.

Monthly Home Watch Inspections

In an ideal world a Property Management Company takes total care of all aspects of your property, not simply the cleaning between rentals, and we know that there are many good companies out there doing just that. However, in reality, not all companies have the manpower, or time to fully inspect the property, inside and out at regular intervals. Often problems are only identified when they have actually reached the "problem/breakdown" stage, rather than at the "could be prevented" stage.
A reputable Home Inspection company has been offering a service which can help. John Mcloughlin is a British Chartered Surveyor with a Bachelors Degree in Building Surveying. He is a Certified American Home Inspector and the senior Home inspector at International Inspection Services LLC (www.homeinspections-4u.com) founded in 2004.
A Home Watch Overseas Home Inspection should be complimentary to the work of your Management Company and is designed to be your eyes on your house. A dedicated, professionally qualified home inspector will walk through your house once a month and perform the following as standard:

1. Walking around the property inspecting windows and doors for signs of break in
2. Visually inspecting the roof for damage
3. Inspect landscaping for correct maintenance
4. Inspect pool and spa for correct maintenance
5. Ensure mail is not accumulating in street mail box and on the door step
6. Walking through property checking security
7. Flush toilets and run water in all appliances to ensure bugs don't get in
8. Record water, electric and gas meter readings
9. Check for insects and notify your pest control company if problems are identified
10. Review any maintenance carried out by property managers
11. Sign and date inspection record sheet in home
12. Provide written report with photographs via email
13. Arrange with local contractors of your choice to provide quotations for any repairs required
14. Take photographs where required
15. Act as your overseas representatives for emergency services access

Any items which are noted as needing attention can then be outlined to MC and homeowner alike for early remedial action. The inspection can be particularly useful when maintenance work has been completed.

Sadly, it is a reality that some unfortunate owners can find themselves tied in with a less suitable MC, and the Home Inspection could be very useful in this instance to encourage the MC to raise its game, and re-assure the owner that their property is O.K. John gave us this example of a recent case:
"An owner contacted me to inspect a property because their utility bills that were sent to their UK address appeared to be a little higher than the previous months. The property was not rented in that time period. The Management Company also handled its own bookings and failed to notify the owners that it was actually rented [out] pocketing the money."
"When a management company knows it is being independently monitored they are less likely to sub let without the owner's consent."
We do speak with owners who have identified this same problem by phoning their own house when it is not officially rented, but how much better to be able to have someone independent on the ground to prove the case?

Equally, other owners choose to employ all their own individual services: cleaners, pool cleaners and gardeners, and the Home Inspection could be invaluable in this instance, taking the burden off neighbours who often keep an eye on such properties.
John told us of a recent case where the property had not been rented for a while:
"An owner contacted me and asked me to inspect the pool after a violation notice was issued to them from the community's housing association. On inspection it was discovered that during a previous lightning storm the outside breaker switch to the power supply had tripped off leaving the property with no power for over a month. The pool filtration and chlorination was shut down. In view of the current summer temperature and no treatment the pool had gone green with algae and had to be drained, steam cleaned and refilled costing in total $600 to an independent company."

The fee for this monthly service is $85 per month for single family homes and condos up to 2,500 sq ft.
To contact John Mcloughlin visit http://www.homeinspection-4u.com or call from UK 001 407 666 3279, USA 407 666 3279