Real Estate on Long Island

Welcome to Paumanok, currently known as Long Island, NY.

On the Northeastern end of this Great American Continent lies Long Island, one of the most beautiful and historically rich island God’s green earth has ever seen. We still have villages; not like they did it during the times of the caviar and lobster eating Lenape Indians. Up until and during a large phase of the 19th century, Long Island was still pretty much rural settlement.

Long Island is predominantly covered by Suffolk and Nassau counties which are primarily suburban; and then there’s Queens and Brooklyn which are more like NY boroughs. As you can clearly tell once you come to Long Island, we have come a long way from the old days of dome shaped huts sourrounded by miles of cornfields to … just a bit of that… coupled with more sohisticated artitecture from our time.

According to early accounts recorded by the first European settlers, Indian houses in the area were dome-shaped structures from 10 to 20 feet in diameter, covered with grass. Clay covered openings at the tops of the dwellings prevented them from burning when fires were lit inside: the vents allowed smoke and heat to escape. – richmondhillhistory.org

Real estate on Long Island now ranges from single to multi family homes to commercial buildings to industrial property and warehouses. You can also find rentals in almost every part of Long Island.

The weather in Long Island also marches most neighboring coastal areas with warm humid summers and snowy winters (although a bit warmer compared to inland areas).

A near complete list of all the towns and villages in Long Island can be found on the Long Island dot com website:

Long Island Towns – Your Long Island Neighborhood Guide

Long Island has more towns and villages than Hollywood has movie stars, and it can get a little confusing – even to those of us who are born and raised here.

Long Island New York is comprised of two counties – Nassau County and Suffolk County, two cities – Long Beach and Glen Cove, numerous local towns, villages, hamlets, postal zones and designated places. In Nassau County we have three towns – Oyster Bay, Hempstead, North Hempstead, and two cities – Long Beach and Glen Cove. In Suffolk there are ten towns – Babylon, Brookhaven, East Hampton, Huntington, Islip, Riverhead, Smithtown, Shelter Island, Southampton and Southold as well as two Indian reservations – Poospatuck and Shinnecock. In addition, there are local hamlets and villages within these towns… see the complete breakdown of neighborhoods

Perhaps you will be interested in learning that Long Island has become a lucrative property market especially for new and growing families. We’ve helped thousands of Long Islanders choose their dream home. Check here for the Long Island communities we serve with our detailed and thorough home and property inspections. It is due to the availability of parks, boating and fishing waters, sufficient public infrastructure, social amenities, shopping spots, awesome communities, as well as countless annual cultural events for all family members to enjoy.

You can choose from the lavish neighborhoods of the Hamptons or the simple quiet life in the Northern agricultural towns in Suffolk. Katherine Chaffer shares some nice information on why you should invest in a home in the Plainview hamlet. Check out her reasons and well structured arguments:

Buying in Plainview

Plainview is diverse, Meringoff says, both in terms of the people who live there and the sizes, styles and prices of homes the community has to offer. He says you can find ranches, capes, Colonials and split-levels on lots ranging from less than a quarter-acre to a full acre in size. The price for a starter home can be in the low $300,000s, with high-end homes selling for more than $1 million. Another draw, Meringoff says, is Plainview’s strong resale value… find out more valuable tips

In addition to close home communities such as Plainview, there are many secluded estates for those who want to spend a little higher for their privacy. Diane Polland showcases an 8 acre water front property at Kings Point with 3 palatial residences. See the magnificent architectural design and flowing gardens in the compound. Are you into yachting or sports?:

Call us now for more available options in real estate on Long Island.

Find your dream home now!

Related Posts:

Who Needs a Home Inspection?

 

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Real Estate on Long Island was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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Declutter For Pre-Listing

As a home inspector in the Suffolk and Nassau Counties, we see a lot of homes just prior to being listed for sale. Pre-listing home inspections are quickly becoming common practice in some areas of the country because its benefits to a home owner can be numerous. However, as a home inspector we also see a lot of overly-cluttered homes clearly not ready for listing or attractive to a potential buyer. Below are some simple ideas on how to de-clutter your home prior to listing it.

 

It can be emotionally difficult to de-clutter and it can be a bit difficult because you do have to decide what you can hide by storing away neatly in a closet or off-site. (Do not over-stuff your closets; it can make your house look like there’s insufficient storage.) We even gave a mention to all of our clients on Google Plus to make sure to declutter your homes prior to inspection. We want you to get the most out of your inspection. Check out our post on Google Plus:

 

 

 

There are several key reasons for decluttering: A de-cluttered room makes it look bigger and captures “visual” square footage, it can highlight the home’s positive features because they’re no longer hidden under clutter, de-cluttering means de-personalizing so a potential buyer can envision themselves living in your home.

 

Here are some ideas for de-cluttering:

• Make the time over several days. It can be difficult with busy schedules to spend an entire day de-cluttering your home. Make and take the time over several days to begin de-cluttering, organizing, and putting things away.
• A place for everything. Make sure you dedicate space for everything or consider getting rid of it. Clutter builds up either because you didn’t know where to put something or didn’t take the time to put it away. Time to address both issues: if there’s no space, make one or get rid of it; if you didn’t put something away because of not taking the time, make the time now.
• A little bit at a time. De-cluttering can be overwhelming. Start with small things easy to deal with items. Start with small rooms or the least cluttered rooms and build from there. If you tackle it one space at a time, it won’t feel as overwhelming.
• Through strangers’ eyes. Look at your home through the eyes of a complete stranger. Stand back and really take a look at each room. What do you see? If there’s even a remote feeling of clutter, keep going. Remove furniture pieces if a room has too many pieces in it. Taking a picture of a room can be very helpful. The camera shot is critical and can reveal what you might not be “seeing” through a homeowners’ eyes.
• Keep it up! Once you de-clutter, keep things in their place. Take time every evening or morning, to put things away. Don’t let things and clutter build up again! Make so that when you get a last minute call to show your home, it’s ready to go!

 

As home inspectors working across Suffolk and Nassau counties, we are always happy to talk to potential clients about their home inspections. Contact us today to discuss your home or your future home!

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Declutter For Pre-Listing was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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What First Time Homeowners Need to Know

We’ve seen it often enough as home inspectors across Suffolk and Nassau counties: a new and excited home owner unwittingly causes damage or problems for themselves.

 

Here’s a list we’ve compiled based on an article in houselogic.com.

• Know where you main water shut-off valve is located. You’d be surprised how many home owners have no idea where their main water shut-off valve is inside their home. Water can cause enormous damage in a very short amount of time. A burst pipe can soak your floors, drywall, and valuables in minutes and cause thousands of dollars in damages. The main water valve is located at the point where water enters your home. Every family member should know where it is.
• Before you dig up your yard, make sure you know where your utility lines are buried in your front and back yards. Calling 811, the national hotline for digging safely, can get your local utilities out to your home to mark where all your underground utilities can be found. It can be dangerous to knick a line or gas pipe!
• Check your soil levels. All the soil around your home needs to drain away from your dwelling by at least 6”. The accumulation of water, rainwater, or snow at your foundation can put unnecessary pressure on it and eventually lead to cracks and thousands of dollars repairing your foundation.
• Do you have adequate attic insulation? One rule of thumb is to ensure you don’t see the top of your joists. If you do, your insulation is likely inadequate. Contact as as professional home inspectors and we can take a look for you and make a recommendation.
• Stop before you hammer in that nail! Use a stud sensor to detect hidden items behind your drywall. It can help detect studs, ducts, and cables. They’re not 100% foolproof, but it’s better than just hammering or drilling into a wall to find out your cut a cable. You don’t want to go deeper into a wall than you really need to, by the way. Some rules to keep in mind: 8 inches to 2 feet horizontally between outlets and vertical locations above and below switches are no-go zones. Don’t drill or nail into those areas where electrical wiring is located!
• Cutting down a tree, even a small one? Call a professional. You’d be surprised how tricky and difficult it can be to cut down a tree and control where it lands. Get it wrong and it could be fatal at worst and very expensive at best.

 

 

We’re always happy to work with our clients on home maintenance inspections to help them keep their properties in top shape through the years. By the way, we have created a great info graphic on what you should know about your new home. If you live in Suffolk or Nassau counties, give us a call today so we can provide a free estimate on an inspection based on your needs!

What First Time Homeowners Need to Know was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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3 Mistakes Every Home Buyer Should Avoid

Buying a home especially for first timers is not a walk in the park (yeah, I threw you a cliche phrase…). During an interview one of our inspectors stated it best “buying a home is one of the most important investments in any one’s life, source: www.homeinspectorexperts.com/l-i-home-inspection. You will be forgiven for assuming that getting a pre-approval stamp from a mortgage lender already gives you a green light to go ahead and start signing deal papers with the seller (or any other seller for that matter…). There are so many mistakes that home buyers, including the “experienced ones”, have been known to repeat time and again. You should have a look at the 3 most costly mistakes explained in this article and (cliché alert…) “avoid them like the plague!”

Yes, buying your first home or any other subsequent home after that is always exciting. But you should be careful not to be caught up in the frenzy. This is serious business and any small loop hole could fast leave you in debt or worse… covered up to your head in lawsuits. So what are these mistakes that you should avoid as a home buyer?
#1- ACTING OUT OF EMOTIONS: It’s not about what your heart thinks… get your financial facts right…

Of course buying a home is going to be one of the most emotional things you’ve ever done in your life; but don’t let that cloud your judgment. Some people think that they should get everything new for their new home… new furniture, hold up, stop… that’s your heart doing the thinking! Some will go to the dealership and get a new car to match their new home… again that’s a No-No!

So they told you that you qualify for the mortgage? Well, what they forgot to tell you is to keep your wallet shut until the deal is done. Did you know that adding more debt to your credit could jeopardize your home buying deal? Yes, mortgage lenders will quickly throw you to the “see you later” section if they find out that you have more debt like furniture or car purchases heaped on your credit.

Another thing is for you to think at least 5 years ahead and determine whether you’ll still be in that house or you will need to move (it could be because of your job). Do not be influenced by the “market”; but still, don’t wait too long for the right time to come. All these are decisions that require a level head, not emotions. Michael Yardney has compiled an amazing list of 13 things you should avoid as a home buyer. Emotions can lead to bad mortgage choices, buying out of desperation, overspending… you name it. Here’s what he says:

13 Common Mistakes Home Buyers Make – and how to avoid them

Buying your next home can be a daunting task, especially if it’s your first home.

It’s exciting but full of complexities.

Don’t be swayed by the market… isolate your facts. image: Michael Yardney/ propertyupdate.com

While it’s likely to be the largest financial transaction you will ever make, we’ve found that many home buyers are poorly prepared to ensure they make a good purchase decision.

And it’s not their fault.

The system is stacked against them, with much of the power being on the side of the seller.

To help guide you, let’s look at 13 Common Mistakes made by Home Buyers – ones that you should avoid… checkout mistake #6

 

#2 OVERLOOKING THE IMPORTANT PARTS OF THE DEAL: Don’t cut corners… And you need Professionals in your corner!

First things first… the most important part of buying a home is not buying the house, its finding the right agent, the right house, the right inspector, a damn good lawyer and doing everything by the book! You should also know the reasons why you are getting the inspection done, know what they are looking for and what questions to ask. Doing this without a good team of professionals backing up your decisions is suicide! First time buyers don’t really know who they’re dealing with or how to go about hurdles. Collect a few references and seek advice from two or more professional to get their honest opinions.

The bankrate dot com website has highlighted some pretty interesting facts on following the right channels and why you need to hire professionals when buying a home. This one article by Polyana da Cost a is a real eye opener. However, it’s one of the comments from one of the visitors on this post, (@comment_comment_comment),that really raised my eyebrows. Remember, it’s more than just paying for your mortgage. Check this out:

 

5 first-time homebuyer mistakes

Think before you leap into a pool of problems! photo: Polyana/ via bankrate.com

@comment_comment_comment:

“People generally don’t like renting because they feel that they are throwing money away, but let’s crunch the numbers.

For a $300,000 home:
Mortgage rate: 5% (higher for right now, but considered a steal 20 years ago)
Down payment of 20%: $60,000
Mortgage Term: 30 years
Total cost of Mortgage: $463,814
Money lost to Interest: $223,814
Money lost in Property Taxes @2%: $180,000

Total amount lost: $103,814

Now let’s say instead of purchasing a home with your down payment, you decide to rent and invest the down payment instead.

Rent: $1250/mo
Investment Contribution:$60,000 initial + $500/mo that would be paid in property taxes

Total cost to rent over 30 years: $450,000
Investment earnings at 8%(average stock market earnings): $1,341,323
Net Value: $891,323

Obviously home prices generally increase over time (as does rent), but the point is it isn’t cut and dry. It will cost you money to live somewhere regardless. The real question is: do you want to invest in Real Estate or the Stock market?”… find out more on avoiding silly mistakes

 

#3 NOT DOING YOUR HOMEWORK RIGHT: Buying a home is not like picking candy at a store…

Ok, so you think you just found your dream house? But is this enough to go on when making such an important life decision? Another thing that should immediately come to your mind when you’re out there looking for a house is that you are not just buying the house… you’re buying everything that comes with it. Available public infrastructure, the neighborhood, transport, social amenities… everything!

Bob Sokoler and his team (the Medley Sokoler Team) decided to shed some light on this issue through a very creatively done and informative video on the mistakes home buyers must avoid especially when it comes to doing their homework. The second tip will get you going “Oh, is that so…?”:

10 Home Buyer Mistakes You need to AVOID! Tip 2 Do your homework!

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3 Mistakes Every Home Buyer Should Avoid was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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How to Get The Most Out of Your Home Inspection

Let’s get one thing straightened out first. You will need proper home inspections from time to time as a homeowner to ensure that your house doesn’t cave in or breed strange fungi that could end up (God forbid…) affecting your family member(s) health-wise or worse! If you would like to request inspection click here. You will also need to have any property you want to buy thoroughly inspected before you take the deal any further.

For home owners, this saves you from extensive and expensive repairs while also helping you maintain your home’s equity. For a buyer, it will basically save him/her the pain of losing money from possible lawsuits (when walking out of a deal with signed paperwork and any deposits) or otherwise (future inevitable repairs). The one thing you should keep in mind as a potential home buyer is this: ALWAYS BE CAREFUL WHAT BINDING DOCUMENT YOU SIGN!

Now that we have that simple point locked down let’s get to how you can get the most out of a home inspection. Remember that the home inspector is not an angel therefore do not expect them to just walk in and walk out with all the answers to your current or expected problems in a single visit. Regardless, you can still manage to get a good and properly carried out home inspection if you can follow a few simple guidelines like tagging along on an inspection exercise or separating the inspection process with any repair work.

It is also advisable that you carry out your own home inspection and make notes on whatever problems you can immediately identify. This will help you ask the right questions after choosing the best home inspector for the kind of inspection you want. It will also help you make your own repair estimates before you’re slapped with a bloated repair bill! You might find that some repairs are simple DIYers that will cost you less to repair plus you will be better placed when bargaining for a fair price with the person/company doing the repairs. Check out what Leonard Baron has shared about getting a good home inspection deal:

How To Get The Most Value Out Of Your Home Inspection

Once an offer on a property is accepted, most buyers hire a professional home inspector to assess the condition of the home. The inspector will write a detailed report for the buyer to use in deciding how to proceed with the purchase. Should the buyer cancel the contract and terminate the purchase; ask for the seller to complete repairs; or request a price reduction or purchase credit from the seller to cover repairs?
Unfortunately, many buyers fail to realize the importance of the home inspection. Keeping the factors below in mind can help ensure that you get the most value from the process… Here are the valuable tips

In addition to carrying out your preliminary inspection and following the home inspector around during the inspection process, you should also ensure that you get the best inspector and get the best price. Another thing to remember is to ensure that you DO NOT use the same person/ company for both inspection and repair otherwise you will end up with a very long list of repairs!

Alyson McNutt English highlights more on some of the mistakes you can make when getting your home or home-to-be inspected. Most of the times we assume that the home inspector should do everything and that they should hand us all the answers… wrong again! What you should know is that a home inspection process can only be successful and valuable to you if you avoid the following mistakes:

5 biggest home inspection mistakes

A home inspection is one of the most important steps you can take to make sure your new home is a sound investment and a safe place to live.
But, many people don’t fully understand what happens in a home inspection or what they need to do to get the most out of it. Find out what inspectors say are the five biggest mistakes buyers make during the home inspection, and how you can avoid these potentially pricey pitfalls… find out what mistakes you’ve made

Have you met NED the cat? Funny guy… Well, Ned has some tips on getting value out of your home inspection exercise. Hope you will learn something from Ned after he seriously cracks you up. Here is a video we picked up from the CATHUB channel on YouTube:

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How to Get The Most Out of Your Home Inspection was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector Can Save Your Life

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can kill. We perform inspections throughout the Suffolk County, NY and Nassau County, NY areas, and we always implore our customers to install carbon monoxide detectors in their homes.

ABOUT CARBON MONOXIDE:

CO is found in the fumes of cars, trucks, small engines, stoves, lanterns, grills, gas ranges, fireplaces, and furnaces. In certain quantities, it is fatal to humans and animals. People have no idea they are inhaling it, because it is odorless.

SYMPTOMS OF CO POISONING:

When inhaled in smaller quantities, the symptoms can easily be confused with other medical issues but the include: headache, weakness, upset stomach, dizziness, vomiting confusion, and chest pain. These are symptoms typical of a flu. When inhaled in larger amounts, humans and animal can lose consciousness and prove fatal. If the person is sleeping or intoxicated when they inhale CO, they can die without experiencing any symptoms.

WHO IS AT RISK?

Basically, anyone is at risk for CO poisoning. The most vulnerable to CO poisoning, however, tend to be the young and elderly, people with heart disease, asthma, anemia, and other respiratory illnesses.

More than 400 Americans die from unintentional CO poisoning not linked to fire. More than 20,000 people will visit the emergency room and more than 4,000 hospitalized each year due to CO poisoning.

HOW TO PROTECT YOUR FAMILY:

It’s very simple to protect your family!

1) The first step is to install a CO detector in your home. It is easily plugged into any outlet, and they are reasonably priced for what they can do – protect your life in case of a CO leak in your home. Place the detector outside a bedroom. Pro tip: check to make sure your home inspector has this on his checklist.Some detectors are able to tell you the levels of CO in addition to sounding the alarm. The CDC recommends replacing your detectors every 5 years.
2) Annual maintenance and service by a qualified technician of your heating, water heater, and any gas or coal burning appliance is important. Any odor from a gas refrigerator needs to be checked. Chimneys should also be checked annually.

3) Portable flameless chemical heaters should not be used indoors.

4) Only purchase gas equipment that carries the seal of a national testing agency like the Underwriters’ Laboratories (UL).

5) All gas appliances should be vented properly.

6) Never patch a vent pipe as it can cause a CO build up.

7) Never use a gas range or oven for heating your home because this can cause CO build up. Never use a portable gas camp indoors, either.

8) Charcoal of any kind give off CO. They should not be used indoors.

9) Never use a generator inside your home, basement or garage unless it’s 20 feet from any proper venting source.

10) Never leave a running vehicle in the garage. Regularly maintain and service your vehicles.

Related Articles:

8 Reasons for Performing a Home Inspection

*Based on: http://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

Installing a Carbon Monoxide Detector Can Save Your Life was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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What Kind of Tools Does Your Home Inspector Use?

A home inspector needs a few professional tools to carry out a thorough home inspection. It is very common for home inspectors to carry a lot of tools with them; some of which are rarely used. However, would you believe that one of the most important home inspector’s tools is a flashlight? The other important tools for a home inspector are definitely an electrical tester, speaking of which, you should never underestimate the importance of an electrical inspection for your home, a ladder and a moisture meter. These three simple tools can be used by a professional home inspector to uncover many faults in and around most homes as guided by InterNACHI Standards. Lastly, regardless of whatever tools a home inspector chooses to bring with them, a tool bag to fit and organize all your equipment is very important.

Please Note: A seasoned home inspector can do more with just their nose, fingers, a ladder and instinct than a novice would; even with a full kit of the most expensive and sophisticated tools! A home inspector’s bag of tricks is quite expensive to fill all at once if you’re looking to have everything required in the business with you. As many professionals in this industry will advise you, experience is the best teacher in home inspection and you find that most of tools in your tool kit are bought out of necessity as you continue to encounter different problems in your day to day home inspection gigs. Check out what the ICA (Inspection Certification Associates) have to say about the home inspector’s tool kit:

Which Tools Will I Need for Home Inspections?

A home inspector’s tool kit contains numerous items, but you’ll collect many of them after you’ve been in the business for a while. Experience is a great teacher. But some tools are important for home inspections from day one.It doesn’t cost a fortune to get started. In fact, the basics can fit into a budget of about $200. But if you want to expand your horizons, there are more expensive tools with more options to think about (…) Your home inspection tool kit will evolve over time. You’ll learn which flashlights you like best, and which electrical testers perform better. You might even invest in special equipment for tests such as radon, if you want to expand your business.Getting started in the home inspection business shouldn’t cost a fortune. The basics are affordable, and you’ll use them every day. For everything else, time and experience will be your guide… See what more you will need in you bag of home inspection tools

In addition to the basic home inspection tools (flashlight, a ladder, a moisture meter, and electrical testers), there are more tools that come in handy for everyday home inspection business and these include a respirator, an AC voltage detector, matches, screwdrivers, tool vest, water pressure gauge, safety glasses, gloves, small pocketknife, a thermometer, coveralls, a tape measure, GFCI Receptacle Tester, knee pads and an inspection mirror among others. Here’s what Nick Gromicko and Kenton Shepard think any average home inspector worth their money must have:

Home Inspection Equipment

Inspectors are free to use whatever equipment they choose, as long as their inspections comply with the InterNACHI Standards of Practice. Here are examples of some of the equipment used by home inspectors… Check out the their list of home inspection essentials

For veteran home inspectors, you will probably find two or more of each tool highlighted above in their home inspection tools collection. This is from years of dealing with different scenarios as they go about their professional business. Of course this is after discovering how each type of duplicated tool in their arsenal helps make things easier in different situations (according to make, model, accuracy and functionality). If you would like to watch a home inspector in action, here is a HGTV video hosted by Chris Davis titled “Home Inspection with Vince from HGTV ” that shows a home inspection exercise and how most of the home inspection tools are used:

In conclusion, be cautious when shopping around for a home inspector because there are many incompetent wannabes out there and you do not want to miss any fault(s) that might cause more future damage to your home. A home inspector should be armed with the right tools that not only make work easier throughout the entire process but are also pin point accurate to avoid any guess work. It will also be important to note that a home inspector’s tools are only as good as the home inspector using them and veteran home inspectors can cover a lot of ground in your home using only the most basic tools of trade and still come out with a comprehensive report.

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What Kind of Tools Does Your Home Inspector Use? was first published on Home Inspector Experts

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