For many families, summertime is filled with transitions. And it’s not just vacations. Among the most significant transitions is the buying or selling of a house. Many people tidy up their home. They take to the curb broken or outdated furniture. They enlist the services of a professional real estate agent. And they discover they need a real estate inspection to protect both seller and buyer from potential risks and liabilities.
Typically, those embarking on a real estate transaction engage the services of an inspector who assesses the condition of the structure, the basement, the roof and the driveway. What about the chimney? All too often when it comes to the chimney the inspector reluctantly admits his or her ignorance regarding chimney matters.
Northeastern Masonry & Chimney can provide the very expertise you need. As our name clearly states, we know chimneys. Let us first note that you should be glad when a real estate inspector admits shortcomings regarding chimney knowledge. That’s better than having someone “fake it till they make it” at your risk and expense.
A professional chimney inspection is in everybody’s interests. It’s like hiring a structural engineer if the house’s foundation has shown signs of instability. It’s like having an HVAC professional or licensed electrician review issues regarding their respective disciplines. Or, to stretch the comparison a bit, you would want an orthodontist for crooked teeth but not for a simple cavity. Employing a specialty professional is good common sense.
A Level 2 inspection is typically required upon the transfer or sale of a home. For that, we recommend you employ one of Northeastern Masonry & Chimney’s Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified technicians. We know how to spot chimney problems that a home inspector could miss.
Here’s a closer look at what a Level 2 chimney inspection entails. According to the CSIA, “A Level 2 inspection is a more in-depth inspection than a Level 1 inspection…. A Level 2 inspection includes everything in a Level 1 inspection, plus the accessible portions of the chimney exterior and interior including attics, crawl spaces and basements. It will address proper clearances from combustibles in accessible locations.”
The CSIA goes on to note, “A Level 2 inspection shall also include a visual inspection by video scanning or other means in order to examine the internal surfaces and joints of all flue liners incorporated within the chimney. No removal or destruction of permanently attached portions of the chimney or building structure or finish shall be required by a Level 2 inspection.”
However it is defined, a chimney inspection conducted by a Northeastern Masonry & Chimney professional is a wise investment — if not a necessity. Good information is a great starting point to assist you in your real estate decision making. You’ll want to know, for example, whether you need something as simple as a thorough chimney cleaning or something more serious, such as chimney relining or masonry repair. With a video scan, you can have the solid evidence you need to guide you in your real estate choice.
Call Northeastern Masonry & Chimney at 518-767-9315 or make an appointment online. Let us be your ally as you begin this new chapter in your life.