Are you currently in the market for a new home? If you are, you’re probably realizing that the home buying process is very stressful. There are a lot of important decisions that need to be made, and you need to check a lot of boxes before buying the new home. One of the most stressful things about buying a new home is knowing if a home is in good shape or not.
Buying a home with structural problems can cause a lot of anxiety and problems. The team at Northeastern Masonry and Chimney want to help alleviate some of the home buying stress. We offer professional real estate inspections for chimneys and ventilation. These services help you to make sure the new home you are buying has a functioning and safe heating system.
Why are real estate inspections important?
Although realtors may give the home a brief inspection before putting it on the market, they do not take the time to do a thorough inspection. This is especially true for fireplaces, which is a part of your home that is often overlooked. Since many people use their fireplace to heat the home, there is a lot of potential for safety issues such as home fires and ventilation issues. These type of issues can be a serious safety hazard.
That’s why the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 211 came out with this stand. It states: Standard for Chimneys, Fireplaces, Vents, and Solid Fuel-Burning Appliances requires that a Level 2 inspection be performed on a home’s chimney, fireplace, and ventilation system before any transfer of property. This standard was put in place to protect new home buyers from purchasing a home that is unsafe.
What are level 2 inspections?
The Chimney Safety Institute of America outlines three types of chimney inspections. A level 1 inspection is very simple. It is usually carried out when no big changes have been made to your chimney system. A level 3 inspection is incredibly thorough. It requires deconstruction of your chimney to find a known issue. A level 2 inspection is more thorough than a level 1 inspection, but it doesn’t require chimney deconstruction like a level 3 inspection.
A level 2 inspection requires a visual inspection of the inside and outside of your chimney and fireplace. The structural integrity of your chimney will also be checked at this time. Our chimney technician is also required to visually inspect the inside of your chimney as well. Our technician will do this by using a video scanner to look for cracks, chips, or holes in the masonry. They will also look for any creosote buildup, clogs, or other issues in your chimney. Video scanning allows us to determine if there are any red flags, which need to be addressed before you purchase the home.
If you’re in the market for a new home, you should call Northeastern Masonry & Chimney at 518-767-9315. You can also visit us online to schedule a real estate inspection today. We look forward to helping you enjoy your new home!