Sonoran Property Inspections

Home Inspections Prescott, Prescott Valley, Cottonwood, Scottsdale, Arizona

Four Things to Remember When You Move

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Whether you are buying or selling a home in Prescott or Phoenix, a home inspection is important, and we are here to help. But once the transaction is complete and it is time to move, here are more helpful reminders of things to add to your moving checklist.

Moving can be stressful. With tons of to-dos, a tight timeline, and a growing pile of boxes, it’s easy to get frazzled and let things fall through the cracks. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Get organized now by making a checklist to work from. Set deadlines for the most critical tasks, like hiring movers, renting a storage unit ,and turning on your new utilities. Aside from packing up room by room, make sure your list has these often forgotten items too:

  • Forward Your Mail: The post office makes it very easy to ensure your mail gets routed to the right place, at least for the first year after your move. Just head to a local branch or go online to update your address with the date you’ll be moving, and your mail will automatically get forwarded.
  • Measure and Decide: Take a measuring tape to your new home and jot down the measurements of each wall and nook. What furniture and decor will fit in your new space? What won’t? It’s better to make decisions about what to donate or sell BEFORE your moving date.
  • Refill Prescriptions: It may take a bit to get your prescriptions forwarded to a new pharmacy and even longer for you to find the time to pick them up. If possible, get your prescriptions refilled ahead of time from your current pharmacy.
  • Back Up Your Electronics: Back up your computer and phone to the cloud (or external hard drive – or both), and make sure you’ve uploaded all your photos and documents somewhere safe. In the event something happens to your devices during the move, a backup will get you up and running faster.

 

As always, give us a call if you have any questions about homes or doing inspections for you. We are here to help.

 

Home Inspection – Termites

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When you schedule your home inspection with Sonoran Property Inspections, we will ask if you want a separate termite inspection done on the home, and we will set that up for you. We thought we would give you a little information about termites – oh, those almost invisible little subterranean pests!  In the Phoenix area they are more of a threat than in the Prescott area. Either way, we encourage you to get this add-on inspection done just so you know what you are dealing with.

Termites are considered Arizona’s number one urban pest. As a homeowner, you may encounter termites at sometime or other. If you find termites in your home, it’s important not to panic. These small animals take a very long time, often years before structural damage is present in the home.Therefore, the information provided here is to enable you to make intelligent decisions regarding termite management options. It’s important to contact several pest management professional (PMP’s) for estimates. If you already have a pest control service you may want to contact them for an estimate. Attempting to control termites on your own is not recommended.
Termites are small animals found primarily in the tropical regions of the world, where they play a role in the recycling wood and other cellulose-based materials. Termites are in a group of insects, which alone comprise the order Isoptera (iso-ptera = “equal-winged”). They are so named because the primary reproductive adults usually referred to as “swarmers”, have two pairs of equal length wings. There are currently approximately 2,761 named termite species in 282 genera worldwide. About 45 species occur in the continental United States with nearly 30 causing damage to wood and wood products. At least seventeen species of  termites occur in Arizona, but only three species are considered to be of any significant economical importance.
In Arizona, dampwood and drywood termites are not wide spread problems but can be under certain conditions. Subterranean termites on the other hand are
considered one of our major urban pests.
Signs of Infestation
 
Hire a qualified InterNACHI inspector to inspect for termites or other wood-destroying organisms. Generally, the first sign of infestation is the presence of swarming termites on the window or near indoor light. If they are found inside the house, it almost always means that they have infested. Other signs that may be found are termite wings on window sills or in cobwebs, and shelter tubes, which are tunnels constructed by the termites from soil or wood and debris. Usually, wood damage is not found at first, but when it is found, it definitely reveals a termite infestation. Anywhere wood touches soil is a possible entry into a home for termites. Examine wood which sounds dull or hollow when struck by a screwdriver or hammer. Inspect suspected areas with a sharp, pointed tool, such as an ice pick, to find termite galleries or their damage.
 
Control
 
Control measures include reducing the potential infestation, preventing termite entry, and applying chemicals for remedial treatment. We will not get into treatment options here, but your pest control company will help you with your options. So when you need a home inspection, don’t forget to get the termite inspection done at the same time. We will look for obvious signs, but the specialists will do a more thorough inspection and issue you a separate report and treatment options if they are needed.
 
Inspection
 
Inspect thoroughly to determine if there is an infestation, damage, and/or conditions that could invite a termite attack, or the need for remedial control measures. The tools and equipment needed for an inspection include a flashlight, ice pick or sharp-pointed screwdriver, ladder, and protective clothing. Always hire an InterNACHI inspector for your inspection needs, as they are trained by the highest standards in the inspection industry. As always, let us know if we can help!

Home Inspection Report: What to Expect

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Whether or not you decide to use Sonoran Property Inspections, the following summary could be useful information as you search for a home inspector in the Prescott or Scottsdale area. Not all inspectors are the same, so take the time to educate yourself on what to look for and expect in an inspection report.

Influenced by the changes in both economic and legal environments, home inspection reports have changed to accommodate increased consumer expectations, and to provide more extensive information and protection to both inspectors and their clients (including real estate agents).

If your home inspector is not a member of one of the two main professional inspection organizations (ASHI or InterNachi), you may want to find another inspector. Those that are members of these organizations adhere to Standards of Practice that are designed to identify both the requirements of a home inspection and the limitations of an inspection. I am a certified inspector through InterNACHI and would be happy to answer any questions for you concerning these Standards of Practice.

Here is a summary for you (and your clients) of what to expect from a home inspection:

  • Inspections are a visual inspection to provide you with the general features of the home, and identify any potential deficiencies or safety issues. Your inspector can not perform any destructive or exhaustive testing (for example, they will not take anything apart to determine a problem).
  • Inspectors may not be an expert in every system of the home, but are trained to recognize conditions that require further examination by an expert. As a past home builder, I know homes inside and out, but will still recommend an expert in a certain trade if I see something that concerns me.
  • Reports should be easy to read and understand, and contain a summary section to outline the major points for the client. A sample report can be seen on my website to give you an idea of how this report should look.
  • A post inspection review on-site with the client and/or real estate agent can help  everyone understand the “facts” of each home and offer advice or answer any questions or concerns.

In summary, for clients to have a realistic expectation about what information will be included in the home inspection report, follow these tips:

  • Read the Standards of Practice, and the inspector agreement to know what is and is not inspected
  • View a sample report on the inspector’s website
  • Talk to the inspector – before and after any inspection

If I can help you in any way with your inspection questions, please call or email me.

Home Inspection for Sellers? It’s a Good Idea!

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Happy New Year from Sonoran Property Inspections, your local home inspector for Prescott, Prescott Valley, as well as Phoenix and Scottsdale.  With home inventory getting lower, it is a good time to consider listing your home. Did you know that a pre-listing home inspection could help you sell your home quicker?

When the home buyer hires an inspector to look at the home, issues can come up that may send both parties back to the negotiating table. But when you decide to hire an inspector before you list you can address any potential stumbling blocks BEFORE they derail your sale of the home.  You may choose to repair any items yourself, or price the house accordingly. But either way, by taking the initiative you are the one in control.  The buyer may (and should) hire a different inspector to re-inspect the home, but at least there should be no big surprises to you as the seller.

So, if you decide to list your home, consider doing a home inspection to go into the transaction with a little more peace of mind for a small amount of investment. If we can help, just let us know.

Happy Holidays from Sonoran Property Inspections

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Greetings from Prescott Valley, Arizona. Just want you to know that we are always here for you if you need a home inspection done, whether it is a holiday of not, and we look forward to working with you in the new year!  In the meantime, from all of us here at Sonoran Property Inspections (and by all of us I mean Jerry, Pam, and the two Golden Retrievers!) we wish you a warm and happy holiday season, and a peaceful and prosperous new year!  All we need now is just a little snow.

 

Air Conditioning Tips

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ACphoto

It’s heating up outside! Time to do a few things now to make sure you are not caught in the heat.  If you are buying or selling a home and have concerns about the operation of your home, including the air conditioning, contact Sonoran Property Inspections and set up a pre-listing or buyers home inspection. There are many different types of air conditioners (central air, swamp coolers, heat pumps, etc) and your home inspector can help you understand the differences.

But there are a few general things that you can do to help ensure the proper operation of your A/C.

  1. Clean the filter(s) as needed – check them every month and replace when dirty.
  2. Keep the drain line open and watch for any leaks.
  3. Keep plants and debris away from the exterior unit and coils.
  4. Arrange for professional service yearly.

Home maintenance is easy if you understand your systems and stay organized. With the right maintenance you can avoid major problems and efficiently run your home for many years.  Stay cool this summer, and let us know if we can help with any of your Phoenix or Prescott area inspections.