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Services:
Complete Home
Inspection:
All prices listed are effective March
2007
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$300.00 for a Single
Family
Dwelling
(3000 square feet or less)
$300.00 + $50.00 per unit
for
a
Multi-Unit Dwelling
Commercial Buildings by quote ($300
min.)
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The home inspection will be conducted according to the
standards
established by
ASHI,
the American Society of Home Inspectors. The inspection is a non-invasive,
visual
inspection of the major systems of the home.
Our standard home inspection report consists of approximately 300
individual items
covering 13 primary areas of the building. Some of the major components are
HVAC,
Electrical, Plumbing, Roofing, as well as Interior and Exterior conditions.
We strongly encourage our cleints to attend the home inspection. You
will be given an
opportunity to ask questions and interact with the inspector and hopefully
learn a few
things in the process. When we are finished, you will have a much better idea
about what
you are buying.
Please note that our inspectors are well trained and you are paying for
the inspector to
give you his professional opinion of the property as it exists on the date of
the inspection.
We do not provide a warranty or guarantee on the property.
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Wood Destroying Insect
$85.00
Inspecting for wood destroying insects is common when making real estate
transactions.
The inspection evaluates the presence of wood destroying insects such as
termites,
carpenter ants, carpenter bees, and powder post beetles and normally lasts
about 20 to 45
minutes. If a problem is found, an outside pest control agency may be
recommended.
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Private Waste System
$220.00 or $200.00 if done with a complete
inspection
The inspection is a non-invasive inspection that seeks to prove the basic
functionality of the system. Septic inspections are done by doing a simple
flow test. It is based on good practices and the basic knowledge and
experience of the inspector. It will include an examination of the tank,
baffles, pumps, and all related components when visible, along with surface
probing of the absorption field. |
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Radon Gas Test
$120.00 or $100.00 if done with a complete
inspection
Radon is a naturally occurring, colorless, odorless gas that is a result of the
radioactive
decay of radium in the soil. According to the EPA, it is the second leading
cause of lung
cancer and is present in about 1 of every 15 homes in the U.S. The EPA
recommends
that all homes be tested for radon. The test offered by Berks Realty Services
involves the
placement of two (E-perms) electret ion chambers in the home for 2-3 days. It
is
required that the windows of the home be closed 12 hours prior to and during
the testing
period. We analyze the results of the test, in our lab, the same day the
equipment is
picked up. It is recommended that remediation steps be taken if the result of
the test is a
radon reading above or equal to 4.0 pCi/L (picocuries per liter).
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Water Test $65.00
Basic
coliform/bacteria
$125.00 FHA/VA Scan
Berks Realty Services collects water samples for coliform and FHA (Federal
Housing
Authority) tests. The collection process takes about 10 minutes after which
the samples
are tested by a separate laboratory. The FHA/VA Scan includes tests for lead,
nitrate,
nitrite, nitrate/nitrite, total coliform, and fecal coliform. Other water
tests than the FHA
and coliform are available upon request.
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Well Flow Test
$90.00
This inspection involves inspecting the visible parts of the well system,
measuring the water pressure, and the water flow rate for the property. It
is not a well draw-down test.
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Structural
Inspection $225.00
This inspection is a sub-set of a complete home inspection. It is done
according to the
standards written by ASHI. However, during this inspection only a specific
problem area
is evaluated. It is not a complete structural evaluation of the entire home.
It is a visual,
non-invasive inspection done by a civil/structural engineer. Typical
structural
inspections are done to evaluate damage done by wood destroying insects, cracks
in walls
and foundations, or cracks in structural members.
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HVAC System (Heating, Ventilation, and Air
Conditioning) $100.00
This inspection is a sub-set of a complete home inspection. It is done
according to the
standards written by ASHI. During this inspection, the heating and air
conditioning
systems will be visually inspected and tested. Please note that air
conditioners are not
tested if the outside temperature is below 60
F.
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Electrical
System $100.00
This inspection is a sub-set of a complete home inspection. It is done
according to the
standards written by ASHI. During this inspection, the electrical system will
be visually
inspected. Typically the main electrical panel will be removed and at least
one electrical
outlet in every room will be tested.
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Plumbing
System $100.00
This inspection is a sub-set of a complete home inspection. It is done
according to the
standards written by ASHI. During this inspection, the plumbing system will be
visually
inspected. Typically water is run in all plumbing fixtures and visually
inspected for
leaks.
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Roof
Condition $100.00
This inspection is a sub-set of a complete home inspection. It is done
according to the
standards written by ASHI. During this inspection, the roofing system will be
visually
inspected. Roofing problems that go unchecked can cause serious damage to
other
aspects of the home. In our examination, the roof will be checked for wear,
leaks, and
other defects. By evaluating the condition of the material used, the inspector
may predict
the possible life expectancy of the roof surface.
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Re-Inspections $75.00 per visit
Sometimes we are asked to return to a property to re-inspect something that was
not
ready for inspection during the first visit. For example, if the gas was not
on during the
first visit, a second visit may be requested to be sure the furnace runs
properly.
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