Building Inspector/Engineer Recommendations

Please let me know if you have any recommendations for an affordable building inspector/engineer for a brownstone/building located in Harlem.  Looking to inspect a building pre-offer to ensure no structural issues.  While the broker recommended one, I’m inclined to find an uninterested opinion.   Thanks in advance.

lockey2k

in Brownstoner Renovation 13 years and 2 months ago

4

Please log in, in order to post replies!

4 replies

condeny | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4852 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4899 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "179011"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "condeny"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$By0P6tSND9nEgqgh2y8sfNYQKGE9Lz/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "condeny"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "Apena@condeny.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(49) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/condeny/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:03:31"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "condeny"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(179011)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Heimer is terrible.. We have worked with them in the past and they miss important items and then try to price out for a repair.  They are not GC’s, and their prices are not realistic.

callalily | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4851 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4850 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "56059"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(26) "moparbrownstoner@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(20) "/forums/users/mopar/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 13:38:12"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "callalily"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(56059)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I recommend finding a licensed certified building inspector AND engineer, so you don’t have to pay extra to hire the latter if the former finds structural issues. For this reason, we went with Heimer.

Amym718 | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4847 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4853 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "154940"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(7) "Amym718"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BB4sbIHZkGBj41p7PNFIs2g4N3KWZ3."
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(7) "Amym718"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(28) "mintzersweeney@earthlink.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(22) "/forums/users/amym718/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2011-04-14 19:57:43"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(7) "Amym718"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(154940)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Rich (it is Rich) Perri just did ours. His reputation is good, and we learned a lot walking through with him. But you should know that this kind of inspection by an engineer is going to cost in the vicinity of $1k, which is why people usually wait until they have an accepted offer before doing it. For a very reasonable fee, a contractor acquaintance came to a few houses with us to look for any big issues we might not identify. That might make more sense for you.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 2 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4852 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4854 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "3864"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BtJYyObAQmff2MQp.qFP7/kmwU1bBZ1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "djl135e54@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(55) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/daveinbedstuy/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:23:53"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(13) "daveinbedstuy"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(3864)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

Rick (Rich?) Perry, who has been recommended here a lot.  he inspected for my buyers and I was quite impressed at his thoroughness yet he still kept everything in perspective.