Purchasing or Selling a Home? Get a Real Estate Chimney Certification
Selling or buying a new home is a stressful undertaking. From open houses to bidding wars, it can be an overwhelming time for a homeowner or potential buyer, and important things can get lost in the shuffle. A chimney inspection often falls into the category of afterthoughts.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA 211 15.4.1), the sale or transfer of a property requires a Level 2 chimney inspection. It’s common for buyers and sellers to assume that a chimney inspection is covered by the general home inspection that is necessary in sales, but that’s not quite true.
Most home inspectors will take a cursory look at the chimney, and will perform a Level 1 inspection which includes examining the readily-accessible parts of the chimney’s interior and exterior. However, a Level 2 inspection is far more thorough as it uses video scanning equipment to inspect the chimney in the basement/crawlspace or attic areas. The only way to get a genuinely comprehensive look at the state of a chimney system is with a Level 2 inspection.
To ease your burden during a real estate transaction, call Mason’s Chimney Service. One of our Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA)-certified chimney technicians can perform a Level 2 real estate inspection, so that you know exactly what’s going on in the home’s chimney.
Get in touch with us today at 800-559-6276 or reach out to us online.
What Can I Expect From Mason’s Chimney Service During a Real Estate Chimney Inspection?
A CSIA-certified chimney technician will sweep the chimney to ensure that dust, debris, and creosote are removed so that we can get the most accurate view possible into the chimney system. Once the chimney is clear, we’ll go over the chimney using a complete safety check process we’ve developed over the years. We’ll take care to survey every part of the system from the smoke chamber to the crown, and video scan the entirety of your flue along the way.
Among the potential issues we’ll check for:
- Cracks, gaps and spalling (flaking or crumbling masonry) in the chimney and flue liner
- Improperly-sized flue
- Cracks or spalling in the chimney crown
- Tears or damage in the chimney flashing, or missing/damaged caulking
- Other missing or malfunctioning parts, including the chimney cap and dampers
- Signs of birds or other animals coming into your chimney
What Else Do I Need To Know Before Buying or Selling a Home?
There are systemic problems that we can see – leaks, debris, and creosote buildup on a flue. But there is the big problem we can’t see – carbon monoxide (CO). There are different ways that CO issues can arise: cracks and gaps in your flue lining could be allowing the toxic gas into your home, or leaks could be present in or around gas and oil appliances.
We want you to rest easy without wondering whether or not carbon monoxide is in your midst. Mason’s Chimney Service’s trained carbon monoxide analysts can inspect the property’s appliances and install CO monitors that are more sensitive and more accurate than the monitors you might find in home improvement stores.
Who Is Financially Responsible for a Real Estate Chimney Inspection?
There may be local codes that dictate who typically pays for the inspection in some areas, so be sure to check with your town or county office. In New Jersey, There is not an established law or statute that specifies who pays for a chimney inspection during a real estate transaction. With that said, New Jersey does require sellers to disclose any known faults with the property and that includes chimney issues.
Without set guidelines, financial responsibility is hashed out as part of negotiations. If you’re buying, it may be beneficial for you to pay the cost of a real estate chimney inspection and have the seller cover any subsequent repairs. On the other hand, a seller who has adhered to a solid chimney maintenance routine may choose to pay for the inspection. Another option is to split the cost evenly.
Schedule Your Real Estate Chimney Inspection With Us
A fireplace or stove can be the feature that closes a deal on the sale of a house, but it can also be the very thing that can hold up the entire process. A real estate chimney inspection is a small investment that can offer peace of mind and potentially save you a lot of money in the future. Contact Mason’s Chimney Service to schedule your appointment today by calling 800-559-6276 or filling out this form on our website.
Call on Mason’s Chimney Service if you need an inspection and evaluation for a possible insurance claim. Our expertise with the chimney video scan and inspection ensures that this important service is done correctly to give you all the documentation you’ll need.