Overview
Environmental services go far beyond planting trees or conserving natural resources. It starts with one’s residence. When it comes to home inspections, environmental services are the one aspect one should never compromise on or overlook. It is significantly impactful for the well-being of a home’s occupants as well as for its market resale value.
There are several key areas where environmental services for home inspections work well, for instance, identifying potential hazards, assessing indoor air quality, and testing for radon, mold, or mildew. It can also include the determination of asbestos, lead, pest infestations, and water quality. By identifying and addressing these issues on time, one can save hefty expenses and health hazards in the long run.
In this blog, we will see how to get better environmental services for home inspection, their benefits and importance, and how to find reliable home inspections services in Birmingham. So let’s get started:
Understanding Environmental Services for Home Inspection
Understanding environmental services for home inspections is vital to ensuring a secure, healthy, and protected household. It involves assessing potential risks and pitfalls regarding the indoor environment. These services also highlight poor air or water quality, mold or asbestos presence, water or moisture damage, pest infestation, lead-based paint, radon presence, or any other contaminants present in the environment. This way, environmental services for home inspection protect your family’s health and your property’s structural integrity and overall market value.
Finding Reliable Home Inspections Services in Birmingham
Home inspection is one of the most profitable industries in Birmingham, Alabama. According to IBIS World, it generally contributes $5 Billion to the state’s market. This shows that inspectors are never out of demand in the area.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Birmingham has a 53% homeownership rate as of 2020. This represents a high demand for inspection services as well. Like other cities, it also has some environmental concerns that spark inspection needs, such as radon gas testing, mold growth, humidity levels, soil contamination, lead-based painting in older buildings, etc.
Finding reliable and instant home inspections services in Birmingham could be complex due to high competition and so many sellers in both the digital and physical markets. Don’t fret! This section will give you insights on how you can cherry-pick the perfect home inspections services in Birmingham:
Recommendations or Referal
Word of mouth, or a referral, is one of the most trusted and tried methods when hiring any service. This approach works but is risky, depending on your chosen company or inspector. Therefore, seek more and more recommendations, ask friends, family, or colleagues’ reputations, and select the one on your own.
Online Research
Online research is something you will never regret doing when it comes to finding home inspections services in Birmingham. When any inspection company, like Ally Property Inspections, appeals to you, search for it online and look for its reputation and clients’ feedback. This will give you an instant sense of whether to continue further with them or not.
Credentials
As mentioned earlier, there is higher competition in the Birmingham market due to skyrocketing customer inspection demand and an increasing number of inspection companies in the area. Therefore, you must not go with an uncertified, non-professional, and completely unknown company. Instead, you should check for credentials such as years of experience, certifications, or licenses from respected organizations such as the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI) or the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI), etc., and a portfolio of successful projects. This will save you from falling prey to any spam company.
Sample Reports
Once you have shortlisted some companies to contact, request sample reports from them. This will give you a basic understanding of how the company works, what’s included in their services, and how much they delve into the details while inspecting a property. In this way, you can make a more informed decision about choosing the inspector. Read here how to understand a home inspection report
Environmental Services Offered in Home Inspections:
Environmental services for home inspection incorporate everything one could ask for to ensure his family’s health, an upgraded lifestyle, and a protected investment. Let us walk you through some of the many elements included in these services:
Indoor Air Quality
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 4.3 million people worldwide die prematurely each year due to indoor air pollution. Therefore, it has become a prerequisite to test indoor air quality, determine the pollutants, allergens, and toxins causing respiratory diseases, and address the issues found on the spot. This will rectify the damage caused by poor air quality and suggest precautions for the future. Learn more on how improved indoor air quality impacts your life.
Water Quality
The WHO reports that 2.2 billion people globally cannot access safely managed drinking water services. Therefore, checking the water quality in the various water supplies of the building is also one of the essentials before you move into a property or continue living in the current one. This will catch contaminants in the water used for various home chores such as cleaning, washing, sanitizing, cooking, or drinking purposes.
Mold and Mildew
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that mold exposure can lead to respiratory symptoms, allergic reactions, and asthma exacerbations. Early detection of mold or mildew growth can save your family members from various respiratory ailments and protect your home from devaluation and structural damage.
Asbestos
Asbestos exists in crystalline form in older homes and causes fatal diseases, including lung cancer. The World Health Organization estimates that asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and mesothelioma, result in over 107,000 deaths worldwide each year. Therefore, it’s a must to inspect the elements when it comes to environmental services for home inspections.
Benefits of Environmental Services for Home Inspections
Health and Safety
When the air you breathe is safe to inhale, your family will be automatically protected from potentially fatal diseases, including respiratory issues, allergies, infections, and even lung cancer. Environmental services for home inspections make your indoor environment secure and risk-free.
Cost-Saving
Addressing environmental issues beforehand can save you hefty repair and maintenance expenses in the long run. Moreover, when it doesn’t affect your health, your medical bills also go down.
Boosting Property Value
Inspecting your home from an environmental perspective is a plus to tell the buyer or realtor. Environmental services for home inspections boost your property’s resale value by ensuring your home is protected from air, water, or allergens.
Conclusion
To ensure your home’s and its members’ safety, you must choose reliable and professional environmental services for home inspection. By understanding its importance, benefits, and role in your health and home safety, you should consider getting it beforehand and following the recommendations mentioned in this blog. Also, prioritize addressing the issues found to enjoy a healthier and safer environment inside and out.