The borough of Brooklyn has many different types of houses, such as brownstones, limestones and tudors. The value of a home inspection for Brooklyn buyers, and even sellers, is priceless. Why? Most of the houses here are old, in some areas more than 70-100 years old. Maintenance, repairs and upgrades are needed and could be costly. A home inspector will be able to identify areas that need attention. Many homes I inspected had structural issues such as large exterior cracks. Not all cracks are of concern, but some are.

There are also plumbing issues from old plumbing pipes in basements and attics that can go undetected. A good and careful home inspection will find these problems and advise you on the steps needed to repair or replace the items of concern.

Many of the homes also have old electrical wires and electrical panel boxes. Upgrading the electrical system is very costly. Your home inspector can determine if an upgrade is needed or if the system is adequate for you and your family. A lot of houses have Federal Pacific electrical panel boxes which have been recalled due to their breakers not shutting off (tripping) when needed. This can cause a fire because of an overload in the circuit. So if you see this type of electrical panel box, it may need to be replaced.

These old houses in Brooklyn have stood the test of time and are durable. However before you buy, have a home inspection, it could save you thousands in costly repairs.