Home inspector in Chappaqua, NY

The Census puts the median year built for homes in zip code 10514 at 1965, and about 24% of the 4,205 housing units there were built before 1940. An older house is not a worse house, but its wiring, plumbing and roof were installed under different rules and replaced piecemeal, which is exactly what the inspection looks for. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2019–2023 5-year estimates, tables B25035 and B25034, ZCTA 10514.

Of 4,205 housing units in zip 10514, about 84% are detached single-family houses, 2% are two-unit buildings, and 88% of occupied homes are owner-occupied. A two-family or a co-op is a different inspection from a detached house: shared systems, common areas and what the board or the other unit controls. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ACS 2019–2023 5-year, tables B25024 and B25003, ZCTA 10514.

Town of New Castle Building Division (Development Department). Permits and COs are kept by the municipality, not the inspector; checking them is a records search, usually through your attorney. The inspection reports the condition of what is there and flags work that typically needs a permit — a finished basement, a dormer, a moved panel — so you know what to ask about. Town of New Castle Building Division (Development Department). Chappaqua is an unincorporated hamlet of New Castle. Page hosts building permit and Certificate of Occupancy applications.

Westchester homes fall under the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR), which applies everywhere in the State except New York City and is enforced locally by each city, town and village. Source: dos.ny.gov.

There are 100 community public water suppliers in Westchester County, overseen by the Westchester County Department of Health; about 6% of residents are on private wells. The Westchester County Department of Environmental Facilities runs the county sewer districts: seven water resource recovery facilities, 42 pumping stations and 194 miles of trunk sewers processing more than 45 billion gallons a year. Septic (on-site) systems are regulated by the County Health Department's Septic Management Program under its Onsite Wastewater Treatment System rules effective April 1, 2022. The inspection reports what the house actually has and its visible condition; a cesspool or septic system needs its own evaluation. Source: health.westchestercountyny.gov.

Flood zones follow the address, not the town. OpenFEMA holds 12,259 NFIP claim records for Westchester County (FIPS 36119). Look the address up on FEMA’s Flood Map Service Center before you sign. Source: www.fema.gov.

Westchester is in EPA Zone 3 (low potential) — Zone 3 counties have a predicted average indoor radon screening level below 2 pCi/L; EPA still recommends testing every home. NYSDOH's county estimate (Feb 2007, 2,130 homes measured) is 3% of living areas and 17% of basements above 4 pCi/L, the highest of the nine areas; Cortlandt (27%), Lewisboro (28%) and North Castle (27%) basements were highest. Radon is a separate, optional test arranged alongside the inspection. Source: www.epa.gov.

Westchester's Private Well-Water Testing Law (Local Law 7 of 2007, Laws of Westchester County s.707.01 et seq., effective Nov 19, 2007) requires any property served by a private drinking-water well to have the well tested for primary and secondary contaminants when it is sold, with results delivered to both buyer and seller; leased properties must be retested at least every five years and new wells tested before first use. Source: health.westchestercountyny.gov.

Across his report in Chappaqua, the summary listed 7 repair-or-replace items, most of them under the roof, chimney and attic, structural components and the exterior. Every one is in the written report with a photograph; see what a report looks like.

Lou quotes the actual property, not a flat rate — what drives the price is size, age and what is included. The written report arrives the same day as a rule; a large or complex house can run to the next morning. Call or text 516-330-3870.