Comprehensive Residential & Commercial Inspection Services. Special testing services including, Infrared, combustible gases, carbon monoxide. Serving long island, NY including the five boroughs.
Use this section to write about yourself - don't be shy - Why should a buyer or seller want to work with you? Do you have any certifications and qualifications? What sets you apart from other agents/loan officers?
An Expert in the Field
In addition to being a master inspector, I am a Field Inspector for Sunrise Career Institute, Inc. where I help train their home inspection students. The following is a letter of recommendation from the school’s Director:
Inspection School Testimonial
Sunrise Career Institute, Inc.
55 W. Old Country Rd., Hicksville, NY 11801, (516) 935–0006
Email: Sunrisecareer@yahoo.com, Fax: (516) 935–2511
March 13, 2008
Dear Frank,
From the beginning when we first met, you distinguished yourself with an impressive background and clear understanding of the principles of construction. You also displayed a maturity and appreciation of the field and the humility and respect for others that set you apart from many students who received their home inspection training at Sunrise Career Institute. You always had that quiet confidence and sharp ability to learn from a variety of experiences.
As you progressed through the course your leadership emerged and it was clear to me that one day we would work together in training others to become professionals in this emerging field. And now you have actually begun to conduct inspections, and supervise and facilitate the learning of others during the required field work under the Home Inspection Law. Through my direct observations and the candid (and sometimes unsolicited) feedback from students you have led, I know I have chosen a true professional to uphold the high educational standards and growing reputation of Sunrise Career Institute. I am very proud to have you as part of our educational team.
I just know that your career as a home and building inspector will be very successful and rewarding because the determination, conscientiousness and integrity that you bring to all life’s important activities will be ever present in your work as an inspector. Good luck to you as you launch your business.
I am confident that we will remain colleagues and friends for many years to come.
Sincerely,
William Lupardo, M.S. Ed., Director
It is critical to choose the right inspector for one of the most important emotional decisions and financial investments that you will ever make. Frank Torre of Torre Real Estate can ease the worries associated with property buying and selling by providing you with one of the area’s most reliable and knowledgeable inspections.
We accept all major credit cards and debit cards.
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Use this section to write about your specific areas of expertise. Do you specialize in first time buyers - listing high end homes - etc. Are there specific market area's that you specialize in? The more you write about your area's of expertise the more knowledgeable you'll sound to a potential buyer or seller.
Educational Training And Background
Home inspections can help you buy or sell your home with confidence. As trained professionals we have seen it all, and we'll provide invaluable help in turning you into a knowledgeable consumer. Home owners can identify problems in the making and take preventive measures to avoid costly repairs. Sellers can understand conditions the buyer’s inspector may point out and put the property in better selling condition by making repairs. Our inspection services include:
Buyers Inspection
In both new and older homes, the best way to ensure that you are well informed about the strengths and weaknesses of a property is to have us give you a professional home inspection. We are trained to identify problem areas both small and large that may have been overlooked by the previous owners and to identify which require immediate attention. See our Inspection Overview for more details.
Sellers Inspection
Whether you are selling your home on your own or using a realtor, it’s always a prudent idea to have a professional home inspection. Knowledge is power. All homes have strengths and weaknesses: we help you answer how serious the problems are and which must be immediately addressed and which can wait. The more you know about your home, the more prepared you will be for negotiation. See our Inspection Overview for more details.
Thermal imaging is a technology that allows the INSPECTOR to show you things about your home that no one can show you using other inspection methods. Thermal imaging produces images of invisible heat energy emitted from objects and sytems in the home and allows us to measure it. Thermal imaging helps to diagnose the problem rather than merely identify symptoms and can sometimes, but not always, identify and document: Electrical faults before they cause a fire, overloaded and undersized circuits, circuit breakers in need of immediate replacement, missing, damaged, and/or wet insulation, heat loss and air infiltration in walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors, water and moisture intrusion that could lead to mold, possible pest infestation, hidden roof leaks, before they cause serious damage, air conditioner compressor leaks, under fastening and/or missing framing members, structural defects, broken seals in double pane windows, energy loss and efficiency, dangerous flue leaks, damaged and/or malfunctioning radiant heating systems, unknown plumbing leaks, overheated equipment. These color images can then be included in the inspection report providing supporting documentation to the report. A picture is worth a thousand words. <!--"''"-->
Commercial Inspection
Commercial Real estate inspections are performed using a T.E.A.M. approach – Technical Expert And Management.
*Depending on the scope of the project, the inspection will be performed by licensed inspectors, engineers and contractors with team captain coordinating the entire effort.
We provide a variety of commercial inspection types, including:
We also provide a due diligence/visual inspection similar to the residential inspection after which the customer is notified which consultant will be needed for further review of the property and/or to provide repair estimates.
Types of commercial buildings we inspect include:
*We do not inspect the following on commercial properties:
*Nor do we review blue prints or building plans
Construction Inspection
In a new home, the quality of construction is often not what it used to be some years ago, therefore many buyers have independent reviews of their properties during various stages of the construction process, including slab, frame, and final inspection. This relatively inexpensive inspection protects your purchase, prevents unpleasant surprises, and ensures the quality home that you’ve dreamed about.
Warranty Inspection
Most builders provide a one-year warranty for new construction. Generally during this period of time the buyer develops a "punch list" of corrections for the contractor to repair under the warranty coverage. Some defects will not be obvious to the untrained eye. It is prudent to obtain our home inspectors list of items that will most likely be repaired by your builder at no cost to you. You will be reassured knowing that potential problems were addressed before they grew into something that could cost you a great deal down the road.
Environmental Hazards
Our job as your professional home inspector is to alert you, to the extent possible, to unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Ours is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property which can alert you to possible problems. See our Environmental Hazards page for more information.
Our job as your professional home inspector is to alert you, to the extent possible, to unknown problems and potential environmental hazards in your current or potential house. Ours is a non-invasive visual inspection of your property. While we may be able to alert you to possible problems, our basic inspections are no substitutes for specialized contaminant testing.
ASBESTOS
Asbestos is a mineral fiber that can be positively identified only with a special type of microscope. There are several types of asbestos fibers. In the past, asbestos was added to many products to strengthen them and provide fire resistance and heat insulation. If disturbed, asbestos material may release asbestos fibers which can be inhaled into the lungs. Asbestos material that crumbles easily if handled or which has been scraped, sawed, or sanded into a powder is more likely to create a health hazard. Breathing high levels of asbestos fibers can lead to an increased risk of lung cancer, mesothelioma (cancer of lining of chest and abdominal cavity), and asbestosis (lungs scarred with the tissue). Houses built between 1930 and 1950 may have asbestos insulation. Most of today’s products do not contain asbestos. If asbestos material is more than slightly damaged or you plan changes that might disturb it, you require a professional for repair and removal. Before home remodeling, find out if asbestos is present.
Excerpts from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “Asbestos and Vermiculite”.
LEAD
Lead is a highly toxic metal used for many years in products in and around homes. Lead’s adverse health effects range from behavioral problems and learning disabilities to seizures and death. Because their bodies are growing quickly, children age 6 and under are at greatest risk. Primary sources of lead exposure for children are deteriorating lead-based paint, lead-contaminated dust, and lead-contaminated residential soil. Lead might be present in any home built up until the 1940s. Rarely found in source water, lead can enter tap water through corrosion of plumbing materials. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, joints, and solder. New homes are also at risk: even legally “lead-free” pipes can contain up to 8 percent lead and leave significant amounts of lead in the water for the first several months after installation. Since the 1980s, EPA and its federal partners have banned or limited lead used in consumer products, including residential paint. Federal regulations limiting the amount of lead in paint sold for residential use started in 1978. If your property was built before 1978 or you are considering remodeling, renovating, or repair, you may wish to think about lead inspection. Water quality can be compromised by such other trace elements as iron, excess acidity, manganese, calcium, magnesium, mineral salts, hydrogen sulfide, selenium, chromium, arsenic, mercury, and cadmium.
Excerpts from U.S. Department of Environmental Protection, “Lead in Paint, Dust, and Soil”.
MOLD
Mold (fungi) is present everywhere, indoors and outdoors. There are more than 100,000 species of mold, at least 1,000 of which are common in America. Species of Cladosporium, Penicillium, and Aspergillus are some of the most commonly found species. Mold most likely grows in bathrooms, basements, and anywhere else where there is dampness or water. Many types of mold routinely encountered aren’t hazardous to healthy individuals. Too much exposure to mold may cause a worsening of such conditions as asthma, hay fever, or other allergies. Fevers and breathing problems in a vulnerable individual are possible but unusual. When moldy material becomes damaged or disturbed, spores, which are reproductive bodies similar to seeds, can be released into the air. Exposure can occur if people inhale the spores, directly handle moldy material, or accidentally ingest the spores. Since all molds need water to grow, mold can grow almost anywhere where there is high humidity, dampness, or water damage. Most often molds are confined to areas near the water source. Removing the source of moisture through repairs or dehumidification is crucial in preventing mold growth. Correcting underlying water damage and cleaning the affected area is the best way to treat mold. If mold contamination is extensive, a professional abatement company may be needed.
Excerpts from The New York City Department of Health & Mental Hygiene, Environmental & Occupational Disease Epidemiology, “Facts About Mold”.
RADON
Radon is a radioactive gaseous element produced in the disintegration of radium, a radioactive metallic element. It cannot be detected by the senses and can be confirmed only by sophisticated instruments and laboratory tests. The gas enters a house through pores and cracks in the concrete or through floorboards of poorly ventilated crawlspaces, especially when wet ground allows the gas to escape easily through the soil and disperse in the atmosphere. Radon is a lung carcinogen: the National Academy of Sciences estimates radon causes some 15,000 to 22,000 lung cancer deaths annually. The U.S. Surgeon General and the EPA recommend all houses be tested for radon. Houses with high radon levels can be fixed.
Excerpts from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “Indoor Radon”.
WOOD-DESTROYING ORGANISMS/INSECTS
Termites, which play a positive role in recycling wood and plant material, become a problem when they consume structural lumber. Every year thousands of U.S. housing units require termite treatment. These pests cause serious damage to wooden structures and posts and can also attack stored food, household furniture, and books. Successful termite management requires special skills, including a working knowledge of building construction and an understanding of termite biology and identification. In most cases, it is advisable to hire a professional pest control company for the inspection and control problem.
Wood-boring beetle larvae feed on wood and wood products. Adults of some species bore holes into plaster, plastic, and soft metals. Many species cause problems when emerging from wood in newly constructed buildings because they leave small circular or oval exit holes in the wood. To avoid these problems, infested wood must be kiln-fried before being used for lumber. The species Deathwatch Beetles is primarily found in soft woods (girder, beams, foundation timbers, some types of furniture, with some species attacking books). False Powderpost female beetles bore a tunnel, or egg gallery, into wood or other materials, then deposit eggs in pores or cracks within the tunnel. Adults of some species bore through such soft metal as lead and silver, as well as plaster and other non-wood materials. Affected structural wood should be removed and replaced whenever possible.
Wood Wasps and Horntails. Wood wasp damage in buildings is likely to be more cosmetic than structurally weakening. Emerging wood wasps can chew through any substance: wallboard or plaster walls, hardwood floors, carpeting, linoleum, non-ceramic floor tiles, and other interior surfaces.
Carpenter Ants. Several species can damage wood in building and other structures. Though ants don’t eat wood, they bore into it to make their nests, sometimes causing serious structural damage. Also, they nest in hollow doors, cracks and crevices, furniture, wall voids, and termite galleries. New building infestation occurs when land-cleaning in the area disturbs existing native colonies.
Excerpts from University of California Agriculture & Natural Resources, UCIPMOnline, “Statewide Pest Management Program”.
For More Termite Facts, click here!
Do you have any good testimonials that clients have provided you in the past? Be sure to add them here.
“I have been in the real estate business for 16 years and have found Torre Real Estate services to be among the best. My clients have reported their satisfaction with his highly professional home inspection services. His home inspection reports have successfully helped clients to make informed decisions regarding the possible sale of a residence. I recommend the services of Frank Torre.”
Diana Levy - Coach Realtors
“This is a great company!! Inspections are always done accurately and the office staff is helpful and really tries to accommodate your time schedules. It‘s great to utilize a company you can trust, I would recommend this company to my friends and family because the quality of work and dedication is truly one of a kind.”
Vera Mastroddi – Commercial and Residential Investor
“I am very grateful that I hired Torre Real Estate to inspect Apartment building that I was going to purchased. There were a lot of defects that I did not see, also, some of the apartments were gutted. Frank saved me thousands of dollars of repairs and replacement costs. I will always use Torre Real Estate for all of my inspections.”
Sincerely,
Margarita
“Frank Torre recently did a house inspection for me and was I quite pleased with his professionalism and diligence, which I believe saved me a considerable sum of money. I highly recommend his services to anybody seeking a top tier house inspector.”
Sincerely,
Keith P. Schaber, CPA
“I recently had my house inspected by Torre Real Estate. He did a very thorough inspection, both inside and outside. He showed me what he felt, should be repaired on his report (with pictures) was easy to understand. I highly recommend using Torre Real Estate, if you need a home inspection.”
Sincerely,
Mary Messina
“Just wanted to say thanks for such a thorough job on inspecting my new home. Frank was great and I feel so much more confidant about the home after reviewing the report and watching you do the inspection. You get my high recommendation.”
Thanks,
Rich
“We wanted to let you know how pleased we are with the inspection you did on our home. You did a great job and were able to find things we never would have found ourselves. We really appreciated it.”
Sincerely,
Bruno & Lisa
Hi Frank,
They finally believed me that the shower upstairs was the problem.
Now they are going to get a plumber in to fix the problem but not sure
how long it will take. So you were right, it is the shower and I also
told the Super that it only leaks when someone takes a shower and he
didn't believe me until today because he asked my upstairs if they
took a shower.
Yesterday he said, the weight shouldn't have any bearing on the water
leaking because the shower has a bin with some sort of a copper flashing,
so he kept on saying that shouldn't affect it.
Thanks Frank for all of your help in this, if it wasn't for your
knowledge, I wouldn't be able to get them to own up to the problem.
Judy
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