Christopher Scardaci, a Poughkeepsie-based home inspector, prides himself on helping clients gain the most from sales of their homes. President of Scardaci Home Inspection Inc., he also represents prospective homebuyers, assuring them of no unpleasant surprises after moving into a new abode. Scardaci”™s business focuses on residential single-family and multifamily dwellings.
“In the mid-Hudson Valley we have many old homes,” he said. “It”™s not like the southern retirement communities where structures are new.”
Homes predating the 1900s are prone to termite damage, Scardaci said. He recalls delivering the bad news to one homeowner looking to sell that there was $35,000 worth of termite damage in the walls and under the siding attached to the lower foundation, with damage extending to beneath the hardwood floors that required restoration.
“The whole front of the house was stone veneer. The stone had to be taken down and redone,” he said. “The vinyl siding had to be taken off.”
Scardaci takes a paternal interest in his clients. Coming from a construction background, he has a broad knowledge and can refer clients to reliable contractors, as well as sources for materials, so that they are not overwhelmed.
“I have built up a network of Realtors who refer business to me, because I am not viewed as a deal killer,” he said with pride. “For everything I find wrong, I propose a solution.”
Scardaci is alert for safety issues such as improper wiring or faulty boiler installation. For instance, he said pressure relief valve extensions that are placed too high could potentially blow off when a boiler overheats or the pressure valve fails. This presents the danger of scalding children or anyone standing nearby. “Extensions should sit no higher than six inches off the floor,” he said.
Scardaci recalled a client whose attic was improperly vented, holding moisture. “Walking on the roof was like walking on a sponge. I showed him how to properly ventilate the attic.”
A dirt cellar floor in another home presented a problem.
“The floor allowed moisture to creep in, which attracts insects,” he recalled. Covering the dirt with heavy-duty 9mm plastic solved that problem, he said.
Plumbing repairs represent Scardaci”™s biggest nightmare. “Plumbers are so expensive that homeowners tend to let plumbing needs slide,” he sighed.
Before venturing into home inspection, Scardaci bought properties in Charlotte, N. C., planning to become a developer. “Charlotte is second only to New York City in finance. The 2009 real estate crash halted development.” He does own several rentals in the Poughkeepsie area.
Son of Lawrence and Deborah Scardaci of Poughkeepsie, Scardaci was introduced to construction as a youth, assisting his father in the business that he still operates. He supplemented his experience with studies in the construction and masonry program at Dutchess County Career and Technical Institute.
At 21 he embarked on his first home investment property, a three-unit home near Marist College that he renovated and rented to students.
Scardaci added one more qualification for his present career, entering the real estate market and earning his license.
“After a few years, I learned that my real estate colleagues were often left with questions not fully satisfied after a home inspection,” he said. “They would be told what was wrong, but not what steps were necessary to fix the issue, where to purchase the supplies and how much it would cost.”
Thus was born Scardaci Home Inspections Inc.
He spends leisure time with two terrier-mix rescue dogs adopted from Crate Escape, flown up from the Carolinas to Dutchess.
Challenging Careers focuses on the exciting and unusual business lives of Hudson Valley residents. Comments or suggestions may be emailed to Catherine Portman-Laux at cplaux@optonline.net.
