Frequently Asked Questions

Book entirely online at 123inspections.com/book/. Select your service, enter your property address, choose an available inspector and time slot, and pay online with Stripe. No phone call required. You'll receive an email confirmation immediately and inspector contact info once the inspector accepts the job.

Most inspections can be scheduled within 3–5 business days for standard bookings. Urgent same-week availability is available for most services. Book online and select the "Urgent" option to see next-available dates.

On-site inspection time varies by service and property size. Typical on-site times: mold inspection 1–2 hours; asbestos inspection 1–3 hours; lead paint XRF inspection 1.5–3 hours; radon test device placement 30 minutes (then device stays 48–96 hours unattended); building inspection 2–4 hours. Your inspector will communicate expected duration when confirming the appointment.

Reports are delivered within 48 hours for standard bookings and 24 hours for urgent bookings, after the inspector submits and the report passes QA review. For services requiring laboratory analysis (mold air samples, asbestos PLM, radon analysis), the clock starts when lab results are received. Rush lab service is available for time-sensitive situations.

Yes. You can complete a booking with just your name, email, and phone number. Your report will be emailed to you. You can create an account later using the same email to access your report portal and booking history.

Yes — every inspector is verified before they can accept jobs. For mold: NYS DOL Mold Assessor License (Article 32). For asbestos: NYS DOL ICR 56 (+ NYC DEP Air Code certification for NYC boroughs). For lead paint: EPA Lead Inspector/Risk Assessor certification. For radon: NRPP Certified Radon Measurement Professional. For building inspection: NYS DOS Home Inspector License. License numbers are visible in each inspector's profile and can be verified on the respective state licensing websites.

No. 123inspections is an assessment-only platform. Under NYS Article 32 and NYC Local Law 55, the mold assessor and remediator for the same job must be different companies. We operate only on the assessment side — we have no financial interest in the size or scope of any remediation project. Our inspectors assess and report; you hire a separate licensed remediator for any remediation work.

Yes. Once you book and an inspector accepts the job, you'll see their profile including license type and license number. You can independently verify their license on the NYS DOL, EPA, NRPP, or NYS DOS licensing websites before the inspection.

Yes. Under NYS Article 32 (Labor Law §§ 930-939, 12 NYCRR Part 820), anyone performing paid mold assessments in New York State must hold a NYS DOL Mold Assessor License. Unlicensed individuals cannot legally perform paid mold assessments. The license is verifiable on the NYS DOL license lookup website.

NYC Local Law 55 of 2018 (Administrative Code §27-2056.11) requires building owners to hire a licensed mold assessor before remediating any mold affecting more than 10 square feet. The assessor and remediator must be different companies. A post-remediation clearance inspection by a licensed assessor is also required. This applies to multiple dwellings (3+ unit buildings).

No. Unlike radon (EPA 4 pCi/L) or lead (HUD 1.0 mg/cm²), there is no legally defined spore count above which mold is classified as a hazard in New York State. Mold conditions are assessed using IICRC S520 condition categories (normal/elevated/active growth) and comparison to outdoor baseline samples — not numeric thresholds. Any inspector claiming a specific numeric threshold is a regulatory standard for mold is incorrect.

An outdoor baseline is an air sample taken outside the building at the time of indoor sampling. It measures the mold types and concentrations naturally present in outdoor air that day. Indoor results are compared to this baseline — not to a fixed threshold — because outdoor mold levels vary significantly by season, weather, and geography. A valid mold assessment always includes an outdoor baseline.

Yes. Under NYC Administrative Code §24-146, an asbestos inspection by a licensed inspector is required before any renovation or demolition that disturbs building materials in a building constructed before 1987. An ACP-5 form must be filed with NYC DEP before building permits are issued for covered projects.

Possibly. Pre-1980 vinyl floor tiles (especially 9"×9" and 12"×12" tiles common in the 1950s–1970s) are presumed asbestos-containing material (ACM) under AHERA (40 CFR Part 763) unless testing proves otherwise. The tile mastic (adhesive) may also contain asbestos even if the tile itself does not. A licensed asbestos inspector can test tiles and mastic before any flooring renovation.

Yes, but a different certification applies. Nassau and Suffolk County follow NYS Industrial Code Rule 56 (ICR 56) — the state asbestos standard. The NYC DEP Contractor designation is NYC-only. Inspectors for Nassau/Suffolk need NYS DOL ICR 56 certification. All 123inspections asbestos inspectors hold ICR 56.

NYC Local Law 31 (2020) requires mandatory XRF testing of all painted surfaces in all units in pre-1960 multiple dwellings, regardless of whether a child lives there. Buildings with 1-9 units had a deadline of August 9, 2025; 10+ unit buildings have until 2030. Test results must be filed with NYC DOHMH.

Under HUD guidelines and EPA regulations (40 CFR Part 745), lead-based paint is paint containing ≥1.0 mg/cm² as measured by XRF, or ≥0.5% by weight as measured by paint chip laboratory analysis. NYC DOHMH uses the same threshold. Paint below these levels is not classified as lead-based paint even in pre-1978 buildings.

The EPA recommends mitigation when radon testing shows 4 pCi/L (picocuries per liter) or higher. At 4 pCi/L, estimated lifetime lung cancer risk is comparable to smoking about half a pack of cigarettes daily. New York State requires mandatory reporting to NYS DOH for measurements at or above 20 pCi/L (10 NYCRR §16.140).

No — radon risk in high-rise apartments above the third floor is effectively zero. Radon enters through ground contact; concentrations decrease dramatically with height above grade. Radon testing is relevant for ground-floor and basement apartments, townhouses, rowhouses, and detached homes in all NYC boroughs, as well as properties in Nassau, Suffolk, and Westchester.

Reports are delivered as professionally formatted PDFs — the 123inspections standardized report template. Every report includes: inspector credentials and license number, scope of inspection, methodology, findings with labeled photographs, laboratory results (where applicable), risk classification, and specific recommendations. Reports are delivered electronically and suitable for HPD, DOHMH, insurance, legal, and real estate transaction use.

Yes — reports are prepared by licensed inspectors to meet the applicable regulatory requirements. Mold assessment reports meet NYS Article 32 and NYC Local Law 55 requirements. Lead paint reports meet NYC DOHMH Local Law 31 documentation requirements. Asbestos reports support ACP-5 filings. Each report includes the inspector's license number for verification.

We believe you deserve to know what you're paying before you decide to book. Most environmental inspection companies require a phone consultation before quoting — that's a sales tactic, not a service requirement. Our transparent pricing lets you make an informed decision without a sales call. See our /pricing/ page for exact ranges by service and property size.