Healthy Home Review for NYC Homes & Renovation Plans
Before You Buy, Renovate, or Approve the Plans
—Know What Deserves a Closer Look.
You want a home that feels comfortable, functions well, and supports your family’s everyday life.
But it can be difficult to know which concerns deserve attention—or whether your renovation plans address them.
The Healthy Home Review gives you an independent architect’s perspective on your existing home, proposed plans, or both.
Receive clear observations, priorities, and questions to help you make your next decision.
Reviews from $1,250. Your scope and fixed fee are confirmed before booking.
Where Would You Like to Start?
Review My Home
For buyers and homeowners who want to understand an existing property before purchasing or renovating.
We look at accessible, visible conditions involving ventilation, moisture, windows, comfort, daylight, and everyday use.
Your review includes:
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An intake questionnaire.
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One 75–90-minute site visit.
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A concise written summary of observations and priorities.
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One 30-minute follow-up conversation.
From $1,250
Property access is required. Environmental testing and home inspections are separate services.
Review My Plans
For homeowners who already have architectural drawings and want an independent second opinion before moving forward.
We examine the agreed drawing package in relation to your priorities, identifying questions about layout, daylight, ventilation, moisture, materials, comfort, and design coordination.
Your review includes:
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An intake questionnaire and review of your priorities.
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Review of one agreed drawing package.
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Written findings with selected drawing annotations where helpful.
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One 60-minute meeting to discuss the findings.
From $1,750
The review provides feedback for discussion with your existing team. Revised design drawings are separate services.
Bring Your Questions. Leave With Clearer Priorities.
Perhaps a bedroom feels stuffy, a window shows recurring condensation, or one room is consistently uncomfortable.
Perhaps your proposed layout looks promising, but you are unsure about privacy, storage, daylight, or ventilation.
The review helps turn those concerns into specific observations and questions—so you can understand what to address in planning, what to discuss with your team, and where further investigation may be needed.
What We Look At
The focus depends on your selected review, priorities, and available information.
Air + ventilation
Accessible, visible ventilation arrangements, kitchen and bathroom exhaust, and your concerns about stuffiness or odors.
We identify questions worth exploring further. We do not measure pollutant concentrations or verify concealed ductwork.
Moisture + water
Visible staining, condensation, peeling finishes, and other accessible signs of possible water exposure.
Observations may point to a need for further investigation. A visual review cannot establish the source or full extent of concealed moisture.
Envelope + comfort
Visible window and enclosure conditions, reported drafts or uneven temperatures, and the relationship between rooms and heating or cooling arrangements.
We consider the architectural questions these conditions raise without performing an engineering evaluation.
Daylight + everyday use
How available light, room relationships, and daily routines affect the experience of your home.
We identify observations and priorities to carry into future planning. Design drawings and layout development are separate services.
Findings You Can Use
Your written summary organizes the review into practical priorities:
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Questions to resolve before your next major commitment.
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Opportunities to discuss during design development.
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Strategies already supporting your goals.
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Conditions or missing information requiring further investigation.
We explain the findings in a follow-up meeting so you understand their significance and can discuss the next steps with the appropriate professionals.
A Clear Process From the Beginning
1. Tell Us About Your Home or Project
Share the property location, project stage, main concerns, and any relevant drawings.
You can request a home review, plan review, or help choosing the appropriate scope.
2. Confirm the Scope & Fixed Fee
We confirm the property coverage, documents, review priorities, deliverables, and schedule before you commit.
Larger homes, multistory properties, extensive drawing packages, or unusual complexity may require a tailored proposal.
3. Complete the Review
Depending on your selected service, we visit the property, examine your plans, or do both.
4. Understand Your Next Steps
Receive your written findings and discuss the priorities in the included follow-up meeting.
Led by Queenie Tong, RA, NCARB
Queenie is the founder of Tong Dong Architects, a Queens-based residential architecture studio, with more than 18 years of architectural experience.
TDA connects residential design, healthy-home principles, and the practical needs of family life.
The Healthy Home Review brings that perspective to a focused engagement—helping you understand the relationships between individual concerns and the home as a whole.
A Focused Review with Clear Boundaries
This is an architectural advisory service based on accessible, visible conditions and/or the agreed-upon documents.
It does not include:
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Environmental sampling or testing for mold, lead, asbestos, radon, or other contaminants.
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Opening walls or investigating concealed conditions.
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Structural or engineering evaluation, calculations, or system design.
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Code or zoning analysis, compliance certification, DOB filing, or permits.
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Revised architectural plans, construction documents, or specifications.
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Construction cost estimates, contractor direction, or construction administration.
It does not replace a home inspection or specialist investigation, establish the cause of concealed defects, or certify health outcomes.
For plan reviews, your existing architect and consultants remain responsible for the final design, coordination, compliance, and implementation.
Additional services require a separate agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I request a review before purchasing a property?
Yes. A home review requires permission and access to the property. Include any purchase deadline in your inquiry so we can discuss availability and suitability.
Can you review plans prepared by my architect or designer?
Yes. We provide an independent perspective and questions to discuss with your existing team.
Do I need plans for a home review?
No. Existing drawings can provide useful context, but proposed renovation plans are not required for the home-review option.
Can the review identify mold or confirm indoor air quality?
No. Environmental testing and air-quality measurements are outside the scope. Observations may identify questions for an appropriate specialist.
What does the starting price cover?
It covers a focused review of one home or project within an agreed scope. We assess property size, location, complexity, and available documents before confirming your fixed fee.
Can you review revised plans afterward?
A second drawing submission or additional review round is separately scoped. Each engagement covers the documents identified in your proposal.
When will I receive the findings?
We confirm the expected schedule before booking. Tell us about any upcoming approval, purchase, or construction deadline when you inquire.
Make Your Next Decision With a Clearer Picture.
Whether you are evaluating a property, preparing to renovate, or reviewing proposed plans, start by understanding which questions deserve attention.
Tell us about your home, priorities, and next project milestone. We’ll recommend the appropriate review and confirm the scope, fee, and timing.