A: When buying a house in Staten Island, New York or any other part of New York the law calls for a seller to give a Property Condition Disclosure Statement (PCDS) or a $500 credit at closing.  Even if the seller gives the PCDS the buyer should still have an engineer’s inspection.  Getting the $500 credit should cover the cost of the inspection and give the buyer a better idea of the condition of the house than a PCDS.