What Should I Ask My Home Inspector?

What should I ask my home inspector?

When making an offer to purchase a home, most of the time that purchase is contingent upon the home being inspected by a professional. The inspection can alert you to potential problems with a property and allow you to make informed decisions. As a buyer, you will choose the home inspector. I found this list of 10 questions provided from the American Society of Home Inspectors, which covers what I feel you need to know when you’re making your selection. If you need help buying or selling your house or finding a home inspector, please call me! I would be happy to help you purchase a home and give you the names of some inspectors my clients have been happy with in the past.

1. Will your inspection meet recognized standards? Ask whether the inspection and the inspection report will meet all state requirements and comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics, such as the one adopted by the American Society of Home Inspectors or the National Association of Home Inspectors. Customers can view each group’s standards of practice and code of ethics online at www.ashi.org or www.nahi.org. ASHI’s Web site also provides a database of state regulations.

2. Do you belong to a professional home inspector association? There are many state and national associations for home inspectors, including the two groups mentioned in No. 1. Unfortunately, some groups confer questionable credentials or certifications in return for nothing more than a fee. Insist on members of reputable, nonprofit trade organizations; request to see a membership ID.

3. How experienced are you? Ask how long inspectors have been in the profession and how many inspections they’ve completed. They should provide customer referrals on request. New inspectors also may be highly qualified, but they should describe their training and let you know whether they plan to work with a more experienced partner.

4. How do you keep your expertise up to date? Inspectors’ commitment to continuing education is a good measure of their professionalism and service. Advanced knowledge is especially important in cases in which a home is older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

5. Do you focus on residential inspection? Make sure the inspector has training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection, which is very different from inspecting commercial buildings or a construction site. If your customers are buying a unique property, such as a historic home, they may want to ask whether the inspector has experience with that type of property in particular.

6. Will you offer to do repairs or improvements? Some state laws and trade associations allow the inspector to provide repair work on problems uncovered during the inspection. However, other states and associations forbid it as a conflict of interest. Contact your local ASHI chapter to learn about the rules in your state.

7. How long will the inspection take? On average, an inspector working alone inspects a typical single-family house in two to three hours; anything significantly less may not be thorough. If your customers are purchasing an especially large property, they may want to ask whether additional inspectors will be brought in.

8. What’s the cost? Costs can vary dramatically, depending on your region, the size and age of the house, and the scope of services. The national average for single-family homes is about $320, but customers with large homes can expect to pay more. Customers should be wary of deals that seem too good to be true.

9. What type of inspection report do you provide? Ask to see samples to determine whether you will understand the inspector's reporting style. Also, most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

10. Will I be able to attend the inspection? The answer should be yes. A home inspection is a valuable educational opportunity for the buyer. An inspector's refusal to let the buyer attend should raise a red flag.

Source: Rob Paterkiewicz, executive director, American Society of Home Inspectors, Des Plaines, Ill., www.ashi.org.

What can I do to make my house more desirable?

What can I do to make my house more desirable?

• Declutter
Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines.
Pack away most of your small decorative items.
Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier.
Clean out the garage.

• “Lighten Up”
Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.
Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

• Keep it Clean
Wash fingerprints from light switch plates.
Mop and wax floors.
Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

• Fresh Air
Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells.
Open the windows.

• General Maintenance – Inside and Out
Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they'll give buyers the impression that the house isn't well maintained.
Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks.
Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.
Clean your gutters.
Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

If your house has been on the market for a long while with no offers, it could be these little things. Take the time to make the effort, and it will go a long way. The way you live in your house and the way you present it to be sold are two different things. Please share this and my contact information with others you know working to sell a house or planning to list it this year. I’m here to help!

What Are Five Things I Can Do To Speed Up The Sell Of My House?

What are 5 things I can do to speed up the sale of my house?

1. Price it right.

2. Get your house market ready BEFORE you begin showing it.

3. Be flexible about showings. It can be disruptive for you to have last minute showings, but the more often you show your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.

4. Be ready for offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer, be prepared to lower your asking price.

Please share these tips with others you know looking to get their home sold quickly.

How Should I Prepare For An Open House?

How should I prepare for an open house?

1. Clean your house top to bottom; a spotless home is essential.

2. Mow the lawn or clear away the ice, and be sure to put away all toys and yard equipment.

3. Lock up your valuables. Although the real estate salesperson will be on site during the open house, it’s not possible to watch everyone all at once.

4. Turn on all the lights - even in the daytime.

5. Remove all pets from the house.

6. Leave the house. It is awkward for prospective buyers to look around and express their opinions of your house while you are there.

Take the time to prepare properly for the open house to ensure its success. Make it clean and inviting. Please pass this on to others you know working to sell their homes. Call me at 402-305-4335 anytime with any questions!

What regrets do home owners have?

What regrets do home owners have?

According to Truila April 2012, the top 5 home owner regrets are:

• 34% - I wish I had chosen a larger home.

• 27% - I wish I had done more remodeling when I bought the house.

• 22% - I wish I had more information about the home before I decided to buy.

• 18% - I wish I had put more money down for the down payment.

• 16% - I wish I had been more financially secure before I decided to buy.

Working with an agent to buy your next home can help you avoid having regrets. I talk with all my clients about their concerns and current overall situations before we start the buying process. We work to resolve what we can along the way. Buying a home is most likely the largest investment of your life. Make sure you work with someone who really cares about you and helps you get into the right home.

Should I reject a lowball offer?

Should I reject a lowball offer?

It is important to keep in mind in the market we are in right now, there are less buyers vying for more homes so they will try to get the best deal possible. You need to not take it personally, and discuss with your agent what the best way to respond to the lowball offer is. Any offer received is a good offer. Negotiations begin with the understanding that an offer is the first step, a starting point.

Buying and selling real estate is a business transaction and should be treated that way. The sell is not possible without negotiations and negotiations are not possible without an offer.

The process of selling or buying a house is somewhat of a rollercoaster ride. There are many ups and downs that can occur in the process, it is usually something that can be overcome in a way that all parties are satisfied.

Do not underestimate the power of making a counter offer. Not only does it communicate to buyers that you value your home, but that you believe you have priced it effectively, but it also brings to light just how serious the buyers is about purchasing the home.

The key is communication. As long as there is an open line of communication between all parties, no matter how low the offer started at, if this is the right home for the buyer, the sale will most likely happen.

Why Do Families Buy a Home?

Why Do Families Buy a Home?

Everyone has an opinion of why the dream of home ownership is so important to most Americans. Study after study reveals the same five reasons families decide to buy a home.

1. Want a good place to raise children.
2. Want a place where their family feels safe.
3. Want more living space.
4. Want control of that living space.
5. Realize that owning makes better financial sense than renting.

If any of these five reasons apply to you and your family, perhaps it is time for you to buy a home. With both prices and interest rates raising, waiting will only increase your monthly cost.

Call me today and let’s set up a time to go over the process and get a plan in place to make your dream of home ownership come true!