Uncover Hidden Problems With A Proper Home Inspection

A home inspection can make or break a home purchase. This is one of the most important purchases one will ever make and the home inspection is one of the critical steps that need to be taken when purchasing your home. This procedure is a thorough evaluation of the home’s condition by a professional and in majority of all cases; it’s required by lenders to obtain a mortgage. It’s important to conduct a home inspection to avoid a costly mistake when purchasing a property in need of major repairs.  Even if you think you have found your dream home, if major problems are discovered, this will allow the buyer to cancel the contract on the property.

Inspect the home you are interested in yourself when doing the first and second walk through of the house before moving forward in the buying process. This will eliminate houses that have significant visible problems. A personal inspection will help you identify issues to mention to the professional inspector if you decide you want a thorough inspection. Look at the roof, condition of the porch, the appearance of the paint or siding, and the gutter systems on the exterior. Check windows and ceilings for signs of leaking water inside the house. Listen for noises in plumbing or any electrical issues in the home, such as exposed wiring and lighting problems. If the heating or cooling system is active when you are there, take note of the effects on the temperature in the house. If there is a basement, check for signs of water damage and flooding.

Following your own inspection, hire an experienced and professional inspector. The home may look move in ready, but an inspector may unveil issues that are not noticeable to the buyer’s eye. Ask the inspector how long he has been performing inspections, and what type of certifications they have. Find out what will be inspected during the home inspection and how long the process will take. Standard single-family home inspections are at least two to five hours, depending on the size of the property.

Home inspections may reveal problems with a home that could be pricey to fix. This can be used as leverage in purchasing negotiations with the seller.  As a potential buyer you may be able to negotiate the price dependent on what the home inspector has found.  If a massive amount of issues were found within the home, the potential buyer now has a couple options in negotiations.  If the issues aren’t that extreme you could negotiate a credit with the sellers, have the seller pay for repairs before the closing. You can purchase the property as is with further negotiation with the purchase price, or walk away from the purchase if the issues seem too problematic.

A valuable educational opportunity would be to follow the inspector during the inspection and ask any questions you have. Take notes during the walk-through, as the inspector will point out any future problems you may encounter. This will give the buyer peace of mind knowing the exact state of the property.

Majority of professional home inspections do not include additional tests, such as checking for lead paint, radon, pest infestations and mold. The home inspector will recommend these types of specialized tests if he believes one of these issues exists in the home or is a known problem in the surrounding neighborhood.

"A full home inspection...is the best defense against future liability for the seller and the most assured way a buyer can feel comfortable with there home purchase!"

Kitchens Sell the House

The rooms buyers most closely look at and judge in a house are the kitchen and master bath. These are the interior spaces where the most value can be added during a sale, so why not make it look its best!

For today, let’s evaluate the advantages of upgrading your kitchen if you’re looking to sell. A serious home chef like my wife, or just house-proud owners, might consider the kitchen their showstopper room, the one that will acquire the attention of potential buyers. That’s why they add all the upgrades, accoutrements, and trendy new finishes they can possibly find. A well-appointed kitchen can make a buyer fall deeply in love.

An inherent danger of taking a deep dive into modern design is accepting the harsh fact that today’s trends may be tomorrow’s “What was I thinking?” fads such as fake brick or hideaway appliances. With the average kitchen remodel around $20,000 depending on size of course and designing without foresight can be very costly. Before, planning any upgrades to your kitchen, consider the neighborhood you live in and the kind of buyer you’re looking to target.

Some trends such as subway tile and granite countertops have a long life in the designer world. Designers expect they’ll be in style for years to come, so you’re safe giving them a starring role in your remodel. Evaluate the surrounding homes and see if they have tidy, simple kitchens with Formica or tile countertops. Ask your Realtors advice on what catches the buyer’s eye and what seems to sell in your area and upgrade similarly.

Don’t overdo your remodel. An upgrade can range from a weekend long, low budget brush up to a full blown project.  Either way, your goal should be to make your kitchen look fantastic without wasting money, overinvesting, and ultimately upgrading your kitchen so that it’s out of place amongst the rest of the properties in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Countertops are your kitchen’s primary focal point, it’s important to ensure their longevity. Picking a trendy material will be best while it’s still trending, but in a few years, it might make your home impossible to sell. Better to spend a bit more on a surface you’ll love for a great while. If the rest of your kitchen is looking very worn and dated, you may be able to salvage some of its basic structure and replace it with modern elements that will simply improve the kitchen cost-effectively. Resurface, refinish, or scrub down the cabinet doors, replace cabinet hardware, install a new faucet, upgrade the appliances, install new lighting fixtures, place some backsplash tile and apply a fresh coat of paint that will have the kitchen stand out.

"Some people look for a beautiful place, others make a place beautiful!"