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Showing posts with label Home Inspectors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Home Inspectors. Show all posts

August 23, 2012

5 Real Estate Investor-Endorsed Tips For Buying a Home

Hi Folks,
   The weekend is here. By a virtual show of hands, how many of you will be house hunting this weekend? For those of you that rose your virtual hand as a "yes" to house-hunting, do you feel anxiety about buying a home? Do you feel like you might not be able to keep up the payments, but you really love the home, and you turn a blind eye to any of it's flaws?

   "Most people only buy a couple homes in their lifetime. This lack of experience leads many home buyers to feel woefully unprepared...", says Justin Pierce, a real estate investor in Northern Virginia. It certainly is a big move for most of us, but as Pierce writes in his story on the Washington Post website, "you’re not getting married. You don’t have to make a lifelong commitment to a home", and adds that you can always move later "if you fall out of love with your home, as long as you buy right."

   Pierce writes that he buys a home "almost every month", and admits that even with his experience, "it’s hard to know whether to pounce on a deal or to walk away", but says that the process doesn’t have to be so complicated "if you keep things in perspective."

   There is a set of rules that he relies on when buying a house, and he says that these same rules can be used by anyone buying a house.Pierce shares his wealth of knowledge here to give us some great tips:

Tip #1: Determine your needs for the next five years:
The number one priority is affordability, says Pierce, who suggests that you consider all the costs (including maintenance and utilities). A great example is any unplanned expenses, such as your cesspool overflowing all over your basement the first week you move it (yes, that's what happened in our home!). The cost for removing the carpet that was just put down 2 days earlier, pumping the cesspool, and putting new carpet down was a $2,000 very unwelcomed surprise!). Pierce muses about the folks who buy "half million dollar McMansions and then fail to maintain them", urging you to "buy the right size home; bigger is not always better".

Tip #2. Get the facts:
Pierce says the the number one rule is "do not overpay for a home", and says that he never buys on future value (and refers to that as an illusion that got many of us in trouble). He suggests being realistic if estimating the cost of repairs the home will need. Conversely, he cautions us not to let a home inspection "scare you away from a good deal", and he provides an example of a friend who had the opportunity to purchase a $650,000 home at a short sale for just $520,000, but walked away after the inspector "found a laundry list of items that needed repairs". Albeit a "scary" looking list, as he called it, it was about $20,000 of work, leaving the remainder as over $100,000 in equity. Remember: "Get the Facts !".

Tip #3. Don’t fall completely in love:
"When I’m remodeling a home for resale and I’m faced with a decision to either improve the home’s insulation or make the home more beautiful, I’m almost always forced to beautify.", says Pierce, who says that people who lack experience will rely on their emotions. He adds that Real Estate agents are well aware of this, and this is why they try to "decorate and stage a home so that people fall in love and forget the facts". He cautions that if you fall prey to your emotions, you can get into "bidding wars and overlook discrepancies that need more attention". The final point he makes on this tip is that "It’s much easier to replace kitchen cabinets some time down the road than it is to reinsulate a home. But people aren’t concerned or willing to pay for what’s behind the walls. They should be."

Tip #4. Get professional help:
Pierce says that "Real estate agents, home inspectors, appraisers, lawyers, surveyors and contractors are all valuable resources but they’re no good if you disregard their advice.", and he says the key here is "to trust but verify. In terms of a Real Estate agent, speak with many different agents and ask for references, until you find one that you are comfortable with. Once you are working with an agent, ask your agent to go over comparable sales with you, and "not just spit out a value", as Pierce says, since this will "help you feel confident about your offer and reduce the risk of complications from a low appraisal."

Tip #5. Don’t be afraid to pull the trigger or walk away:
OK, so you have all of the facts about a house that you are incredibly fond of, and if "the price is fair and affordable then don’t be afraid to seal the deal", says Pierce. On the flip side, if the price is above the market value or the price does not take into account the amount of work it needs, Pierce recommends that you, "remind yourself that there are plenty of other houses to choose from".

   Certainly some great tips here, but sometimes, when in the heat of battle and bidding for a home, it's easy to lose perspective. Pierce aptly sums up what your mindset should be during the process; "Remember a house is just sticks and stones and there are plenty of them out there. You make it a home."

   If you were going to add a "Tip #6", what would it be? Please share it with us here.

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Have a Great Weekend, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
Rent to Own Homes and Real Estate Blog for HomeRun Homes: http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Websites: http://www.lease2buy.com and http://www.homerunhomes.com


TAGS: #RealEstateInvestor #Homebuying #ShortSale #HomeEquity #BiddingWar #Agents #HomeInspectors #Appraisers #Lawyers #Surveyors #Contractors

May 3, 2011

Common Code Violations Found By Home Inspectors

Hi Folks,

   Glad to have you back here with me today.

   Let's face it, Home Inspectors do not have an easy job. They often enter homes of people that they have never even met before, and in some cases, are even met with a hostile welcome. Additionally, they need to be well-versed in all local codes, running the gamut of Electrical, Plumbing, Building/Structural, and more

   With that being said, today we will be taking a look at some of the most common code violations that Home Inspectors see on a consistent basis, which falls into 3 popular categories: Electrical, Plumbing, and Building/Structural.

   Chantay Bridges, of LA Real Estate Now, says that some of the electrical hazards that are most common usually occurs when there are, "too many wires plugged into one outlet or switch that can cause a fire." Sam DeBord, a Managing Broker and a Realtor, adds that a, "Lack of GFCI outlets in bathrooms and kitchens and other minor electrical issues like reverse-polarity on outlets." is quite common, and that this is, "an inexpensive repair that most home sellers would benefit from repairing for selling their home."

   Plumbing issues are also very common, and as Bridges says, they encompass, "dripping faucets, loose toilets, improper drainage and so forth." Sasha Tsakh, VP Sales and Marketing for a licensed plumbing company, mentions the, "Illegal plumbing work" that he finds, and says that, "It appears that many home owners are not aware that you need to have licensed contractors performing work. They have illegal gas lines and missing safety features. It's really sad to see how they've been taken advantage of, especially since there is no way to find these people once they've performed illegal work."

   The third issue is related to Building Code (including Structural Code). Bridges points to, "Illegal additions to properties", and she cites the following examples; "Someone added a room, altered the garage, etc. without a permit.". Paul S. Gilbertson, a former General Contractor, adds some issues that he has seen in regards to steps and railings, as well as handicapped ramps and landings. Additionally, Bridges also mentions that roofs tend to, "constantly make the list due to aging, rotting, wear and tear.", as well as, "Leaks" with improper ground drainage, ceiling stains from previous leakage, and rotted, molded, exposed untreated wood surfaces. Finally, she mentions some other issues, such as bars on windows without proper escape or emergency mechanisms, inoperable smoke detectors" (or smoke detectors that are not installed at all).

   Indeed, as mentioned at the start, being a Home Inspector is not easy. Hopefully some of these tips will help you prepare for any future home inspections, and save you time, money, and aggravation. Any comments? Did we miss any common issues?

Have a Great Day, and Happy Rent-to-Owning !
Regards,
Rob Eisenstein
HomeRun Homes Blog http://blogging.lease2buy.com
HomeRun Homes Website http://www.lease2buy.com