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How To Prevent Flooding In Your House

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We thought the rainy season was over, but we were wrong! Tampa is still in for quite a bit more, and already it seems we have a pretty active hurricane season. If you haven’t already noticed the flooding all over the area, you certainly will soon. Here are a few things you can do to prevent flooding in your house.

Elevate your important things in the garage

If flooding occurs around your home, likely the first place the water will get into is your garage. Even if your garage is unorganized, get the important things off the ground.If water does enter, at the very least, you won’t have to worry about anything important getting ruined.

Keep sandbags on hand

If water is already at your door then you may have lost the battle. However, if you’ve noticed an influx in the rain and a potential for flooding, having sandbags on hand can make all the difference. Before the rain, put the sandbags out around the house where the flooding would occur.

Dig a trench

This is certainly going the extra mile but might be necessary. If you find your yard is completely saturated and more rain is headed your way, a trench would help your lawn drain and could prevent flooding into your home.

Depending on how much rain and the potential for flooding, extreme action could be necessary. The idea is to prevent flooding in your home from happening instead of having to deal with the after-damage. Don’t forget that during our home inspections we’ll be able to tell you if the house has had any flood damage.

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Signs Of A Sinkhole

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The huge sinkhole that opened up in Land O Lakes have taken a total of 10 homes with it. Two homes were swallowed and eight more were condemned for signs of a sinkhole. A sinkhole can truly be tragic, both financially and emotionally. Here are some warning signs of a sinkhole you can look for.

1. Cracks in interior joint areas

Cracks are one of the biggest giveaways of a potential sinkhole. Specifically, you want to look for cracks around doors, windows, and joint areas.

2. Areas with existing sinkholes

Neighborhoods with existing sinkholes are likely to show signs of other sinkholes in the area. Be sure to find out through your real estate agent if there are any sinkholes near or around the homes you are looking at.

3. Foundations that slant

Foundations that slant are signs that the ground underneath is giving way. A slanted foundation could tell you that you need to have the foundation inspected to know for sure.

There are many more signs of a sinkhole, and you can find the entire list of them here. Sometimes the signs are not as obvious but that’s why getting a sinkhole inspection is so important. We’ll be sure to let you know of any signs that might point to foundation issues in your home, plus anything else.

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Buying Your First Home: 3 Buying Myths Debunked

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It’s a seller’s market, yet here in Tampa the homes are in demand and aren’t lasting too quick. Buying your first home can be a big challenge, filled with unfamiliar ground. Here are 3 buying myths debunked as you move into buying your first home.

Looking first is the wrong first step

Most first time home buyers start with looking at homes. This could include driving around neighborhoods or searching online. But if you’re serious about buying your first home, your first step should be getting qualified for a mortgage.

If you fall in love with a house and have no idea if you can afford it then you may be setting yourself up for heartbreak. With online services like Lending Tree, you don’t even have to walk into a bank to find out if you can qualify for a home loan. Start with the loan then proceed with the looking. Wit your finances in place, it also means if you do find a home you love you don’t have to hesitate in making an offer.

Your down payment can vary depending on your lender

Most buyers have the misconception that you have to put 20% down as a down payment. Traditional loans have always required a minimum 20% down payment. However, many loans now offer a variety of down payment options.

Some lenders also offer incentives or programs that will reduce your down payment percentage, or not even require a down payment. Some programs also cater to veterans, military, or other eligibility requirements.

An appraisal and a home inspection are two very different things

If you’re buying your first home then you might confuse a home appraisal and a home inspection. A home inspection is paid out of the buyer’s own pocket. Most lenders require will require a home inspection before you purchase the home so the inspector can identify any issues or concerns you need to be aware of before completing the purchase.

A home appraisal is for the bank to determine how risky of an investment the bank is making by allowing you to buy the home. An appraiser will spend 5 – 15 minutes in your home, as opposed to a home inspector who will spend 3 – 4 hours. The appraiser will determine the overall value of the home.

Don’t forget to call Divinity Inspection Service when you are ready to schedule your home inspection! One of the worst mistakes you can make is completing your home purchase without a home inspection first.

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How To Avoid A Disastrous Home

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No home is perfect. Even new builds have their issues. However, there are also disastrous homes you want to stay away from. Here are a few things you need to know to avoid a disastrous home.

Get a home inspection

The best thing you can do for your home is get a home inspection. In fact, the worse thing you can do as a home buyer is not inspect the home before you complete the purchase. Too often things are missed when you don’t know what to look for. A seasoned home inspector follows a very extensive list and can educate you on your new home.

Ask a lot of questions

You have two opportunities to ask a lot of questions and you want to take advantage of both. Before the home inspection and during. You should always attend the home inspection so you can address any questions you have directly with the home inspector. You also want to give the inspector an opportunity to discuss their findings or any concerns with you.

Become familiar with a sample report

A sample report will give you a template of what to expect. Reports are very long and detailed but if you become familiar with a sample report then you can read your report more easily. Keep in mind, Divinity Inspection Services will keep your report in their database for up to a year.

Feeling confident about your home inspection also means feeling confident about your home inspector. At Divinity Inspection Service, we make sure you feel comfortable, confident, and excited about your new home!