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How To Keep Your House Clean While It’s On The Market

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Putting your house on the market can be an exciting time. However, it can also be very stressful. The current global pandemic makes these events that much more to manage. Especially if you’re working from home, things can accumulate very quickly. Here are some great ways to keep your house clean while it’s on the market. Especially if your family is home.

Staying on top of the kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home. However, the kitchen is also one of the hardest areas to keep clean constantly. Here are some easy things you can do to help:

  • Divide up the cleaning kitchen among as many people as you can, more hands create light work
  • Commit to cleaning immediately after use
  • Eat out at least once a week to give yourself a break from the upkeep
  • Use (biodegradable) paper plates, utensils and cups to make cleaning easier

Dedicate specific time to clean each day

The easiest way to keep a house clean consistently is to consistently clean. This might seem like a lot but if you commit to a dedicated time each evening to pick up the house then it won’t become a huge mess that you have to clean.

Limit showing times

This is easier to do because of the pandemic. Showing times should be limited to limit your exposure anyways. However, this is also a great tactic to help with your family if you’re all home all day. Limit showing times to only the evening or specific hours during the week. This will help to manage a cleaning schedule as well.

The global pandemic has made many things more complicated. That being said, the real estate market isn’t slowing down and it’s still a seller’s market right now. If you put your house on the market be prepared for things to be a little different, but don’t worry, you can do it. Don’t forget to call Divinity Home Inspections for your home inspection.

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How To Deal With A Bad Home Inspector

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Not every home inspector has their own set of conduct and sanitary standards they follow like we do. As a result, there are some bad home inspectors. Since the buyers are the ones who choose the home inspector, many sellers are the ones left to deal with home inspectors that don’t show any consideration towards the property. But for both buyers and sellers, here’s some effective ways to deal with a bad home inspector.

Do your research before you decide

Real estate is a very saturated market in Florida. As a result, there are a ton of real estate agents, home inspectors, lenders and the like to choose from. So how do you know who to choose for your home inspection? Start with some basic research and referrals. Make sure you pay attention to reviews on third party platforms (not on their website). These reviews will tell you what to expect from both a good and bad experience.

In many cases, the real estate agent will have a list of inspectors ready to give their buyers. Referrals are great but you shouldn’t solely count on recommendations from your agent. You should also ask friends or family if they would recommend anyone. And any recommendations should still be vetted through your own research.

When a home inspector leaves behind a mess

There is no doubt sellers encounter a mess left behind in their home after a property inspection. This might include tracked mud or dirt around the house, doors left open, etc. We’ve even heard of personal belongings being used or broken. This is no doubt a terrible experience for the seller and can effect how they move forward with the sale. However, many companies have more than one inspector and it could be just one bad apple that creates a bad experience reflected for the whole company.

If you have a bad experience with a bad home inspector, the first thing you should do is call the company to let them know. It could have been an inexperienced inspector who needs more training or simply a bad apple. Either way, a good company should address the issues. Another option is to leave the company a review through Google or Yelp. If the company is not willing to address the issues or if aren’t satisfied with their response then you have every right to share the experience through a review.

Divinity Home Inspections does everything we can to make sure we create an excellent experience for both the buyer and the seller. Your home is your asset and it should be treated with respect. That is why we do extensive training with our inspectors and make sure both parties are happy with our services. Call today to schedule your home inspection!

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Should You Sell Your House During The Pandemic?

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The pandemic has disrupted and continues to disrupt many markets. Did you have plans to sell your home when the coronavirus hit the U.S.? Now, you might be wrestling with the really tough decision about whether to move forward — and when.

Some potential sellers are frozen in place, constrained by the pandemic and hoping for improvements in the coming months. But not every seller has the luxury to take a wait-and-see approach without making serious trade-offs. Some may be driven by a job relocation, a growing family, or other life events.

Although selling a home in 2020 and beyond is going to look a lot different than it used to, people haven’t stopped selling houses altogether. And considering that the lingering effects of the virus could last into 2021 and beyond, we can’t expect an “all clear” signal anytime soon for putting out that “for sale” sign.

Find an agent who can help you sell safely

Connect with a professional using the best tools, technology, and practices to navigate COVID-19. The pandemic requires a new way of selling which includes precautions, virtual tours, cleaning and more. All agents should be requiring their buyers to wear masks and gloves. They should also facilitate how many surfaces are being touched and how to safely show the home. You need an agent who can find a way to enforce these regulations and prioritizes your health as well as selling your home.

Real estate analysts predict that COVID-19 will most negatively impact the luxury housing market. Buyers at higher price points who have large holdings in the equity markets may postpone large real estate transactions as they wait for stocks to recover from the market plunge.

Online presence and marketability

According to HomeLight’s Flash Poll for the week of April 1, 2020, 84% of agents have shut down open houses and 45% are restricting or eliminating physical showings. That means your home must shine in online listing photos and videos to convince buyers to leave their house to view it in-person. Many photographers are now offering walk-through videos as well as photos. A professional video will make your home shine. Walking around with your iPhone and shooting a video of your home will not have the same impact. Hire a professional and it will make all the difference.

Open houses are limited during the pandemic

Agents are steering away from open houses. With the requirement of keeping 6 feet apart, an open house just isn’t a feasible option. Also, you don’t want to crowd your home with people and hope that everyone is following the rules. Instead, find an agent that is going to advertise your home significantly so you can depend on appointments only or virtual showings.

If you decide you want to have an open house you will have a lot of steps to take and variables to manage. While disinfecting surfaces and adhering to social distancing practices reduces your household’s risk of coming into contact with the COVID-19 virus, they do not eliminate it. You should discuss the home sale process with members of your house before you list. You may need to adjust visitor procedures or delay your home sale depending on their response.

Few will judge if your home sits on the market

In normal circumstances, homes that sit on the market above an average number of days are at a disadvantage. Homes with a high days on market count can carry a stigma — buyers wonder if the property has something wrong with it or if it’s priced incorrectly.

However, present buyers and buyers’ agents are considerate of COVID-19’s impact on the market so they are unlikely to look down upon homes taking longer to sell. Some MLS systems are even suspending or pausing the accumulation of days on market in order to accommodate for this slower period. This is something you can ask your agent about and they should be able to tell you what to expect in regard to a longer home selling time-frame

You can always change your mind

If you list your home and then are unable to follow through with the sale due to an illness, job loss, or other reason, you can cancel the transaction without repercussions so long as you include a COVID-19 clause in the home sale contract. We definitely recommend you discuss this with your realtor. In most cases contracts with a real estate agent will list specific reasons why you can cancel the listing contract. You want to make sure COVID-19 reasons are listed for your benefit.

To avoid any extra charges from your real estate, review your listing agreement carefully to see if they charge a fee for taking your home off the market early. You can negotiate your agent’s standard agreement to reduce the length of the contract or waive fees; they may be particularly accommodating at this time. Divinity Inspections is always here to help you when you need referrals, a property inspection or a pre-listing inspection.

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Home Inspection Nightmares: Let’s Be Honest

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Home inspection nightmares are out there and we’re going to be really honest about what a home inspection nightmare looks like. It may not be exactly what you think. In fact, you might even be surprised by what we’re about to share. But first, let’s start with the most important point: the nightmare is not what the inspector finds but what the inspector does. Intrigued yet? Read on to find out what we’re talking about.

All inspections find something

Many home buyers believe the home inspection is the biggest culprit of deal-killers. However, it’s a huge myth. The truth is, all home inspectors will find something. Some findings are very minor, others are concerning, and some are really big red flags. But at the end of the day, no matter what we find, the buyer and seller make the decisions. The findings of the report are completely based on the subjectivity of the buyer and seller. What seems small to one person might seem really big to another. This is why it doesn’t really matter what we find as much as it matters how the information is perceived.

The inspector is the nightmare

Any home inspection nightmare story we’ve ever heard has been directly related to the home inspector. For example, some home inspectors go beyond telling a buyer what they found. They instruct the buyer or the buyer’s realtor on how things need to be fixed. This is an industry standard no-no. How things are fixed is always up to the seller, not the buyer. And while inspectors are familiar with general solutions, they should never instruct the buyer in a way that implies specific direction. In many cases this results in a demanding buyer, an offended seller, and a home sale in trouble. The role of the home inspector is to be thorough and informative. The role does not include giving buyers directions to make specific demands.

The inspection leaves behind a nightmare

The other most common nightmare story has nothing to do with what was found in the home inspection. This happens when the home inspector shows significant disrespect or inconsideration to the home. Some inspectors will track mud throughout the house, leave lights on, doors unlocked, gates open and even the front door open! It has happened and when it does it has a big effect. The home inspection trickles down to the sellers, who’s attitude moves towards to the buyers. Many sellers will respond with “well I hope the buyers don’t ask for any favors after this crap”. And that attitude carries throughout the rest of the home sale process. This is the true nightmare for homeowners and unfortunately is more common than it should be.

When you hire Divinity Inspection Services, you hire a company that has their own set of service standards. We go above the industry expectations and ensure that every inspection is thorough, respectful and creates a good experience for both the buyer and seller. We want to become a trusted source for both parties and we can only achieve this offer exceptional service.

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Showing Homes Amid COVID-19

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The Tampa real estate market has been waiting to understand the effects, if any, from the current COVID-19 pandemic. Some media outlets claim homes are being pulled from the market as homebuyers hesitate to make any big purchases among a see of layoffs. However, some real estate professionals are claiming they are busier than ever. If you are planning on listing your home, here are some important steps you can and should take to keep your home safe during this environment.

Post instructions for tours

Some sellers have posted specific instructions on their front door for any home tours. Sellers are requiring scheduled tours only and staying away from open houses. In addition, the posted instructions include wearing face masks and gloves. Some include taking off their shoes or wearing booties. Most will include using hand sanitizer throughout the tour our Lysol wipes to wipe down door knobs and counters. At the end of the day, you should require whatever is going to make you feel most comfortable and what will be safe for everyone.

Limiting home tours by using virtual tours

Staying away open houses is one thing, limiting scheduled tours is another. Some sellers are limiting tours to specific days of the week or specific time windows. This might seem counter-intuitive but with virtual tours available online, you don’t have to make your home as available. In fact, by using virtual tours you can filter out the more serious buyers from those who are just looking.

Keeping your house safe for everyone involved

As with any scheduled home tour, you will leave your home. In a normal environment you might go to the mall or a neighbor’s house to kill time until you can return home. Visiting others is not encouraged so you will need another plan. Where can you go if you need to be out of the house for thirty minutes or an hour? You should have a few places you know you can go at different time of the days when needed.

Staying safe should be the priority for everyone. You want your house to sell but you also want to stay healthy during the covid-19 pandemic. Take whatever precautions you need for your family’s safety and the safety of others. Your real estate agent will be happy to help you with these specifications and we will also take the same precautions.