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Are You Ready To Buy A House? Home Buying Tips

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Going through the home buying process as a first time home buyer can be intimidating. Do you think you’re ready to buy a house? Here are some really helpful tips, collaborated by a variety of professionals, to help you take the right first steps.

Take a first-time home buying class

Did you know there are many resources which you can use to learn about the home buying process in detail? In fact, many mortgage officers will encourage you to attend one of these classes before you even apply for a mortgage. Here are a few things you will learn:

  • How to get prequalified and preapproved
  • How to find the right real estate agent
  • How to shop for your home and make an offer
  • How to obtain insurance and what kind of insurance you will need
  • When to have the home inspection and appraisal
  • Details of the process from beginning to closing

As you go through a class or seminar, some lasting as long as 8 hours, you will learn about each topic in detail. Don’t let the amount of information intimidate you, just take it one step at a time. Also, don’t forget that a good real estate agent will help you with each step as you take them.

The Paperwork for your financing

One task that many first-time home buyers are not prepared for is the amount of paperwork they will need to gather and provide for the financing. Not only will you need proof of income, but you will need proof of everything as it pertains to your finances. A good loan officer will tell you that the key to getting through this phase is organization.

In many cases, this phase is when many home buyers lose track of the little important things. For example, someone forgot to tell the home inspector that the water in the home runs on a well. Now you also need a water inspection and that takes longer – but you were supposed to close in a few days! So now closing could be delayed because a little detail got left out and had a big impact. Effective communication between your loan officer, your real estate agent, and your home inspector will make all the difference.

How to look for a home

You’ve been preapproved! Congratulations, it’s time to start looking for that dream home. Each individual approaches the actual home buying process differently. For example, you might look at homes that are outside your preapproved amount with the intention to negotiate on the price. Others might want to look under their preapproved amount. Some will wait until their real estate agent sends them listings, other will look for them on their own. There is no right or wrong way, just your way.

An important feature of your real estate agent will be assisting you in deciding on whether to make an offer on a home or not. They will provide pros and cons that you may not identify and also provide insight from a unique point of view. Your real estate agent will help you negotiate, if that is an option, and even help you understand resale value. Don’t take this for granted, it will make the process significantly easier. Lastly, your real estate agent will walk you through each step of the process until your closing day.

Every agent’s goal is to assist you in getting the best property at the best price with the least amount of inconvenience based on current market conditions.

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Here’s Why You Need a Wind Mitigation Survey

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How well will your home withstand a serious windstorm? Will it be completely destroyed in a hurricane? Do you even know what to expect if your home is subject to harsh winds? A wind mitigation survey can answer all of these questions. But do you even know how to get a wind mitigation survey or even how to get started when you need to search for a company that can provide this service?

Do You Need a Wind Mitigation Survey?

Do you live in an area that’s prone to hurricanes? Are you near the coast? If you’re anywhere near a coastline or in an area that has been struck by a hurricane in the past, it’s absolutely essential for you to get a wind mitigation survey and make sure your home will be safe even in the faces of extreme winds.

Even if you don’t live in a hurricane area, you need to get a wind mitigation survey if you’re in an area with high winds. This can include places that are prone to tornadoes, areas that can suffer from hail damage, and any area that is prone to severe storms of any kind. Winds can reach incredible speeds even far outside of hurricane zones. It’s always a good idea to get a wind mitigation survey and find out how well your home can withstand this type of extreme weather damage.

It is required by law?

Some cities and states require that homeowners get a wind mitigation survey. But even in places where this is not required, it’s a good idea to have this service performed. You want to have an idea of how much wind your home can withstand. You may need to have your home reinforced to withstand more win damage, to avoid having huge problems in the future. If you don’t have a good idea of what kind of storm damage your home can withstand, then you aren’t prepared for what could happen in the future if the weather does its worst.

Extreme weather is becoming the norm these days, not the exception. Windstorms and hurricanes and tornadoes are becoming more powerful. Damage is becoming more extensive.No matter where you live, it is extremely useful information to know how well your home can survive in extreme weather.

In a group of homeowners who were surveyed about home inspections, 70% said that having the inspection helped them avoid potential issues. That’s a huge amount of people who do the right thing and protect their homes.

How to Find Inspections Services

Now that you know you want a wind mitigation survey done for your property, do you know how to get one? Do you know who to call or where to go in order to get these services performed? A wind mitigation inspections can’t necessarily be performed by any type of home inspection services.

When you need a wind mitigation survey, you have to specifically seek out a company that can perform this service. You need to find an inspection company that keeps a wind mitigation inspector, or several, on the payroll. Companies that provide this service will list this feature clearly on their website, so you can save time by searching different sites some various home inspection companies until you find one that can provide you with an affordable and comprehensive wind mitigation survey. Make sure that the inspection service you hire can also provide you with guidelines and recommendations to give you protection against windstorms if your home is found to be in danger of suffering from wind damage.

With a good wind mitigation survey, you can protect your home from damage and protect yourself from being caught unprepared for severe storm damage.

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Look For These 6 Qualities in Your Home Inspector

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The need to have a home assessed before making any financial commitments cannot be overemphasized. Roughly 90% of homeowners in America consider home inspections as a must-have. With home inspection services, you can identify structural damage and assess the state of a property before signing on the dotted line. There are a number of things you need to always consider in order to get the best results, however. Here are the qualities of a reliable nationally certified master inspector.

1. Experience

You can never go wrong with a home inspector that has been in this field for many years. This is because the inspector will have learned the ropes over the years and thus knows how to do a good job. Sure, some greenhorn home inspection service providers can deliver great results, but you’re in a safer pair of hands with someone that proven experience. Hiring someone experienced means that you can be assured that the job will be done right the first time.

2. Knowledge

It goes without saying that a new-construction inspection job isn’t for every person. This tells that you need to always go for someone with the required skillset lest your money ends up going down the drain. Home inspectors should have the required training and have certification to prove the same. Therefore, someone who claims to be a nationally certified master inspector without proper certification should make you think twice.

3. Reputation

They say that a good name is worth its weight in gold and this cannot be truer than when it comes to home inspections. A nationally certified master inspector will do all they can to keep clients satisfied. Thanks to the advent of the internet, pointing out a good home inspection company is only a click away. A quick glance at customer reviews online will help you know if you are looking at a reliable home inspector or not. Having a few negative reviews is nothing much to worry about, but many alarming comments should raise eyebrows.

Homeowners who have been on this journey before can also come in handy. A word from them will help you know the best home inspection services in town as well as those that you need to avoid. In a nutshell, researching a home inspector’s reputation will help you know what you are getting yourself into.

4. Cost

The 21st-century economy is nothing short of unforgiving and it would be for your own good to save every dime. A nationally certified master inspector offering budget-friendly services is worth considering. On the flip side, going for the cheapest inspectors in town could mean compromising on quality now that you’ll get what you pay for.

Keep in mind that home inspection companies are also in business and this means there is room to bargain. The best way to go about this is by getting a number of price quotes from some of the home inspection companies near you and making a comparison.

5. Written Agreements

Word of mouth is simply not enough when it comes to home inspections. It’s always prudent to have everything in writing. This is a job that comes with a lot of moving parts and it wouldn’t be surprising to disagree at some point. A written agreement serves as a safety net in the event that a home inspector fails to honor what you had earlier agreed on. With such a document, not only will you be able to call them out but also have enough evidence should matters end up in court. Any inspector who isn’t willing to work on written terms is a no-go zone.

6. Insurance

From breaking windows to falling through the ceiling, a nationally certified master inspector is faced with lots of dangers. A personal injury case is the last thing you want, and this is why it’s important to hire an insured home inspector. Remember that injury cases are not only time consuming but also costly as well.

Conclusion

A home inspection is beyond any reasonable doubt a great idea. However, you need to get a professional who will get the job done correctly the first time. With these tips, getting the best inspector shouldn’t be as hard.

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What to Expect From a Home Inspection

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When you buy a home, you should never sign on the dotted line until you’ve obtained a home inspection. Even when you already own a commercial building or residential property, you may need to obtain regular building inspections to ensure safety is prioritized.

Typically, inspectors need two to four hours to complete a home inspection. Their job is to visually assess the entire structure and all the systems of a home. Here’s what you can expect from a home inspection.

What Is Covered in a Home Inspection?

Inspectors examine many parts of a home, which can include:

  • heating and air conditioning systems
  • indoor plumbing
  • electrical systems
  • roof, attic, and exposed insulation
  • windows, doors, walls, floors, and ceilings
  • basement and foundation

Why Is a Home Inspection Necessary?

You should enter into the process of home buying armed with information about the house you want to purchase. Home inspectors can tell you which areas or systems will require repairs and explain what maintenance is needed to keep everything in good working order. You’ll feel better about buying a home once you’ve had it examined by professional inspectors.

For current homeowners, inspectors can pinpoint brewing issues and tell you about ways to prevent those issues from becoming major problems. New-construction inspection can highlight building errors and offer suggestions for correcting those errors. For those looking to put their home on the market, an inspection can point you in the direction of necessary repairs that will make the home more attractive to buyers.

How Much Will a Home Inspection Cost?

Inspection fees for the average single-family dwelling vary by locale. The cost may also depend on the home’s size and age, and on whether the homeowner or home buyer requests additional services like inspecting the septic system or testing for radon.

Can a Home Get a Failing Grade on an Inspection?

A home cannot fail an inspection. Home inspectors are not municipal employees, so they don’t check for compliance with local codes. They simply provide a description of the home’s systems and structural condition and suggest replacements and repairs to correct problems. Their assessment is also not an appraisal of the home’s value.

You should find a highly experienced home inspector. You may also need an inspector who provides services not normally covered in the standard inspection. On our team, we have a Nationally Certified Master Inspector who has completed a minimum of 1,000 inspections and/or training hours, and has met other educational, background, and professional requirements. We offer specialized services such as wind mitigation inspection and pool leak inspection. Call us today to schedule an inspection.

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5 Things Inspectors Look for in Commercial Property

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Considering the differences between personal home inspection services and commercial property inspection services can get quite difficult. There are many terms that some aren’t aware of like data points, and the fact that in order for an average home inspection to be sufficient it should have almost 500 data points. Other considerations for commercial real estate home inspections should be taken into consideration as well, such as baseline inspections and what all is included in an inspection. Read below as we outline the details involved with commercial property inspection services.

Structural Integrity

This is something that any commercial building inspector is going to look for. They want to know if the commercial property is structurally sound. Things they will look for include construction of the building what types of materials were used. They will determine not only what kind of materials were used in the construction, but how old the material is. They will inspect the foundation for any problems. Commercial property inspection services will be sure to check the joints of the building to ensure that not only the materials are structurally sound, but everything holding it together is as well.

Plumbing

You can expect the plumbing system to be thoroughly inspected to ensure that it is working properly. A visual inspection of the lines will take place where it is able to. They want to ensure that all lines are working properly and there is no overload. Properly draining lines and no back up or water standing is important. Other things that will be inspected include the plumbing components including the hot water heater. This will be checked to ensure that there are no leaks. You can also expect it to be inspected to see how long ago it was replaced. This helps determine how long it will last before it needs to be replaced again.

Air Conditioning

You should expect your air conditioning system to be inspected as well. It will be checked to ensure that it is working properly and there are no visible problems. Another thing that will be checked is the service record for it. This is to ensure that the unit will continue to work for years to come. Ducts and airways will be visually inspected for signs of leakage or damage.

Building Site

The building site will be inspected to ensure that everything is in working condition and there are no problems or concerns. Things that will be inspected include the outside of the building and the landscape. Commercial property inspection services are typically checking the paving to ensure that there are no large cracks which indicate it will need to be replaced soon. They will check to make sure there are no visible deformities. They may ask to see maintenance and work records pertaining to such services. The landscaping will be checked. If you have an outdoor sprinkler system, expect that to be checked to ensure it is working, and be sure to supply service and maintenance records for those as well.

Roofing

This one may seem like a no-brainer, but you can be sure that it will be inspected. Commercial property inspection services want to ensure that a large part of the business is in operable condition. If there is damage to the roof then there is a possibility that the roof could eventually cave in. All of the products stored inside of the commercial property could then be potentially ruined. For this reason, many potential business owners want the security of knowing that they won’t be faced with the dilemma of a roof replacement soon after purchase.

When choosing to sell a commercial property you should realize that there are a few different things that are looked at compared to selling residential property. Knowing what will be inspected and what will be looked at can help you ensure that all inspections points are deemed satisfactory upon completion of the inspection. Any findings are typically presented to the commercial property owner in a final inspection report. This way cost estimates can be included so that any building repairs deemed necessary can be budgeted and included in the selling price of your commercial property.