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If A Seller Already Had A Home Inspection Completed, Do You Still Need One?

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As you shop for a home you may come across a seller who has already had a home inspection completed. This could be a big benefit for you as a possibility to save money by not needing to pay for a home inspection. However, before you get too excited, here’s what you will want to look for first before deciding you don’t need to get your own home inspection.

When was the home inspection completed?

For a house that has been sitting on the market for a while, a seller may use a completed home inspection as motivation for buyers. One less thing a buyer has to pay for! Which sounds great, but you want to make sure the home inspection was done recently. Any home inspection report older than 90 days would not be as reliable. In fact, the most ideal report would have completed within 30 days.

Who was the home inspection completed by?

If you are not familiar with a home inspection report then you may not know what to look for. There are two things you need to do if you would like to depend on the home inspection report offered by the seller. First, find out who the home inspector or company was and give them a call. Do your due diligence to make sure they are a credible resource and a dependable, insured company. Second, ask the home inspector if they would review the home inspection report with you. They should be able to talk you through their findings and educate you about the house, including any concerns.

What is the home inspector’s policy?

Some home inspectors are not willing to honor the report if you did not order and pay for it yourself. In this case, any findings or claims can be made by the homeowner only (the seller) and not the buyers. This does you absolutely no good if you run into an issue with the house, especially if it’s an issue with something expensive. Plumbing, electrical, or the roof is just examples of very important areas that need to be inspected thoroughly. If the report claims everything is find and you find out something is wrong you may have a hard time holding the inspector responsible.

Ask your agent for their opinion

Your agent is seasoned and familiar. Ask them for their opinion! They can advise you on whether they think it’s a good idea to use the inspection report provided or order your own. Your agent will consider factors such as the seller’s history, age of the house, and other things you may not know to consider. Always use the resources you have around you when you can.

Divinity Inspection Services offers pre-listing home inspections. These inspections are specifically for a seller that wants to know more about their home before they sell it and also want to use the report as an incentive for buyers. A pre-listing inspection can also give the seller a heads up on anything that needs to be fix that might hinder a sale before they put their house on the market. Learn more schedule your home inspection now!

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Get Ready for the Home Buying Season

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Few markets are as hot as the Tampa real estate market! If you are thinking of making some home purchases this season, then it’s time to get ready for the home buying season. First, we will determine how and when to know it’s time to buy. Then we’ll give you some great tips on how to make those purchases. Whether you are an investor, flipper, or simply looking for a new home – this is for you.

Is it time to buy?

They say Spring blooms “For Sale” signs! So you might notice them popping up all over Tampa. First, let us determine the buying and selling seasons. From late January to early March many homeowners are selling during these months. Parents don’t want to interrupt their children’s school schedule so they want to move early in the year. Other’s sell early in the year for tax purposes. This time period has excellent selections for homes for purchase. Between March through the summer months, many people are moving. The homeowners that have just sold their home are now on the market to purchase a home. Everyone else is on summer vacation. As a result homes tend to take a little longer to sell during the summer months which makes this a bargain shopper’s market. If you’re not in a rush and are looking for a good deal, this is your best season.

We won’t go into too much detail for the Fall and Winter season. These are definitely the slower months for the housing market. There is very little activity, for both buying and selling, the closer you get to the holiday season. Families are too busy buying gifts and traveling to focus on moving. Don’t plan to buy or sell a home during these months unless you are prepared for a longer wait time to complete the process.

Getting ready to buy a home

If you’re on the spectrum of purchasing then there are a few steps you can take to prepare. The more prepared you are, the more likely the chance you will be able to make the purchase faster.

  1. Check your credit
  2. Start saving
  3. Start looking at neighborhoods
  4. Attend a seminar or take classes on buying a home if this is your first purchase
  5. Determine your budget
  6. Visit open houses
  7. Interview realtors

 

Don’t underestimate your credit

Your credit score is important, but that’s only on piece of the credit pie. You need to know your credit score and determine your debt-to-income ratio. You can also pull your credit reports so you can see if there is anything you need to clean up before you apply for a mortgage. You also want to give yourself the opportunity to dispute any errors on your credit reports. You will need some time to work through these, so the sooner you start the better.

You may also want to consider researching and participating in loan programs. These programs can be very helpful with down payment assistance. You also need to be familiar with the various loan programs available so you can choose the right one for your needs. Research rates and know what current rates are being offered so you be prepared upon approval.

We are always looking for ways to help our customers so feel free to call us with questions! If we don’t know the answer, we can at least point you in the right direction to find the right answer. You should always consider a pre-listing inspection before putting your home on the market for sale. Also, don’t ever make a purchase without having the home inspected first. Call us now to schedule your inspection!

Sources:
https://www.newhouserealty.com/tosell&buy.htm
https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/ten-things-now-get-ready-buy-a-home/
https://www.redfin.com/blog/2017/02/50-ways-house-hunters-can-get-ready-for-homebuying-season.html

home rennovation

The 5 Best Home Updates

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You’re looking around your home and wondering, “What should I update?”. Better yet – what do you need to update? Maybe it feels like everything or maybe it feels like nothing, either way we’ve got a simple guide of the some of the best home updates. These are especially effective if your goal is to increase your home’s value. Whether you plan to put your home into this current seller’s market or potentially sell your home down the road, these updates will only be beneficial.

Minor Bathroom Remodel

Not every remodel has to be a complete gut and replace. In fact, very minor but effective touches can make all the difference in the world! Update your fixtures such as the hardware. A new toilet seat can go a very long way. If you want to do something a little bigger, add a window. Bathrooms with windows are significantly more appealing to buyers. Re-caulking your bathtub is also an easy DIY project that can put a finishing touch on an old bathroom.

Landscaping

If you watch Flip or Flop on HGTV you will notice how they always talk about the importance of good landscaping. Women, it’s like putting on lipstick. It’s a finishing touch but one that is most noticeable. Men, it’s like getting the right TV stand or mount. It’s just necessary to support an already valuable piece of property. Landscaping has a 100% return at resale every single time.

New Paint

Oh what a fresh coat of paint will do! Do not use the pain to hide any major repairs, such a water leaks. They will be discovered during inspection anyways and trying to make it look like a cover-up will only reflect poorly on you. However, a fresh coat of paint can make any room feel updated almost instantly. Consider painting the exterior of the home as well to increase the curb-appeal.

Replacement Windows

If eyes are the windows to the soul then the same goes for your home. Windows do so much for a house! Sunlight, especially in Tampa bay where we have plenty of sunlight, can make your home look bigger and feel more inviting. The warmth of the sunlight adds a warmth to the home. So make sure the next time you leave your home so your agent can do a showing, open up all the shades. Updating your windows can be expensive but the investment will yield a return during resale.

Updating Perception

Selling a home has a lot to do with perception. When a person steps into a house they start imaging what it would look like for them if they lived there. This is very hard to do if the house is already filled with what it looks like while you live there. In other words, you need to de-clutter and organize. Pack some of your belongings away and clear some of the space around the home.

Don’t forget you also have the option to do a pre-listing inspection. Our pre-listing inspections will inform you of any issues about your home before you list it and also shows home-buyers that you are serious about selling. Call us today to schedule one!

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New Year, New Home

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It’s a new year and the perfect time to give your home a refresh! Maybe it’s even the perfect time to buy a new home. Tampa’s real estate market was on the rise in 2016 and you can expect it to stay that way into 2017 as well. So, what can you expect if you plan to make that big move this year? We’ve got a couple ideas for you, collected from sources all over Tampa Bay!

Perfect for first-time buyers

First time home buyers may have felt the suffering over the last five years as the real estate market has slowly and steadily made it’s way back. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), first time home buyers made up approximately 40% of the market. For three straight years, they have only contributed to 32%. In 2016 we saw that number rise to 35% and expect an even bigger increase in 2017.

Patience is the new dream home

The NAR recent data reports that the current supply of existing homes for sale is insufficient to meet the demand, and new construction is not keeping up. This means you will be touring and potentially competing with the same people interested in purchasing the same home.

Demand rise, prices rise

As with all things economic, if demand is increasing then so will the prices. Which also means it is a seller’s market! If you need to sell your home to considering moving into a new one then this might be the perfect time for you! It is possible you can list your home for the price you’re hoping to sell it for.

Start planning now! We’re not even one full month into 2017 yet and you might already be behind. Start the planning process if you’re thinking about buying, selling, or both. Expect the process to take a few months and always start with hiring a real estate agent to help. Of course, don’t forget we offer pre-listing home inspections as well as discounts on home inspections if it is your first time hiring us! Contact us or schedule a home inspection right here on our website.

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Should your home inspector be licensed?

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Recently Utah passed a law that does not require home inspectors to be licensed. Apparently just about anyone can inspect what is potentially the largest investment of your life…right? So why would you need to hire a home inspector that’s licensed if the state doesn’t require it?

Lucky for us Florida does require their home inspectors to be licensed, and it’s a good thing. In fact, Divinity Inspection Services carries over 16 certificates. That’s how much we believe certificates are important! When a home inspector inspects a home, they create a report based on their expertise. This report will determine whether you, the buyer, is making a good investment. The report not only helps you to make a decision about buying the house, but it also serves to educate the buyer on the house they want to invest in. That’s a big responsibility.

At Divinity, we take that responsibility very seriously. That’s why we stand by our reports. Each one of our inspectors go through the same vigorous training to ensure a consistent quality in our service. We even keep your inspection report on our records for a year just in case you need it. When you are considering hiring a home inspector, make sure you’re asking all the right questions, including proof of their certification. You can find our right here on our website.