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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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How to Show your home during the Holiday Season

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If you are showing your home during the holiday season it can be a little tricky. Between holiday decorations, parties, and deterring home theft, the holidays can make it all that much harder. Have no fear, we are here to help! Follow some of these tips to show your home during the holiday season and also have peace of mind.

Keep decorations to a minimum

If you love to saturate your home in decorations during the holidays, you will want to hold off on it. A lot of decorations can be overwhelming and distracting for any person interested in viewing your home. Decorating also means leaving out some of your potentially valuable stuff for grabs. Avoid all of this by decorating very little. You can even wait until a week before Christmas to stop showing the home, decorate, and enjoy the season. You still have control and what you do should be what works best for you.

Curb Appeal vs. Curb Safety

You may never have thought about it, but decorations can also be a hazard. This wire lines, extension chords, and decorations across your walk-way can actually be a tripping hazard. The last thing you want is someone who is viewing your home to trip over things as they walk in.

Selling during the Holiday Season

Many sites claim selling your home through the holiday is great timing! But this also means you need to have excellent pictures and videos of your home. As home-buyers start their process doing online searches, you will want your home’s pictures to stand out! Don’t skimp on this area. Make sure your home is immaculate before taking any pictures.

Comfy and Cozy

Have you ever stepped into a home that just feels cozy? The house makes you want to wrap up in a blanket and sit in front of the fireplace? This is the feeling you want to evoke, especially during the winter and holiday season. Light the fireplace, light some candles, bake some cookies, and decorate a Christmas tree. Create that comfy cozy feeling people will enjoy!

We hope this little tips help as you work your way through the holiday season. Don’t forget Divinity Inspections is still working too so give us a call when you are ready to schedule your pre-listing home inspection or your pre-purchasing home inspection!

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What happens if your Home Inspector misses something?

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Finally you are in the last stage of purchasing your home and you are jumping through the last hoop: a home inspection. Many home-buyers find the home inspection process very stressful. The idea of finding something wrong with your new home that could potentially hinder the buying process is not fun. Even worse, what happens if your home inspector misses something?

Start with the right home inspector

Getting through the process calmly has a lot to do with trusting your home inspector. Remember he’s on your side! Not only is Divinity home inspectors going to find and explain any issues in detail, we’re going to do everything we can to offer you advice or guidance in how to fix your home issues. Either way, make sure you choose a home inspector that has a lot of good recommendations and a good reputation.

Attend your home inspection

Attending your home inspection is really important. Not only might it calm your nerves, but attending will also allow your inspector to point out anything they come across that is concerning. If you notice an inspector hesitate at the idea of your presence during the inspection, that is a big red flag! Any inspector should be very comfortable with the home buyer or home owner present during their inspection. Remember, it’s your job to make the most our of your home inspection.

What if your home inspector misses something?

Most home inspectors are not going to miss any major issues with your home, however it could happen. Sellers are required to disclose any major issues with the home before they sell it. If they don’t, proving they did would be more costly than it’s worth. You can bring the issue up to the home inspector. As long as you used one with decent liability insurance that covers more than just the cost of the inspection, odds are decent you’ll be compensated for any damages. Again, you’ll have to prove it. For example, if the inspector said the roof was in good condition, but there was a leak months later during a big storm, you would have to prove that nothing happened in the intervening time that damaged the roof.

Divinity Inspection service not only are fully licensed, but our inspectors are trained not to miss anything. We encourage you to attend your home inspection and we take the time to walk you through everything we do. You can schedule your inspection right here on our site!

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The Face Value of a Home Inspection

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What is the face value of a home inspection? Instinctively you might say the answer depends on who you ask. What you may not realize is the real face value of a home inspection depends on your home and you! Not only that, but your home inspector plays a huge role in the value of your home inspection.

What if I asked you how much your car was worth, retail? Now if I asked you how much you would sell it for, that answer will probably be different. What you are willing to sell for vs. what you know your car is worth are two different numbers. This is the case for most things in life, and a home inspection is no exception. So, what is the real face value of a home inspection?

For any home buyer, the purchase of the home is highly dependent on the home inspection report. A good home inspection can save you from having to replace the roof, replace the water heater or another appliance. It can also help you avoid purchasing a home with potentially disastrous issues, like replacing all of the electrical or plumbing. We are talking tens of thousands of dollars in repairs! You may pay $500 (or less, or more depending on the size of the home) and it could save you thousands and thousands of dollars. Now that is a return on your investment.

Home buyers want the home inspection to report no major issues. Because the goal is to make sure no major issues exist in the home, this somehow has become a reason to expect home inspections to cost less. You get what you pay for and that goes for your inspection. Why would you pay less for a home inspection when the risk is so big? So we come back around to the important question – what is the face value of a home inspection? Now that you have all of this information you may find that your answer has changed.

Insurance Information

Home Inspection Deal Breakers

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So many times we run into new home-buyers terrified of getting a home inspection. They are so worried that we are going to ruin their deal and dismantle their dreams of living in a home they’ve fallen in love with. We are not the deal breakers. Well that is certainly not our goal! In fact, the majority of home inspections will uncover minor issues with a home that we will use to educate the new owners. Very rarely does a home inspection actually lead to the disruption of a home purchase. In this article we have listed 5 issues that, if found, could be a deal-breaker!

Foundation Issues

The foundation is the stronghold. Like most things in life, if the foundation is not strong then eventually what is above it will topple. If we find any major foundation issues with the home, which would be a huge undertaking to repair, it will likely be a deal-breaker.

Electrical Wiring

To be more specific, aluminum wiring! This was popular during the Vietnam War era but is not very common today. Aluminum wiring can be completely replaced with the correct wiring and would bring the home up to code. However, completely re-wiring a home is not an easy repair and would require you to have the extra funds necessary.

The Roof

We talked about the roof in our last blog. The roof is a big deal, and like any major issue, takes extensive funds to repair. In our inspections we will always inspect the roof and give you a practical estimate of the life left in your roof before you would need to replace it. Sometimes you can see the damage from the ground but most times the damage is lurking high above.

Flood Zones

Flood zones have become increasingly important, and around Florida, we’ve got lots of them! You don’t have to be buying a home near a beach or lake to be within a flood zone. Not only does flooding cause issues around your home but sometimes it can cause issues inside your home as well. You also have to consider the increased difficulty in selling your home in the future if it is within a flood zone.

Infestations and Mold

These are the issues that are lurking in the shadows. Behind the walls, in the attic, or under the home – infestations can be a huge issue. Depending on the type of infestation and where it is located, the fix would be minor or major. Chemical infestations, such as mold, can cost thousand of dollars to exterminate and can cause major health issues if not taken care of immediately.

You can see that these issues are not always easy to spot, but if they are there, we will spot them. Even as we list these “deal-breakers”, the truth is no one can dissolve a home purchase except for you. Even a major issue can be fixed if you have the money to fix it. When you use Divinity Inspection Services you have nothing to fear. Remember, you can also use the problems you find to help you with the negotiation!

Sources:
https://www.realtor.com/advice/buy/home-inspection-deal-breakers/?is_wp_site=1
https://www.learnvest.com/2014/06/buying-home-problems/3/