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Should You Get a Home Inspection Before Buying a House?

Edited by Charity Chezum • August 1, 2020

The home-buying process is full of complicated (and often time-consuming) steps[1]. Do you really need to slow down the purchase even more by getting a home inspection? 


The short answer to that question is yes. 


Without getting a home inspection, you risk buying a house full of hidden damages. We’ve put together this guide to show you some of the most important benefits of inspecting your home before you hand over any of your money. 



So let’s get started! 


You Know What You’re Getting Into 


Don’t let the exterior of a home fool you, no matter how beautiful it looks. Hidden behind the walls or under the floor could be dangerous electrical work or expensive repairs. 


A home inspection will uncover these things for you so you know exactly what you’re getting into if you go through with the purchase. Otherwise, you could end up buying a home that turns into a money pit. 

Helps You Save Money in the Long Run 



If you skip the home inspection, you’ll save money... right? 

 

Not necessarily. 



A home inspection costs only between $300 and $450[2]. Repairing foundation cracks, replacing a faulty HVAC system, or rewiring the house is much more expensive. While you’ll have to spend more upfront, getting a home inspection can help you save thousands of dollars later. 



Uncovers Any Safety Concerns 



Some home repairs are more than just costly annoyances. Living with old or damaged electrical wiring or structural problems can lead to a fire or a collapse. 



You’ll find any potential dangers during a home inspection, which will give you a chance to make repairs before you move in or give you a way to back out of the deal.   



Makes Negotiating the Price Easier 



Do you want to negotiate the price down before you buy? Having a home inspection that documents all the needed repairs can help you do this. 

If the seller sees evidence of these problems, they might be willing to lower the price or at least agree to fix the issues themselves before you buy the home.  

Doesn’t the Seller Take Care of the Home Inspection? 


While many sellers will inspect the home themselves, you shouldn’t count on this. Some sellers will skip the inspection, and even if they did inspect the house, it’s always a good idea to get a second opinion. 


You can talk to your realtor about finding a quality home inspector in your area. They should have a few recommendations you can trust. 


Finding the Right Home in Shell Beach 


Do you need help finding home inspection services in the Shell Beach area? Or are you still struggling to find the right home for your family? 

We can help! 


You can get in touch with our office by calling (805) 459-8798. Our team at David & Karen Present would love to talk to you about your dream home. 

 





References: 

1. https://www.investopedia.com/updates/first-time-home-buyer/ 

2. https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/how-much-does-home-inspection-cost/ 

What does sale pending mean?

By Danica A • May 1, 2022
You’ve spent months searching for the perfect home, and you think you may have finally found it. But when you hop online to do some additional research, the home’s status is listed as “sale pending.” Are you entirely out of luck? It doesn’t say “sold,” after all. Find out more about what “pending” means on a house for sale, and what your options are if you’re interested in it. What does sale pending mean in real estate? A pending sale in real estate simply means that the seller has received and accepted an offer on their home. However, the deal is not yet finalized — hence “pending” and not simply “sold.” If you’re interested in a pending property, your agent should consult with the seller’s agent to learn more about the status. You may still have a chance, though it is likely slim. Can you make an offer on a house that is pending? In short, yes. But it may not be worthwhile. A pending deal is not set in stone, but it’s not exactly open for discussion either. Unless the pending deal falls through, you can’t simply win over the seller by offering more money or waiving certain contingencies. In fact, most sellers are contractually obligated to honor the current offer, even if a higher bid comes in. Still, if you’re really interested in the home and counting on the current deal to fall through, you do have the option to submit a backup offer. Be sure to consult with your real estate agent for advice on the best way to move forward in this situation. Reasons a pending sale may come back on the market It is possible, if not likely, for a pending sale to come back on the market. There are many reasons why this could happen: Below are some common reasons why real estate purchase transactions sometimes fall through.

4 Signs That It’s a Good Time to Sell Your Home

By Danica A • April 1, 2022
You might already know for a fact that you’re ready for a new home. But before you pull the trigger on selling your current home, you want to know that you’ll get top dollar and be financially secure for the long haul. Here are four signs that there’s no time like the present to put your home on the market. 1. You Don’t Need Any Big Repairs or Remodeling Sure, upgrading a bathroom sink might make you feel better about what potential buyers see when touring your home. But don’t sweat the small stuff. You aren’t likely to recoup the expenses you put into most home improvement projects, much less turn a profit . The important thing is that your home doesn’t need some type of major overhaul that sends buyers running for the hills – something like a leaky roof or cracked foundation. Barring any such severe flaws, just double check with your real estate agent to make sure there aren’t any renovations that would significantly raise your home’s value. If there aren’t, then you should consider your home ready to hit the market. 2. You Have Positive Equity to Avoid Out-of-Pocket Costs Equity is the difference between what your home is worth and what you owe on it. Say your home is worth $100,000. If you only owe $50,000 to pay off your mortgage, that means you have $50,000 in positive equity. Ideally, you’d like to have enough equity to cover closing costs and put some money down on your next home. At a minimum, you want to have enough to cover the current balance of your mortgage, so you can avoid paying out of pocket. As long as you have even a small amount of positive equity, that’s a positive sign that you’re ready to transition to a new home.

Foolproof Paint Colors That Will Sell Your Home

By Danica A • February 1, 2022
Selling a home with an electric, lime-green living room is going to be more difficult than you originally anticipated. In fact, your home might sit stagnant on the market for quite some time. The reality is that paint color packs a serious punch in the real estate game. So, which colors are going to sell your home? A home remodeling guide and contractor liaison website, surveyed 200 leading interior design experts and influencers to uncover the upcoming paint trends for owners to keep in mind before selling their home. We’re armed with Fixr's Paint & Color Trends Report and ready to dish on the hues to use and hues to lose before putting your house on the market. (Hint: Lime green didn’t make the list.) The Kitchen: White or Warm Gray Design pros believe that warm gray or classic white tones are best for painting interior rooms like the kitchen. Some of our favorite white and warm gray paint colors to check out for your kitchen include Revere Pewter and Simply White by Benjamin Moore or Pure White and Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams. The Living Room: White When in doubt, white it out. Surveyed pros believe white paint will sell your home because not only does it provide future buyers with a blank slate, but it gives living rooms a fresh, well-kept appearance that appeals to the masses. Our tried-and-true white paint colors include Snowbound or Greek Villa from Sherwin Williams or White Dove and Chantilly Lace from Benjamin Moore.
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