I bet we could all share a story or two regarding misinformation we've receieved from the internet, TV, social media, or friends and family!
Remember Y2K? The uncertainty & the panic for some people? Prepping homes, stockpiling groceries and supplies. All of the worry and none of the disaster, as the problems we were told were imminent come January 1st, 2000 amounted to nothing. From the 1980's - killer bees! They're coming to get us! (We're still waiting...) One common myth I hear from time to time relates to all of the possible problems a new homeowner could face buying their first home. The concerns vary; could be asbestos, mold, aluminum wiring, lead paint. This list goes on and on. Many of these concerns are perpetuated by the home improvement shows on TV that in my opinion, make a mountain out of a mole hill in order to drum up drama to improve ratings, etc. The fact is that the odds of actually running into any of these four issues in a West Texas home are very slim. Any mold can be hazardous to your breathing and allergies, but having a home overrun with mold would be unheard of in our dry climate. Asbestos, lead paint, and aluminum wiring are prone to homes from very specific time frames of construction only, and are a rare occurrence. What about energy efficiency? This has become a hot topic in recent years, sold as a "need" by contractors selling windows and doors, among other materials and services. You can research for yourself, but spending the money needed to install new windows will almost never "pay for itself" with energy savings. The insulation value of the very best windows will never save you enough over the cost of getting the windows installed. If you're getting new windows, it might be worth it based on appearance, emergency egress, etc. Improving insulation in your attic can benefit you for a relatively lower cost, but do your research. Return on investment may not add up to what you think it will! What issues should a home owner be concerned about? Take a close look at your inspection report! There you should find valuable information provided by an experienced professional. Use it to your benefit and enjoy your home!
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Your home inspection is complete. Now what?REVIEW:
Your first step as a home buyer should include completely reviewing the home inspection report. This may sound obvious, but you may be surprised to know that many home buyers don't ever access or review their inspection reports! Per the real estate licensing authority in Texas, the Texas Real Estate Commission, in regards to the inspection report - "It is important that you carefully read ALL of this information." "You" being the client, usually the home buyer. Time is usually short during option periods, etc. Make the most of it! ADDRESS: What item(s) in the inspection report seem important to you to be corrected? What item(s) in the inspection report does your Agent recommend be addressed? Get on the same page early on, and if there is some issue listed on the inspection report or other aspects of the real estate process that you don't understand, check with your inspector for inspection issues, and your Agent for pretty much everything else! KEEP IT: Hang on to your inspection report, and eventually make sure to make repairs to EVERY ITEM listed as a defect on the report . Many defects listed on the average inspection report are what I would consider "Minor", meaning they are just part of life as a homeowner. Plan to fix these over the weeks, months, or years ahead as a homeowner. Some are certainly more time sensitive than others, so prioritize accordingly. Assuming you hired a licensed, experienced pro to inspect the home, their advice and recommendations are invaluable to you as a homeowner. Don't waste all that professional experience and knowledge! We hope this helps you take those crucial next steps towards home ownership! Check back here soon for more helpful tips and other great info! 4/15/2020 0 Comments Property inspection prep checklistPreparing your home for the inspection is important; Use this checklist to make the process simple and painless!
So who should you trust?
Sometimes, this question is not so easy to answer. Here's the scenario: you have a home inspected, and the home inspector is telling you such and such needs to be repaired, then, you hire a contractor to fix the issue, and the contractor is telling you something very different. Who should you believe? You might think I'm going to say "the inspector", ya know, cause I'm an inspector! Surprise! I'll actually tell you there's a very good chance both the inspector and the contractor are correct. Here's why: the inspector was basing their recommendation on what they could see. As you may or may not know, an inspector does not and should not disassemble components in order to inspect them. A home inspection is by definition (legally!) a visual inspection. The contractor may be basing their recommendation on info gained from a much more invasive process. In other words, the contractor can see what an inspector can't. BEWARE: THE #1 THING that makes a contractor's opinion or recommendation different than an inspector's opinion or recommendation is THIS>>>> A contractor is making their recommendation with the expectation that it will provide them with additional income! In other words, the plumber says you need a new water heater. And of course this is added business for said plumber. A licensed professional home inspector in TEXAS cannot, by LAW, offer to make repairs on your recently inspected home. It's an ethics issue. Tradesman are not held to this standard. This is why you should view all recommendations from professionals through the lense of "What are they hoping to gain from what they're telling me?" As the old adage goes, "Caveat Emptor" or, Buyer Beware! Love receiving a long inspection report that you have to navigate? |
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