Blog & Tips

This article was provided by Kris Louis  - Parenting with Kris -  Thank You Kris!

It takes seconds for buyers to form a first impression of your home. That's why it's so important to present the best side of your home — at the best price — from the moment you list. If you're selling your home, Home Inspection Tennessee LLC recommends these seven tasks you need to take to prepare.

Research Your Market
Are you in a competitive market where homes are snatched up as soon as they list, or will you have to stand out in order to net a good price for your home? Understanding your local market helps you determine how much work to put into your home before listing.
 
Research the average listing price and the average number of days homes spent on the market in your area. This will give you a feel for economic conditions. If prices are up and homes are selling quickly, a few cosmetic updates may be plenty to attract offers. But if great homes are spending a long time on the market, expect to put more energy into selling your home.

Look at Comparable Homes
Your agent's recommended asking price shouldn't come as a surprise. Investigate your home's current value before meeting with your agent. While online estimators are helpful, the best way to understand your home's value is by researching comparable homes. As the Balance explains, comparable homes are within close proximity to your home, have similar bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage and lot size, and offer similar features as your home. If you find five to 10 comparable homes within the same price range, your home will likely fall within that range.

List Your Home Online
These days, a lot of people shop for homes online. So, it’s important to take advantage of modern apps that will allow you to list your home, complete with an abundance of information and excellent photography. According to SmartAsset, smartphone apps like Zillow, Redfin, Homesnap, and Houzz allow you to make the most of your online listing. However, if your phone is older and can’t handle newer apps, then you might need to upgrade before you can take advantage of these incredible tools. Try focusing on a newer model that includes useful features such as a high-quality display, 5G internet capability, and a super fast smartphone chip.

Start Packing
Before scheduling real estate photography, perform a thorough decluttering of your home. Lightly furnished and decorated homes look best in photographs. Decluttering also ensures prospective buyers have space to walk through your home and that they see your home, not your stuff. Store items you're keeping with family or in a storage facility until you move.

Deep Clean
After decluttering comes deep cleaning the home's interior and exterior. Inside, a professional cleaning service should be hired to complete a top-to-bottom clean. Outside, hard surfaces should be power washed. It's possible to damage siding with power washers. If cleaning your home's exterior yourself, the Vinyl Siding Institute recommends washing siding with water, soap, and a soft-bristled brush to avoid damage.

Refresh the Interior
Buyers want their future home to feel fresh and new. However, many odors linger even after deep cleaning. To duplicate the appeal of a freshly built home, include repainting and replacing the carpet in your home prep plan. Avoid varying paint and carpeting too much throughout the home. While subtle color differences between rooms can work, your home's color scheme should be cohesive.

Modernize Hardware and Fixtures
Lighting, cabinet, and sink hardware are the quickest ways to date your home. Unless you're selling a recently purchased home, your house could probably use modern touches in these areas. Replace light fixtures, cabinet pulls, and faucets with modern styles, paying special attention to kitchens, entryways, and bathrooms.

Improve Curb Appeal
​All your interior efforts will be for naught if your home's exterior turns buyers away. So, improve your home's curb appeal by manicuring the lawn and laying dark mulch around trees, shrubs and flower beds. If your flower beds are bare, installing mature plants is a quick way to add seasonal color. Sellers should also ensure the front porch is clean, trash cans are placed out of sight and the mailbox is modern and well-maintained.
 
With these tasks complete, your home is ready to compete in the local marketplace. However, your work as a seller isn't done. Ensure your home stays clean and tidy throughout the selling process so every buyer who views your home gets the same great experience.
 
Getting your home inspected is also crucial in selling your home. When you're ready to schedule the inspection, contact Home Inspection Tennessee LLC

by Paul Ballard with Avalon Management

When buying a home, it is expected that you will do a home inspection. But the home inspection is not just about checking the physical condition of the house; it can also be an essential negotiation tool. The outcome of the inspection helps you determine if you are getting a fair price for the property. It gives you an objective basis for deciding the actual value of the home.
 
This is why you must not treat the inspection as a formality but as a critical part of the buying process, says Avalon Management. If the inspection is not properly done, you could be paying the price for years to come. But a professionally executed home inspection will save you money and help you buy the home with relative peace of mind.
 
To get the most from your home inspection, you cannot leave it all to the home inspector. It would be best if you got involved, and here are some smart tips you can follow to do this.
 
Inspection tip 1: Do a visual inspection first
Your understanding of the inspection report and subsequent decision to buy or not buy the home depends on how much you know about the property. It is hard to understand an inspection report if you don't know anything about the house. Doing your superficial inspection of the property will help you make a better offer; it also prepares you to make the most of the steps that will follow.

Inspection tip 2: Make sure you have a home inspection
​The home inspection is not a cost; it is an investment that could save you a lot of trouble. Every investment carries some level of risk, and buying a home is no different. The home inspection minimizes the risk of purchasing an overpriced house or one with hidden problems. Even when purchasing a newly constructed home, the home inspection is still necessary.

 
Inspection tip 3: Hire a competent inspector
Please do not hire a home inspector because they are cheap. If they cannot detect the home's problems, you have wasted the inspection fee and run the risk of making a bad investment decision. Everything depends on the competence of your home inspector. To ensure the best outcome, hire someone with practical experience and the right tools. The additional cost will save you the stress of buying a home with hidden problems.

Inspection tip 4: Be present during the inspection
Although the inspection report will eventually get to you, this should not keep you from being present during the inspection. A firsthand view of the problems is invaluable for understanding the inspection report and making the right decisions afterward. If you did a visual inspection of the home before the inspection, you get a chance to have a second look and also see if the home inspector will confirm your suspicions.

Inspection tip 5: Ask questions but don't interfere
The essence of the home inspection is to educate the buyer on the condition of a home they are about to buy. If you were an expert, you would not need a home inspector. So do not be afraid to ask for clarifications and the inspector's opinion. Most home inspectors will be happy to have you accompany them and answer your questions, as long as you don't get in their way.
 
Inspection tip 6: Read the report and expect problems

No home will ever get a perfect home inspection report, not even if it is a new construction home. Expect the inspection to reveal problems. The important thing is to distinguish between what you should ignore, those that you should fix, and issues that should make you walk away. But to do this, you must first study and understand the home inspection report. You would be able to do this easily if you followed the steps above.

Inspection tip 7: Do not overlook additional testing
Sometimes the inspector will note a problem and request specialty testing to determine a problem and its extent. This is because home inspectors do not do in-depth assessments of each component of the home; they offer a broad overview. Specialty testing takes a more in-depth look into the identified part of the house. Overlooking additional testing because you want to save money is a bad idea.

Inspection tip 8: Re-inspect repairs
​If, after the inspection, you choose to go ahead with the purchase, but ask the seller to do some repairs, make sure you re-inspect those repairs. Add a clause in the purchase agreement that makes the completion of the sale contingent on re-inspection of post-inspection repairs. Doing this protects you by ensuring that all repairs are correctly done.
 
Buying a home is a huge investment. That is why the home inspection is indispensable to the home buying process. Following the above steps will help you get the most from the inspection, allowing you to minimize these investment risks.

by Julian Lane www.thefixitchamp.com

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The days are getting longer and the weather is getting warmer, which can only mean one thing for homeowners: it’s time for some post-winter maintenance. Winter can really take a toll on the outside of your home, especially if your area is prone to snow, ice, and other winter weather. So, before you can start enjoying more sunshine and spring days at home, you need to make sure you check off these essential yard- and home-maintenance items.
 
Trim Tree Branches and Tidy Up Yards
 
Your yard is the first thing folks see when they are looking at your home, so if yours is looking a little rough after winter, set aside a weekend to clean it up. You can start by taking a walk around your yard and seeing what needs some attention. Be sure to check any trees or bushes for dead branches, which can fall and damage property or injure individuals. If you can easily reach these branches, you can remove them on your own. If not, you may need to find a tree expert who can get rid of dead or unhealthy tree branches for you without risking your safety.
 
Upgrade Security Systems for Summer
 
If you plan on taking a family vacation during spring break or summer, now is a good time to think about upgrading your home security. Would-be criminals tend to target homes while families are out of town but you can take a few simple steps to reduce the risk of your house broken into this spring or summer. If you have a security system, be sure to put up signage that lets people know your home is protected. You can also use smart locks and automated lighting to make your home look occupied even while you are away. Looking to improve your landscaping? Then you can also consider adding protective plants to safeguard your home.
 
Disinfect Any Outdoor Furniture and Toys
 
Before you start getting outside for family cookouts and playtime, you need to make sure your loved ones are protected from germs, mold, and bacteria. During the wetter winter months, everything from patio furniture to playground equipment can turn into a breeding ground for these harmful pathogens, especially as the temperatures warm up. So, use a stiff brush and effective cleaning products to get these items nice and clean. Quality bleach products tend to be the best bet for eliminating grime from hard surfaces, so consider picking up the appropriate cleaning products to protect your family from germs on toys, furniture, and tools.
 
Check for Loose Board on Patios and Fences
 
Winds and other winter weather can also do a number on your fences and patios, so you should check these areas for loose boards before you begin using them in spring. If you find any boards that seem loose or that need to be replaced, know that this can be a simple DIY fix. You will just need a quality hammer, some nails, and perhaps pieces of wood, and you should have all you need to patch your patios and fences right up. For fences or patios that are worn or faded after winter wraps up, you can also easily re-stain wood surfaces on your own.
 
Get a Ladder and Get All Gutters Cleaned Out
 
Cleaning out gutters is never a fun job, but it is necessary if you want to keep your home protected through the spring and summer. Leaves and other debris can get trapped in your gutters during fall and winter, which can make it difficult or impossible for stormwater to drain properly. That can spell disaster once those April showers begin to roll in, with a risk for damages to your roof, your siding, or other structural elements of your home. So, get out your ladder, your hose, and a few other basic tools and get those gutters cleared out. Need to reach those high places? Then you should also consider investing in a safe and quality ladder.
 
Proper maintenance is the most effective way to protect your home from needing serious repairs. So, spend some time cleaning up your yard and inspecting the outside of your home.
 
Photo Credit: Pexels

Here are some helpful tips that will help you in the future.
 

• Ask for a floor plan, if available
• Ask for a copy of the building / electrical and mechanical permits. If there were any problems, ask for documentation that the problems have been solved.
• Ask, if there are any additions, which would require a permit
• If there is a septic system, ask for the permit and the drawing with the exact location of the tank and the drain field. Ask when the septic was pumped the last time and by whom.
• If there is a private well on the property, ask for the documentations, permits and water test results
• Ask the seller to provide you with a drawing that shows the exact location of all underground electric wires, water lines, sewer lines, underground fuel tanks and fuel lines. This is very important in case there is no basement or crawlspace and the lines are underneath a concrete slab.
• Ask for a list of all contractors who’ve been involved to build the house or been involved in major repairs, like “roof is 5 years old – was installed by roofer ……, the shingles are Owens Cornings …..”
• Ask the seller to mark the property lines
• Ask the seller when the HVAC or any heating units were serviced the last time and by whom.
• Get any documentations, which are necessary for possible warranty claims for any components or materials used.
• If the home is located within a gated community or HOA ask for a copy of the covenants and a statement that there are no violations against the covenants.

 

Every home is different; therefore, this list is just a recommendation, some documents won’t be available and in some cases additional documents should be requested. 

We at Home Inspection Tennessee know that the Corona Virus is a serious bump. However, life will go on, and changes should be adopted.
Finding your new home should start with doing your homework before you go out and physically look at the listings.
In general, the Realtor websites don’t give you too much information and are very one-sided - of course, they usually work for the seller.
Check out public information, here in TN you can go to assessment.cot.tn.gov/RE_Assessment/
You get information about the value on which the property tax is based. You even can check the approx. property lines. Don’t just focus on one house, pick out three or four. Then ask the Realtor for more information, like

• is the home already inspected?
• the complete disclosure etc.
• the HVAC and water heater model and serial numbers, with them you can check the age and size online, and see if they should be replaced.

 
You shouldn’t sign a contract or offer without knowing what you get.
 
I don’t care what they tell you. Would you make a down payment for a car before you can test drive it? Nobody would. So why should you pay huge down payments without knowing what you get?
 
In some cases, they will tell you “the owner doesn’t know”. Well, if he doesn’t know what he’s selling, how did they figure out the price?
Especially during these hard times, you should have all information together before you visit a potential object, and if necessary – hire a home inspector to fill in the blanks.
 
Unfortunately, these days the buyer is stuck with the costs for the home inspection, even if the actual condition of the advertised home is totally different than the listing. We see it all the time that buyers end up paying for several inspections.
 
Just tell the Realtor that you want all information before you spend your money and time. I’m sure they understand your concerns and help you to stay safe during the virus situation.
 
Also, if you hire a home inspector, provide as much information as you can, like – it must be wheel chair accessible, if you have allergies, or indoor pets. A good home inspector will report on the situation he finds and address your concerns.
 
This is what we at Home Inspection Tennessee always did. We are here to assist you, we will report what we find, regardless if they like us or not. And yes, we will be more than happy to inspect your new dream home. We are highly qualified, affordable, available, and accurate.
 
A recommended checklist for home buyers will be added tomorrow, stay tuned.