 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.
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 by Julian Lane www.thefixitchamp.com
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.
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
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.  Thank you Kristin Louis for letting us share your great article. More of her articles and tips can be found at www.parentingwithkris.com It’s true that having children changes everything. And while this typically means for the better, having little ones around does pose a challenge when it’s time to upgrade your living arrangement. When you have your house on the market and you also have children, keeping it staged and ready to show at a moment’s notice means you have to put in a bit of preemptive work. Don’t bow your head in defeat as you step on your third Lego of the morning. Instead, grab your coffee and read on for tips on how to make it all work out.
Purge Everything Except the Necessities Spend a day or two removing everything in your home that’s not necessary for health and happiness. Start with your stuff first; this will alert your children of what’s coming their way and might even encourage them to start weeding through their belongings before you head to their bedroom. Toss out the trash first — old papers, broken hairbands, and cords that you will never use can head straight for a garbage bag. Next, invest in sturdy storage bins — you can pick them up at Lowe's or Home Depot — to store the things you don’t want to get rid of but that you don’t need at the moment. Off-season clothing and holiday decor are a few suggestions. Now You Can Start Cleaning Once you are left with nothing but items that you’ll need within the next 30 days or so, start cleaning. The American Cleaning Institute suggests that you prioritize the rooms that buyers pay the closest attention to. This will be your living and dining rooms, along with the kitchen and bathrooms. Deep clean each area, which should include dusting, sweeping, mopping, shampooing the carpet, and searching for dirt and grime. The kids can help, too; hand them a damp washcloth and let them get to work wiping down the baseboards. You can even make a dust bunny puppet to make the process fun and engaging. Make a chore chart of items that need to be done every day, and only allow playtime/video game time once they are done. Prepare for an Open House Chances are, your realtor will suggest hosting an open house within the first week of your home hitting the MLS. If everything is already clean, it should not take that much time to get ready for the big day. Put together a checklist to ensure that all of your proverbial Is are dotted and your Ts are crossed. Redfin notes that this should include things like opening the windows to bring in natural light, reducing odors, and securing valuables. You’ll also want to make arrangements for your pets; ideally, you can keep animals out of the house in the days before your open house. Don’t Forget About the Exterior Even if you are selling your home during the cooler months, there are likely toys scattered about your lawn. If possible, put all of these in one place, preferably to the side of the home where they are not immediately visible. Alternately, if you have a playhouse or trampoline, you can store larger items in and under these to get them out of sight. Make sure, however, to remove bicycles and other large objects from under the trampoline before the kids start to play again. Play Up the School Zone If you’re moving out of your home because you need more room, you can almost bet that another family is going to move in behind you. If you live in a great school zone, make sure to leave information out and available; GreatSchools.org and Niche are excellent resources. Selling a house when you have kids isn’t impossible. It is going to take work, that’s for sure. But the time and energy that you put into it now can turn into hundreds or thousands of dollars on closing day, which might come even faster when things are neat and tidy. Image via Pexels |
AuthorHi - this is Werner with Home Inspection Tennessee Archives
November 2020
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