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Create a Jewel Box of a Powder Room with Venetian Plasters
Oh yes, it's the tiniest room in our home - and the one that all
our guests see, eventually. It holds such potential allure and
such realized dread. We want that critical bit of real estate to
make a good impression, we want it to be original, we...
Down Payments – Get Creative
One of the biggest hurdles to buying a home is the down payment. Saving up a chunk of change can be difficult, so getting creative is a key.
Down Payments
The amount of your down payment is dependent upon many potential issues, but two come to...
HOUSES WITH DAM(P) BASEMENTS WON’T SELL
A real estate agent’s gut-wrencher: The prospect turns to hubby and says, "Isn’t this so homey and practical and just what we were looking for. Now, let’s go down and look at the basement." They open the basement door and get the feeling that Noah...
Michigan Real Estate – A Little Of Everything
With lakes, forest, farmland, college towns and big cities, Michigan has a little of everything. Fortunately, Michigan real estate prices are on the low end.
Michigan
Michigan is a state of great beauty if the outdoors is your thing. The state...
Real Estate Marketing – Beef Up Your Follow-Up
If you're a real estate agent, client follow-up should be a major part of your real estate marketing program. Whether it's a postcard mailing program through a direct mail vendor, or just a series of well-timed thank you cards after the transaction,...
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Buying a Home -- Is a Home Inspection a Good Idea?
To avoid “buying a pig in a poke,” buyers have long demanded the closing on a home purchase be contingent upon a satisfactory inspection by a home inspection firm. In many parts of our country, we’re now experiencing a strong sellers’ real estate market and sellers often receive more than one purchase offer on the same day for their home. In this environment, buyers are rethinking the home inspection requirement. Is this a good idea?
To Inspect or Not To Inspect
Clearly, if a seller got two offers and one requires a home inspection be done, most sellers will choose the non-inspection offer with all other things being equal. So, a home inspection requirement can put you at a competitive disadvantage. Still, are you willing to risk purchasing a home that has some fundamental, expensive problems? What if you purchase the home and subsequently learn plumbing under the floors must replaced? What if the repair costs $10,0000?
One option may be to include a provision in your purchase offer that provides for a home inspection done for informational purposes only. That way, settlement under your offer is not conditioned upon the inspection. It would not provide you with the option of amending the contract to have the seller make repairs, nor would it provide a way for you to void the contract should serious problems be uncovered. Should serious problems be discovered,
however, the seller is bound to know the deal will be in jeopardy. For that reason, even an “informational” home inspection won’t look as good to her as a contract with no requirement for a home inspection.
Another option you might consider in lieu of a home inspection is a sub rosa inspection. Instead of using James Bond for spying, you could ask a friend working in the construction or engineering field to walk through the house with you. The goal, of course, is to look for any glaring “red flags” that are deal killers.
If your friend doesn’t see anything disturbing, you can then write a clean contract offer without contingencies. Sellers love no contingency sales. The chances are good that you’ll get the home you want, but still have a some assurance there isn’t anything seriously wrong with the property.
There is no one right answer when it comes to deciding on home inspections. Each buyer has to ask himself how much risk he is willing to take. If you are the only party making an offer, demand an inspection. If you are one of many potential buyers, well, you are going to have determine your comfort level. Others can provide information, but the decision is yours.
About the Author
Raynor James is with FSBOAmerica.org - sell and view homes for sale by owner online. Sellers list your home for free the first month.
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