The current seller's market for houses can mean that your offer on a home will be competing with other offers. In a May 2013 article titled, "9 Ways to Make Your Home Offer Irresistible", Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine offers strategies to make your bid stand out from the others in the eyes of the sellers.
Suggestion #7 is to make your offer's contingency clauses palatable for the sellers. And one way to do that is to, in the home-inspection contingency clause in the offer you make on a home, tell the sellers that you will cover the cost of any repairs recommended following the home inspection. If those repairs get too pricey, you can back out of the deal. Telling the sellers that they won't get stuck paying for a new roof, or new furnace/air conditioner, or similar repairs on a house they are leaving, might give your offer an edge over others. It's an interesting strategy for the magazine to suggest.
Your real estate professional can guide you as to what would be best for you to do in your individual situation. But here's an explanation of the home inspection process so that you'll understand it all. When you hire Complete Home Inspection to do your Kansas City home inspection, I am NOT the "house police" and can't require repairs to be made. I will thoroughly inspect the property and ascertain whether, at the time of the inspection, the house's appliances and systems are functioning as intended. I will also inspect the structure and exterior of the house. You will receive a complete report following the inspection, including photos and a summary page that lists recommended repairs.
Most people use the summary of recommended repairs as a place to start negotiating. Sometimes repairs are made, other times a change in the price of the home is worked out. If you're working with a real estate agent, ask him or her. It is important to take the age, price and condition of the house into consideration, asking only for important, expensive or safety-related items to be corrected. Obviously, if you follow the Kiplinger's advice, that wouldn't be an option for you.
So, it's an interesting new wrinkle for you to consider in your home-buying process, one that's brought on by the current seller's market in home sales. Ask your real estate professional what your best strategy would be, so that you're protected throughout the process.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
Monday, April 8, 2013
New or Existing, get it inspected either way
The March 2013 issue of Money magazine included an article examining the pros and cons of buying a just-built home versus an existing home. While the article focused on Sales Price, Speed of Transaction, Cost of Ownership, and Chance for Near-Term Gains, what it didn't talk about was that just-built homes and existing homes each need to be inspected by a certified home inspector before you buy.
A March 2012 post on this blog showed the attic in a new house I had inspected recently -
No insulation at all. Now, is that something you would check as soon as you move into your new home?
Probably not. Instead, you'd be wondering why it cost so much to cool and heat your new place.
In another new construction, I couldn't get the kitchen sink spray hose to extend from its resting place. The dishwasher's drain hose and the spray hose were tangled up under the sink. Further, the dishwasher was susceptible to backflow from the sink's garbage disposal because of the way its drainage hose had been placed. Again, you don't usually move into a brand new house and immediately check under the kitchen sink.
And a July 2009 post on this blog detailed a new house where I filled the whirlpool bathtub in the master bath as part of the inspection. As the water drained, it ran out all over the bathroom floor and flooded the rooms underneath. The tub's drain pipe hadn't been connected to anything. In another new house, I found that the control wire for the furnace had been connected to the doorbell instead of the house's thermostat. A couple of weeks into your first winter in the house, you'd wonder why the house only felt comfortable when the pizza guy rang the doorbell. And one more just-built house horror story for you - the kitchen garbage disposal had no power cord connected to it.
Yes, your builder's warranty covers things in your just-built home. Yes, you have a year to make a list of what needs to be repaired. Getting a Kansas City home inspection from Complete Home Inspection BEFORE you move in, though, gets you a jump start on that list and allows you to get many of those things fixed before you take occupancy. While warranties may protect you, the time lost, the inconvenience and the frustration you'll experience can only be handled by getting a Complete Home Inspection for your new property. So let me handle you final walk-through for you. Put my experienced eye to work for you and your family.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and new construction final walk-throughs, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
A March 2012 post on this blog showed the attic in a new house I had inspected recently -
No insulation at all. Now, is that something you would check as soon as you move into your new home?Probably not. Instead, you'd be wondering why it cost so much to cool and heat your new place.
In another new construction, I couldn't get the kitchen sink spray hose to extend from its resting place. The dishwasher's drain hose and the spray hose were tangled up under the sink. Further, the dishwasher was susceptible to backflow from the sink's garbage disposal because of the way its drainage hose had been placed. Again, you don't usually move into a brand new house and immediately check under the kitchen sink.
And a July 2009 post on this blog detailed a new house where I filled the whirlpool bathtub in the master bath as part of the inspection. As the water drained, it ran out all over the bathroom floor and flooded the rooms underneath. The tub's drain pipe hadn't been connected to anything. In another new house, I found that the control wire for the furnace had been connected to the doorbell instead of the house's thermostat. A couple of weeks into your first winter in the house, you'd wonder why the house only felt comfortable when the pizza guy rang the doorbell. And one more just-built house horror story for you - the kitchen garbage disposal had no power cord connected to it.
Yes, your builder's warranty covers things in your just-built home. Yes, you have a year to make a list of what needs to be repaired. Getting a Kansas City home inspection from Complete Home Inspection BEFORE you move in, though, gets you a jump start on that list and allows you to get many of those things fixed before you take occupancy. While warranties may protect you, the time lost, the inconvenience and the frustration you'll experience can only be handled by getting a Complete Home Inspection for your new property. So let me handle you final walk-through for you. Put my experienced eye to work for you and your family.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and new construction final walk-throughs, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Thursday, March 21, 2013
A Seller's Market
For the first time in five years, the Kansas City housing market is being called a "Seller's Market" for existing homes, based on the January and February 2013 sales and inventory numbers. If you're selling your home, that's great news. But, how do you make your property stand out from all of the rest and make it more attractive to potential buyers?
A great sales tool is to have your home inspected BEFORE you put it on the market. That gives your prospective buyers the peace of mind that comes from knowing the condition of your home at the time of the inspection. It may save them money since they won't need to have the property inspected themselves. It makes your disclosure form very complete and detailed. And, it may be the difference that helps them choose your house instead of the others they've looked at.
Further, the April issue of Money magazine talks about how, in today's economy, many home buyers don't have as much savings left after their down payment to pay for improvements, and suggests that sellers smooth out their home's rough patches before listing the property. The magazine advises, "Repair that leaky roof and address other obvious structural problems, or you'll have to subtract the cost of doing so from your price." So, you may be saving yourself money in the long run by being proactive now.
Give yourself a competitive advantage in this Seller's Market. And avoid getting any surprises when your prospective buyers have the property inspected. Have Complete Home Inspection do a Kansas City home inspection on your property BEFORE you list it.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
A great sales tool is to have your home inspected BEFORE you put it on the market. That gives your prospective buyers the peace of mind that comes from knowing the condition of your home at the time of the inspection. It may save them money since they won't need to have the property inspected themselves. It makes your disclosure form very complete and detailed. And, it may be the difference that helps them choose your house instead of the others they've looked at.
Further, the April issue of Money magazine talks about how, in today's economy, many home buyers don't have as much savings left after their down payment to pay for improvements, and suggests that sellers smooth out their home's rough patches before listing the property. The magazine advises, "Repair that leaky roof and address other obvious structural problems, or you'll have to subtract the cost of doing so from your price." So, you may be saving yourself money in the long run by being proactive now.
Give yourself a competitive advantage in this Seller's Market. And avoid getting any surprises when your prospective buyers have the property inspected. Have Complete Home Inspection do a Kansas City home inspection on your property BEFORE you list it.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
The Drought and Radon Gas
Yes, the drought continues to plague us here in the Midwest. Now, deadly radon gas is finding new ways to get into your home. You can't smell it, you can't see it, but for about three out every five homes tested in our area, it's there and at dangerous levels. The Kansas Department of Health and Environment now recommends that you test your home's radon gas level every two years. And it's particularly important to do when you're buying a new property.
Radon is a naturally existing radioactive gas found underground. Due to the extended drought we've experienced, the ground has been moving, shrinking, and cracking around and under your home's foundation. That opens up new pathways for radon gas to escape the soil. And, the movement of the earth can cause new cracks to form in your foundation, which opens up new pathways for radon to then get into your home.
Keep in mind that since things have changed during the drought, "we had it tested a few years ago and it was fine" just doesn't apply anymore. In Kansas, your home must be tested by a certified radon tester. Missouri has no certification program as of yet, but it simply makes sense to have a trained professional handle your test for you.
I'm a Kansas certified radon tester and have been certified by the NRPP (National Radon Proficiency Program) for years. Complete Home Inspection uses a continuous radon monitor that takes samples over a period of two full days. The test unit is placed in the lowest livable level of the house. Windows are kept closed throughout the time of the test. The test results are then averaged into an overall number for your final report. If the radon level is higher than 4.0piC/l, then it should be fixed, or "mitigated". Inexpensive do-it-yourself test kits are not what you want to rely on when it comes to your family's health and well-being. Instead, rely on the knowledge and competence of a certified radon tester.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Radon is a naturally existing radioactive gas found underground. Due to the extended drought we've experienced, the ground has been moving, shrinking, and cracking around and under your home's foundation. That opens up new pathways for radon gas to escape the soil. And, the movement of the earth can cause new cracks to form in your foundation, which opens up new pathways for radon to then get into your home.
Keep in mind that since things have changed during the drought, "we had it tested a few years ago and it was fine" just doesn't apply anymore. In Kansas, your home must be tested by a certified radon tester. Missouri has no certification program as of yet, but it simply makes sense to have a trained professional handle your test for you.
I'm a Kansas certified radon tester and have been certified by the NRPP (National Radon Proficiency Program) for years. Complete Home Inspection uses a continuous radon monitor that takes samples over a period of two full days. The test unit is placed in the lowest livable level of the house. Windows are kept closed throughout the time of the test. The test results are then averaged into an overall number for your final report. If the radon level is higher than 4.0piC/l, then it should be fixed, or "mitigated". Inexpensive do-it-yourself test kits are not what you want to rely on when it comes to your family's health and well-being. Instead, rely on the knowledge and competence of a certified radon tester.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Monday, March 4, 2013
The Drought and the Big Meltdown
With about two feet of snow melting around you this week, here are some things to check on in order to protect your house from water seepage. Even though 24 inches of snow may melt down to only about two inches of water, last summer's drought may have caused some problems for your foundation - problems that will start showing up now.
First, make certain that your downspouts are clear and flowing well. And, if a downspout is usually connected to an extension of some sort, make certain that is connected now. You want to keep the snow melt water flowing away from the foundation of your home.
Next, make certain that water does not pool up behind a wall of snow that melts at a slower rate. If you shoveled snow into a pile as you cleared a walkway, for example, that pile might now be trapping water between it and the foundation. Since the drought caused dirt to compact and often shrink away from foundations, there may now be a gap between the foundation and the fill dirt surrounding it. Water loves to find gaps like that, so do your best to keep it away from your foundation.
Finally, check your basement wall for signs of water. The drought caused many foundations to shift as the ground receded and moved last summer. And that shifting may have caused new cracks in your basement wall to form and may have worsened existing cracks. If you find signs of water entering your home, make a mental note to do something about it in case we get our usual spring rains in Kansas City. Make a note to perhaps seal cracks that you find are leaking. And definitely make a note to change or improve your "yard slope", as they call it, to keep water flowing away from your foundation and out into the yard for drainage.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
First, make certain that your downspouts are clear and flowing well. And, if a downspout is usually connected to an extension of some sort, make certain that is connected now. You want to keep the snow melt water flowing away from the foundation of your home.
Next, make certain that water does not pool up behind a wall of snow that melts at a slower rate. If you shoveled snow into a pile as you cleared a walkway, for example, that pile might now be trapping water between it and the foundation. Since the drought caused dirt to compact and often shrink away from foundations, there may now be a gap between the foundation and the fill dirt surrounding it. Water loves to find gaps like that, so do your best to keep it away from your foundation.
Finally, check your basement wall for signs of water. The drought caused many foundations to shift as the ground receded and moved last summer. And that shifting may have caused new cracks in your basement wall to form and may have worsened existing cracks. If you find signs of water entering your home, make a mental note to do something about it in case we get our usual spring rains in Kansas City. Make a note to perhaps seal cracks that you find are leaking. And definitely make a note to change or improve your "yard slope", as they call it, to keep water flowing away from your foundation and out into the yard for drainage.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
New informative video for you
We've added a new informative video for you to our web site - www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
This video shows how your needs will be met in your Kansas City home inspection when you hire Complete Home Inspection to do your inspection for you - both what you need, and what you DON'T need. Here's the video link on the web site - http://www.completehomeinspectionkc.com/kansas_city_home_inspection_012.htm.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your own Complete Home Inspection,. 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
Friday, February 8, 2013
Reason #6,437 to have your home inspected
Here's something you wouldn't have noticed until well after you bought the property and moved in.
Fire damage in the attic. When you're shopping for a new home, you look at the floor plan, curb appeal, kitchen layout, and the like. You don't go into the attic and look for signs of damage from a previous fire. That's why you hire Complete Home Inspection. We do that for you.
Unless you're thinking of converting the attic space to living space, you would never even look there. Since this fire damage was not on the seller's disclosure form, my client would have completed the purchase completely unaware of what was lurking overhead. My discovery was quite a surprise to the home buyer and to the realtors involved.
You have so many things on your mind when you're looking to buy a home. And there can be so many pitfalls for you along the way. Get the peace of mind that comes from having Complete Home Inspection do your Kansas City home inspection for you. It'll be one less thing for you to worry about.
Whole house inspections, condo inspections, radon testing, mold testing, and more, we do it all for you. Call or E-mail today to schedule your own Complete Home Inspection, 913-268-0222, www.completehomeinspectionkc.com.
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