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What is a Home Inspection?
Any Sally and Sam Homebuyer can look at a home and decide whether it is attractive. They might notice it is freshly painted in pleasing colors, has the requisite number of rooms, a cook's kitchen and is located in a location with top schools. But what about less obvious parts of the house? It takes special expertise to determine if the functional parts of a home are in good shape. If you attend an open house, how do you determine if there are plumbing problems, electrical problems, structural problems, drainage problems, the condition of heating and air conditioning equipment and the condition of literally hundreds of other items that could cause concern? Enter the home inspector. A home inspector is trained to be a detective in regard to the construction and working parts of homes. It is not an exact science. The home inspector cannot tear into things, so they can't always see everything they'd like to. They do, however, come equipped with ladders, strong flashlights, and devices to measure various things related to plumbing, electrical and other necessary home items. Importantly, a home inspector will also typically bring a digital camera to photograph problems such as roof shingles not lying flat, signs of mildew from leaking pipes and construction that doesn't comply with building codes. They don't miss much. It's a good idea for the buyer to be present during the home inspection. If you ask them to, home inspectors will usually explain how things work to you. This is important as they can show you where cut off valves are, how to remove filters for cleaning or replacement and tell you how often various maintenance chores need to be done. This information can be very valuable if you ultimately purchase the property. It's also a good idea to ask the home inspector if there are any particular tests they would perform if they were buying the home. For example, radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas which is a carcinogen) can be a problem in some parts of the country. It can be detected, measured, and, if levels are above EPA standards, there are procedures to deal with it successfully. A home inspector can help identify such issues for you. It's easy to see that a home inspection can provide a wealth of valuable information. While it is easy to fall in love with a listed home, a home inspector can be the key to avoiding disastrous discoveries down the line. Raynor James is with http://www.fsboamerica.org - providing homes for sale by owner, "FSBO", properties. Are you thinking, "Should I sell my home?" Visit http://www.fsboamerica.org/seller.cfm to sell your home sale for free for one month.
MORE RESOURCES: Landmark Settlement Breaks Up the Real Estate Cartel The American Prospect Top real-estate CEO sees decades of housing pain ahead: 'What the Fed did will have a 30-year tail on it' Yahoo Finance Commercial Real Estate's Systemic Threat: Separating Fact From Fiction Commercial Observer Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know The Associated Press Brockton-area real estate sales for Dec. 26 to Dec. 29, 2023. Enterprise News Refined Real Estate: Historic Queen Anne Polson House lists for $6,950,000 seattlerefined.com Luxury's Latest Battleground: Real Estate | BoF The Business of Fashion The Realtors' Big Defeat The New York Times Local real estate agents face uncertain future with new negotiation rules WJHL-TV News Channel 11 Investigation underway after 44-year-old real estate investor seen on video firing shots off boat docked at Lakeview ... WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale Will March bring more madness to Craven County's real estate market? New Bern Sun Journal Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know Lufkin Daily News A luxury agent on how the NAR settlement will change his business The Washington Post What National Association of Realtors agreement means for Texas real estate KAMR - MyHighPlains.com Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know KXLY Spokane Cities Face Cutbacks as Commercial Real Estate Prices Tumble The New York Times Realtor group will pay $418M to settle commission lawsuits The Associated Press National lawsuit could shakeup housing market, cut into real estate agent commission 11Alive.com WXIA Swimmo Invest Opens up a New Chapter in the Real Estate Industry Markets Insider Realtors settlement to lower home sale costs, alter commission structure - The Washington Post The Washington Post What Seattle-area homebuyers should expect after national settlement The Seattle Times CrewBaltimore’s mission to accelerate women’s success in real estate Afro American Newspaper Realtors Reckon With a Seismic Shift to How They Get Paid The Wall Street Journal Israeli real estate event: Legal complaints escalate NorthJersey.com Settlement will affect Iowa homebuyers KCCI Des Moines What the death of the 6% real estate commission means in D-FW The Dallas Morning News China's Real-Estate Market Just Set a Record—but Not a Good One The Wall Street Journal Real estate commissions, unassailable for decades, could crumble after landmark settlement The Denver Post Making Sense of New York's Confusing Luxury Home Market The Wall Street Journal Is the Era of the Celebrity Real Estate Agent Over? Industry Reacts to Settlement That Could Slash Commissions Hollywood Reporter Pension funds snap up real estate at steep discounts Financial Times A commission settlement may affect housing market 9News.com KUSA Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal National Association of Realtors Agrees to Slash Commissions to Settle Lawsuits - The New York Times Bay Area Real Estate Executive Charged with Wire Fraud, Identity Theft in Investment Scam - Hoodline Illinois real estate: Home sales in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties Peoria Journal Star Foreclosures Are Rising—Especially in This One State—but Not for the Reason You Might Think - SFGATE Realtors Reach Settlement That Will Change How Americans Buy and Sell Homes The Wall Street Journal Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know KOB 4 Once America's Hottest Housing Market, Austin Is Running in Reverse The Wall Street Journal Real estate lawsuit settlement upends decades-long policies that helped set agent commissions WQAD Moline End of 6% real estate commissions could mean lower home prices The Atlanta Journal Constitution Real Estate Credit Investments (LON:RECI) Shares Pass Below 200 Day Moving Average of $126.75 Defense World Manhattan Real Estate Update westsiderag.com A Look Into the Future of Home Buyers' Agent Commissions The Wall Street Journal Bridgemarq Real Estate Services (TSE:BRE) Share Price Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average of $12.93 Defense World Chicago Voters Face Choice on Tax to Fund Homeless Programs The New York Times Granite Real Estate Investment Trust (TSE:GRT.UN) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Buy” by Brokerages Defense World National Association of Realtors to cut commissions to settle lawsuits. Here's the financial impact. CBS News Blackstone, World's Top Alternative Asset Manager, Eyes Record Highs Amid Real Estate Bottom Investor's Business Daily 4 Ways a Settlement Could Change the Housing Industry The New York Times Colony Ridge violated deceptive trade practices, Texas says The Texas Tribune Real Estate Stocks Drop As NAR Agrees to $418 Million Settlement Markets Insider Antitrust ruling rocks real estate: Buyers brace for shift in commission structures Straight Arrow News |
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