The WeMoveLouisville.com Real Estate Blog  

Inspections and Repairs

Disputes over property condition and repairs can kill a deal in a hurry. Take the time to schedule inspections and nail down the condition of the property as early as possible to allow adequate time for resolving any issues that arise.

1. Are you a member in good standing of a professional inspectors organization, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors?

2. Are you licensed? (Required in only some states...psst..Kentucky is one of them)

3. What systems - plumbing, heating, electrical - will the inspection include?

4. How long will the inspection take?

5. How much will the inspection cost?

6. Can we accompany you on the inspection?

7. Do you have references?

8. Do you carry errors and omissions insurance?

9. What is your specialty and what sort of continuing education have you completed?  Note: If the inspector is a plumber by training and has no expertise in home construction, the inspection might not be comprehensive.

10. Do you provide a written report at no extra charge?

11. Does the report include estimates of repair costs?

12. Does your company also do repairs when you find problems? If the answer is yes, it may indicate a conflict of interest.

With a little extra time, research and help from a reliable real estate professional, you can make the selection process of your inspector go smoothly. In the end this will give you piece of mind that you are buying a safe and sound home.

4 Quick Tips for Prepping a Home For Sale

Before listing your home, you may want to consider some of the following general staging tips in prepping your home for sale.

1. Super Clean. Make the house shine from top to bottom. Don't forget about cleaning the carpet, drapes and windows, too.
2. Clear the clutter and unload some furniture. Remove unnecessary items from countertops, bathtubs, and shower stalls - areas that often attract the most clutter. Keep only necessities. A decluttered home helps buyers mentally 'move in' with their own things. You may need to rearrange or remove some furniture. Pieces that crowd a space make it look smaller than it really is.
3. Prep your landscaping. Check gutters and roof for dry rot and moss, and ensure they are clean. Examine all plants. Prune bushes and trees, make sure no plants are blocking windows, remove dead plants, and keep the lawn freshly mowed.
4. Add nice touches. Coordinate towels in the bathroom in one or two colors only. Keep accesories restricted to groups of one, three or five items. Make sure all lights and lamps are on for showings, and set an inviting mood.

Paying attention to some of these small details can mean less time on the market and more money in your pocket.

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Perhaps you’ve found a house, or maybe you’ve just started the house hunt, but regardless of where you are in the home-buying process, you need to consider some key questions before you even think about making an offer. Buying a home is a big commitment — financial and otherwise — so take the time to weigh pros and cons.

Here are five questions every home buyer should ask themselves:

Will I own it for at least five years?

The first and most important item you should ask yourself before you consider buying any property is whether you will own it for a long time. People buy property in hopes of increasing wealth and five years is about the break-even point for earning appreciation in value above the buying and selling transaction costs. Therefore, if you don’t plan on holding the property for longer than five years, skip it! Renting a home is NOT necessarily throwing money away. Buying and selling quickly will usually leave you worse off financially than if you just held off on becoming a homeowner.

Do I love the home I want to buy?

 One of the second most important items is do you love the property? Real estate should be held for the long term, and loving a property should perpetuate a happy enduring ownership. So don’t buy a property if you don’t love it or at least really like or want that particular property. And don’t buy just “to buy” or if someone tells you it is a good idea. Buy what you want, when you are ready, and buy a home that you will proudly boast about to your friends over the years and years.

Can I afford it?

It  is more expensive to own...

When it comes to energy efficiency, look for smart features and expertise to help you save energy and money and add value to your home.

1. Begin with a Right-Sized Home.

If the home you buy is simply too large for you or your family’s needs or plans, you stand a good chance of wasting energy through excessive heating and cooling costs. If it’s too small, you’ll feel cramped and uncomfortable. It’s a big investment, so seek balance and buy it “right” from the outset. 

2. Purchase Energy Star Appliances Such as Your TV, Dishwasher, Washer and Dryer, and Microwave.

And especially the refrigerator, as it alone contributes about 10 percent of the energy use in a home. Also, unplug electronics not in use or turn off power strips to avoid phantom charges. 

3. Install Efficient Lighting Such as Compact Flourescent (CLF) or LED Bulbs in Every Fixture.

Lighting accounts for about 6 percent of an energy bill each year.

4. Get an Energy Audit and Have Tests Performed to Identify Ways of Improving Your Efficiency.

You can always upgrade your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system as well as your  thermal envelope, which includes insulation, windows, and doors  and the seals or weather stripping around them. Visit energy.gov/energytips for more tips.