Monthly Archives: July 2020

Cesspool Inspection When Buying a House

July 29, 2020   Home Inspection Service, Property Service, Real Estate Agent

People who look for new properties are concerned about the aesthetics of the house or the landscape, but only a few consider asking about the septic tank or cesspool. However, cesspool inspection is important when obtaining a property. Cesspool services are necessary in many cases. You have to learn the value of cesspools in homes.

A lot of home buyers are not too concerned about cesspools. Knowing whether the cesspool is in good condition and functional is important whenever you are about to buy a property. You have to ask your realtor about this, and he or she should be able to give you an answer. A realtor who does not know the condition of a property’s cesspool or septic system cannot be trusted.

The problem with cesspools is they are buried underneath the ground, so you cannot be sure if the one in a prospective property is in good condition. A specialist should be called to do an inspection. There are companies that offer cesspool services including inspection. Keep in mind that an inspection is just an inspection. The service specialist will not fix problems unless you specifically ask him to do so. You probably will not need cesspool repair unless you really are planning to move into the property. If a property you are looking into has damaged cesspool, you can consider a repair service. If not, you can look at another property.

Cesspool inspection is a dangerous task if you are untrained. This is why it has been stressed that only a trained professional should do the task. You may only do as far as removing the cover. The next step should be reserved for the trained professionals.

How would you know if it needs service? A faulty cesspool may leak and cause contents to pollute the surrounding soil. In this case, foul odor will diffuse from the ground into the air. If the area smells like rotten eggs, the pit must be damaged. Water leaking from the pit will also saturate the ground around it. Look for signs of sogginess. You would also know if the cesspool is draining properly if the leach field has green grass. If not, the drainage lines must be clogged.

Cesspools should be checked regularly for signs of clogging or leaks. Settling solid matter and scum may build up and block drainage pipes. Such event poses problems in the future, but this may be momentarily un-obvious. Ask the realtor if it has been checked in the past year. You don’t want to buy a property and then spend your bucks getting the troublesome pit serviced.

Supposing you have bought the property and then sometime in the future you encounter a problem with the cesspool, what would you do? In this case, you can contact a septic plumber or a cesspool cleaner to find out what the problem is and fix it. Cesspool and septic tank services may be available in your area. Be careful when checking out your cesspool on your own. The gas build-up is toxic and flammable, not to mention extremely sickening.

Read More

Something To Know Before Applying Mortgage Loan

July 27, 2020   Property Service

Mortgages are debt instruments by granting mortgage rights to property and borrowers to lenders as collateral for their obligations. In essence, a mortgage is a loan from a bank or other financial institution that helps us realize a dream home with minimal funds. Collateral for a mortgage is home; this means that if the borrower does not make payments or obligations to the lender or default on the loan, the bank can sell the house.

Mortgages always related to homeownership. If you want to own a house, you have to go through the mortgage debt stage. Why do people choose mortgage loans? Well, the main factor causing the mushrooming of mortgage loan services is money. Money is one of the important factors in owning a home, the lack of money causes someone to decide to borrow a mortgage. Mortgage loan services seem to be a god of help for all those who want to have a private home. The presence of a Mortgage Comparison Website also makes it easy for everyone to research before deciding on the best service.

Here’s what you need to consider before applying for a mortgage loan to a bank or other financial institution:

Estimate carefully the costs to be incurred

In essence; you must be very careful in estimating the costs to be incurred. Most likely you will find some unexpected costs during the homeownership process. Unforeseen costs will clearly harm you, so you should find out about tax costs, provision fees, advances, notary fees, etc.

Pay attention to your credit amount

The amount of credit dependents is usually one of the main requirements in applying for a mortgage loan. The more credit you have to pay, the less chance you will get approval. Financial institutions do not want to bear the risk if the amount of credit that you already bear causes failure in refinancing a property.

Compare mortgage prices from several services

Comparing mortgage rates from several services on the internet is an effective way today. Yeah, you can do it anytime, anywhere. To do this very easily, you only need to access the mortgage comparison website; on this website, you can compare 30+ lenders and get the most competitive interest rates for housing loans. The more creditors you get, the possibility of getting a low mortgage price can be realized. After you get a creditor that matches the funds you have, then you can apply for a mortgage loan to realize your dream home.

In conclusion, it is very important to understand that not all mortgage products are created equal, so researching by doing a comparison through Mortgage Comparison Website is very important. This service presents the best home loan interest rates on one website, which is easy to use. Some lenders may require a 20% down payment, while others require at least 3% of the home purchase price. Even if you have a preferred lender, be sure to visit two or three other lenders and be sure to check your options carefully.

Read More

Tips for a Proper Home Inspection

July 23, 2020   Home Inspection Service, Property Service, Real Estate Agent

Buying your own shelter is definitely an achievement in itself. But purchasing the right home is not at all easy. There are many things that should be taken into consideration. By hiring a home inspector a proper evaluation of a particular property can be done. This helps to recover any issues and indicate them before one can spend on the house or probably move into them. So, follow this article to find out some of the home inspection tips that can help you spend your money wisely.

Attend the Home Inspection

When a property is being inspected by a real estate agent you should surely attend the inspection. The inspection will take just a few hours. By doing that you would be able to get all the information correctly from the inspector. This will help you find all the issues personally and can save you from making a costly mistake.

No Follow-Up

If issues are found then the inspectors might suggest you some repairing. If you feel they are not much then you can find out the estimate that might be incurred. In some instances, the first home inspector whom you approach might want to take suggestions from another service provider. This can actually be good and help you get a proper third opinion. So, wait for the opinion so that you are ensured about your choice.

Do Not Rely Only On the Inspector

If you have a suspicion you can always go for a professional checkup. This will help you determine in a better way. Another thing that you should be going for is a termite inspection. This will find out if there are termites in the place. So, there will be chances that you will be staying protected from making costly repairs after buying a home.

Home Inspection For New Homes Too

We often think that a newly built home does not need inspection. But we are wrong. This step is very important and should not be avoided. This will indicate how the building has been built and if there are any imperfections.

Additional Tests for Older Homes

If you are buying an older home then you might have to check other things. The tests that should be done are running a camera through the drainage lines, a hydrostatic test in the drains might help to find out leakages in the drainage system. It is one of the important things to remember.

Read More

The Benefits of Getting a Professional Home Inspection

July 17, 2020   Home Inspection Service, Property Service, Real Estate Agent

What is a professional home inspection?

Professional home inspections are becoming an important factor for everyone seeking or planing to buy or sell a home. A home may look to be in very good condition but if we go through the things that can’t be seen with the eye we may find issues that need to be addressed. The need of a professional home inspection is increasing day by day because of increasing litigation due to unknown or undisclosed defects.

A normal individual is not supposed to be the expert of all these technical details. This leads to the need a professional home inspector who inspects the home. A typical home inspection will take several hours to complete. If testing is being done for things such as mold, radon, etc it could take several days to get these results back from the lab.

There are many advantages or benefits to hiring a professional home inspector, some of these benefits are:

Benefits for the buyers

1) With a professional home inspection a buyer can calculate the most realistic price of the property he is going to buy. However, in most cases, the inspection is done after negotiating the price. The home inspection results can be used in negotiating repairs or if the repairs are extensive a buyer may want to back out of the transaction if the contract allows it. The buyers can compare the features and drawbacks with the similar properties available in the same condition.

2) Ridding the buyer from the stress of legal or documentary formalities as the inspector will provide a written report.

3) A Buyer can better guess the possible lifetime of the structure; this will enable him in planning the prospective use of this structure.

4) A buyer can better understand the impact of any unknown natural disaster on the home structure.

5) This could also save hundreds of dollars by making the buyer aware of repairs needed at the surface, fitting, flooring or roof of the structure as well as electrical and plumbing.

6) It satisfies a buyer by familiarizing them with all the maintenance and repair details, well in advance.

Benefits for the sellers

1) A professional home inspection gives the sellers a better idea about the current condition of their property. This is most important in cases where seller has not lived in the house and isn’t very familiar with it. Such as rental property, inherited property, etc.

2) With the better understanding of the main features of the home seller can bargain more confidently about the pricing by making any necessary repairs prior to putting the house on the market.

3) Gives you confidence of well-trained, professional helping hands with you.

These benefits of a professional home inspection make this service very popular among buyers and sellers. I suggest working with an inspector who is a member of ASHI, American Society of Home Inspectors. A professional inspection, in the Chattanooga TN area, will cost about $325 but it’s money well spent by either a buyer or a seller.

Read More

A 411 on the Benefits of a Home Inspection For Home Buyers

July 11, 2020   Home Inspection Service, Property Service, Real Estate Agent

Buying your own house is always a major decision to make. After all, you, as a buyer, will always want the best value for your money. One way of getting this is consulting a Professional Home Inspector service before you eventually purchase your home. However, not a lot of people are aware of what a home inspection actually is, and what is it exactly that inspectors do. Dismissing their services as only for those with extra money to spend or those who cannot inspect the structures themselves is not a very wise decision. But for the smart home buyer, having the home inspector enter take a look at the home first is always a smart move.

Before you decide to take that pen and signing that deed of sale, maybe think about having a Professional Home Inspection first. But you may ask, what exactly is it that the home inspector does? What should you expect once you do receive the services of one? In a basic home inspection, an inspector will perform a series of non-invasive and visual examination of the residential dwelling, which is designed to identify those materials defects which they may observe within specific components of the said dwelling. There are several components to each dwelling, whether it is mechanical, structural, electrical, plumbing, or any other system or component of the home. When it comes to which components are inspected, the home inspector and the client arrive at an agreement as to which one, or combination of components shall be inspected before inspection begins. In some states, as in Texas, there is a Pre-Inspection Agreement that is required to be signed before the inspection begins that outlines all the items that are covered, that are not covered and items which are optional.

The first benefit of having a home inspection is that you are assured that the home you are about to purchase is free from material defects which may endanger the lives of the residents. For instance, there are a lot of defects which any person may not notice given that he doesn’t really know how to inspect. There may be problems with the foundation of a home, the heating system, or the electrical wiring which the untrained person may not recognize as systematic.

After a home inspection, once you’ve had the inspector inspect the home and he has identified the defects, you are more or less aware of the overall condition of the house and what repairs have to be done, if any and in case you still wish to purchase the home despite the defects. This will be to your advantage as you will no longer have to make unplanned expenses in case it turns out later that the house needs more work than it looks like. In the end, paying for home inspection may actually prove to be more economical. Having the inspection is also economical in the sense that you get your money’s worth. Every consumer after all desires nothing more than getting the best value out of every cent spent, especially with today’s tough conditions. You will be sure that the home you purchase will be worth the amount with which you pay.

Whether for the safety reasons, or to get your money’s worth, or whatever reason you may have for hiring a home inspector, just remember that whenever you decide to have a home inspection, it will always be worth it.

Read More

Home Loan Broker Keeps You Away From The Hassle

July 10, 2020   Property Service

Buying a home through a home loan can be complicated because of limited information. This happens because maybe you rarely find advertisements on television, the internet, newspapers, or magazines that discuss in detail about home loans. Well, this is where home loan brokers like Singapore home loan brokers enter. What is a home loan broker? The answer to this question might be very useful for anyone who will buy a house using the loan method.

You need to know that, there are many home loan deals on the internet today. To find the best offer you might have to work hard, this is natural because you do not have professional assistants who are specialized in working on home loans. Home loan assistant means a home loan broker; this broker will be your advisor and assistant in carrying out home loan procedures. They will direct you to the best lenders who can provide the best loans and minimal interest. So, do you want to work hard to find one of the best deals among piles of home loan offer ads? If you want an effective way, then home loan broker singapore is the answer.

Actually, all decisions are yours, whether you want to work with a home loan broker or not. Well, if you decide to work alone then you have to do a lot of homework; you must gather much information provided by the lender and start comparing many offers. Issues to consider include points, interest rates, loan length, prepaid penalties and fees. Frankly, this is a complicated decision that will not let you sit relaxed while enjoying a cup of coffee.

A home loan broker will help you avoid various clutters during the home loan process, and of course, you can still enjoy a vacation with family. Entrusting them to work for you is a logical decision now, home loan brokers are independent agents who shop through various offers from lenders every day. They have a close relationship with every lender or other financial institution. A home loan broker will do all the research for you. To start his performance, maybe he will do an interview related to your job, income, and financial condition. My advice, don’t hide your past debt experience with a home loan broker, even if you have a bad credit score. Tell it all as it is, and let him determine the best solution for you.

The most prominent advantage when using a home loan broker service is that the loan process becomes simpler. The broker will talk to you about your loan needs. Fill all the things that brokers look for, and then your home loan business will run smoothly. If buying a home loan service is your first experience, then you don’t need to guess how lenders will evaluate loan applications, with the experience and knowledge they have, brokers will tell you how lenders work.

If you hate wasting time in matters of complicated home loan documents and bureaucracy, then you deserve to contact home loan broker singapore. You can contact him by a call to make a face-to-face schedule. After that, the broker will assist you in collecting documents and submitting application forms to relevant banks or financial institutions. As the final process of work, the broker helps you in the process of disbursement of funds after signing an offer letter from the banker.

Read More

Pre Listing Home Inspection – 7 Shocking Examples Show Why Home Sellers Need One

July 5, 2020   Home Inspection Service, Property Service, Real Estate Agent

Over the last 10 years home sellers had it made. No need for inspections. If a buyer’s inspector found a problem, another buyer would come along. But that has changed. It is VERY difficult to get buyers into escrow now, and very easy to lose them if they find problems during their inspection. Here are true stories about issues that caused disasters ranging from large monetary losses for sellers to outright escrow cancellations. It is time for sellers to realize the value of the “Certified Pre Owned Home” services now available. A $300-$500 home inspection coupled with a home warranty can save the seller $1000s of dollars, make the buyer happier and help sell the home faster.

1. Listing says “Air Conditioned” but the home is not.

During the inspection, the buyer asked the inspector about the air conditioning. The inspector found that there is no air conditioning installed. The listing agent, when asked why the listing stated there is air conditioning, replied that the seller said there was. The air conditioning was important to the buyer, who works from home. The buyer attempted to negotiate a fair settlement from the seller to add air but the negotiation broke down and the sale was lost.

2. Home has serious construction defect.

Many homes are now built by builders as two on a lot or more. The home inspector saw that a balcony over the entry was tilted. When measured, it showed a slope to the east of over 2 inches in 4 feet. But there was no sign of distress in the stucco around the balcony. Inspection of the identical rear home showed that the same balcony was absolutely straight. The conclusion was that the builder had allowed the balcony to be finished even though it was at a tilt. The buyer dropped out stating “I was concerned that there might be other construction defects that were not as obvious.”

3. Bathroom sink has small water leak in tile counter top causing serious water damage.

Some defects are nearly undetectable. In this case, the dark tile on the counter and the rather stuffed cabinet concealed significant water damage. There was enough water to have caused the cabinet’s pressed wood base to expand, the shelf paper to discolor and some mold to start to grow on the paper. But there was no leak in the plumbing. Upon further inspection, it was found by the inspector that when water was splashed on the tile behind the faucet, it ran through small cracks in the tile grout and dripped to the back of the cabinet base. There was reason to expect that there was more moisture and mold under the cabinet base that could not be inspected. This finding, coupled with other troubling issues, caused the buyer to cancel.

4. Home has concealed earthquake damage.

A condo looked excellent from the street. The interior was in beautiful condition. Inspection of the plumbing under the sink, however, revealed a disturbing fact. The galvanized pipe drain that ran up from the bottom of the subterranean garage 3 stories below appeared to have raised up and smashed the drywall above it. Suspecting that this was impossible, the inspector recalled that this building had suffered damage from a powerful nearby earthquake. A closer look revealed that the floor had dropped 1-2 inches during that quake and not recovered and the ceiling had dropped along with the interior walls. Only the perimeter load bearing walls remained as built. The result was that the torn drywall was wall that had FALLEN onto the solid pipe. The damage was so extensive that the buyer dropped out.

5. Another listing without air conditioning.

This was a condo conversion and a very nice property. But again the listing said A/C but there was none. The buyer was, in this case, not as eager for the deal and used this as an excuse to drop out.

6. Hillside 1930’s home seller loses $200,000.

This home is on a hill and there were multiple retaining walls and tiered foundations that needed repair. There is no doubt that had the seller done a pre inspection, problems with the foundation could have been addressed for far lower cost by taking more time. But work was rushed because the home was in escrow and cost far more than necessary.

7. Lots of minor issues turn off first time buyer.

The buyer, a young lady looking for her first home, was put off by issues that were not individually that expensive, but they added up to a long list of problems she just could not cope with. Had the seller done a pre inspection and just done a little work this escrow would have closed.

Note: This article is copyrighted by the author but sellers, buyers, agents and other home inspectors are encouraged to copy and use this article as long as the author’s name and web site are kept with it.

Read More