How to pick a good Home Inspector

In Utah it is not mandatory to have a home inspection before buying. I think it is absolutely insane. So, why would you get a home inspection in the first place, what do they inspect and how much do they cost? These are all questions that I get on a daily basis.

A home inspection will not only give you peace of mind but it will also tell you if there are any major problems with the home. I take back the peace of mind for now… Actually if you pick a good home inspector they will scare the holy S*** out of you. That being said I always tell my client to keep an open mind. That we are really looking for big ticket items. Every house has little things that need to be fixed. Just think of where you live now.

So, what do home inspectors inspect? That’s a great question. While, every home inspection company is different they all have a “so and so” point inspection. One of the companies that we often use Pillar to Post boasts a 1600 point visual inspections. The home inspector will inspect from the ground up. This includes but is not limited to plumbing, heating, air conditioning, electrical, and appliance systems, as well as observation of structural components: roof, foundation, basement, exterior and interior walls, chimney, doors, and windows. It takes most inspectors roughly 2-3 hours for the inspection.

Then the inspectors takes an additional half to full hour to explain to the potential new buyer any item that need to be repaired and any safety issues that should be addressed. As I said before I always tell my clients to look for the big stuff that stuff that will drain your bank account like the furnace, water heater, foundation, electrical, and roof. Every house at one point or another will have a little leak under the sick or an electrical outlet that needs to be replaced. These are nickel and dime items.

A home inspection generally costs $250-$500 without adding any additional services. The service is normally based on the square footage and age of the home. Occasionally if the home is located outside of the service area they will charge an additional location fee. The company will also ask if you would like any additional services like mold, meth, radon, or infrared inspection. Additional test will add to the bill fast, most of the additional test will run you $90-$150.

Picking the right home inspector can be challenging; we as agent find a few that do an exceptional job and put them on our preferred vender list. In Utah home inspectors are not required to have any certification or licenses, less of a business license. So, as the home buyer you should ask the question

Do you have any Certification to be a home inspector?

How long have you been in this business?

Do you have any background in construction or home building?

Are you going to be inspecting the house or does someone you employ do the inspection? Are your employees certified?

What is included in the inspection?

Do you give me a report on the spot? Does it have pictures?

Will you physically show me where the problems are?

Will you show me where the water and gas shut off valves are, and anything else that I should know?

What kind utilities would you like me to make sure are on before you come?

What sets you apart from the competitors?

If comes down to not wanting to fork over the dough. Do your homework before going forward with purchasing. Have a friend or family member do a visual inspection.

Here is a good list of items that will make it a lot easier to have peace of mind.

 

Thanks a bunch and if I forgot anything please let me know.

Kitty | 801-550-4640 | Kittynberry@gmail.com

Super funny video on lending

This video is awesome for the new home buyer.

Buyers agent vs seller's agent

It wasn't till the other day that I realized that people, buyers and sellers, don't really know the differences in the buying and selling agents when it comes to real estate transactions. 

Before I started working in real estate I never thought twice about a buyer’s agent vs. a sellers agent. I always thought of Realtors as just real estate agents.

Depending on what side of the real estate transaction we represent for you, depends if we are the buyer’s agent, or the sellers agent. Many agent work solely as a buyer’s agent or buyer’s representative, most of these individuals work in real estate teams, with the lead agent taking care of all the selling transaction sides. Seller agent only rarely happens unless the above situation is true where a team has a lead agent. Most Realtors are both buyer and seller representatives. Really the paperwork is identical and the overall process is very similar from our stand point, but will feel a lot different from yours  

Sellers agents are paid by the seller, the general break down of their job is to realize the seller has a need or a motivation to move. The next step in the process is that the agent pulls a report of comparable home in the neighborhood and surrounding areas that are actually comparable. A comparable home needs to be within 10 years plus or minus the age of the home, the square footage within a few hundred feet, plus or minus a bedroom, plus or minus one bathroom, and structural  style of the home i.e. 2 story vs 2 story, rambler vs rambler. 

The next step is to agree on a selling price, this is a great time to start staging your home. In a few short weeks, as long as your home is priced properly, you will be moving. Start cleaning the house, so we can take plenty of quality photos. Before you know it your home will be under contract, inspections will happen, then settlement (signing the documents) and closing, when the property funds and records. 

I think for the most part people understand the selling process. Originally there was no such thing as a buyer’s agent. You would list your property with a selling agent, and if you had a good agent they would bring buyers into your home and eventually your home would sell.  This is when the buyer’s agent came into the picture; long story short agent didn't want to work with buyers, because the agent didn't get paid, if the buyer bought someone else's listing. Agents started negotiating with each out and forming partnerships that they would split the commission if they sold each other listing, making teams, giving the buyers more options. 

Today buyer agents are still paid by the seller. I know it's kind of weird but that's how it works. So, if you want to buy a house, you don't have to pay your agent, and about half the time the seller pays all of the closing cost getting you a house for nearly nothing but a 30 year note and a little bit of time. You as a buyer are in charge of paying for the home inspection (if you choose to get one) and appraisal up front; it eventually gets tied into the loan. 

Long story short we are all just real estate agents with lots of different hats on! 

Ten tips for Moving

10. Move from denial to acceptance. Before you strap on your serious boots and start hauling your boxes away, Patrick says the best thing to do is “sit back, relax and accept the fact that, in the move, stuff will get broken, lost, or packed in a box that you never
open.” Once you realize there will be potholes along the road, it‟s a lot easier to handle hiccups as they arise.
9. Donate unwanted items. You have to go through all of your belongings during the packing process, so Nikki says, take advantage of a forced spring cleaning any time of year. Call a local charity and get rid of all of your unwanted items. Or if you have the time, make some extra loot through a garage sale or Craigslist.
8. Make a list. Tracking all of your belongings—especially if you‟re using a moving service—is a task unto itself. Dawn suggests numbering boxes and tracking what‟s in them and where they go. “I keep an excel spreadsheet to know what gets on the truck and gets off,” she says. It may take a bit longer on the front end, but will save you a lot of headaches come unpacking.
7. Make a map. In the same vein, Barb describes her go-to moving routine, which includes a detailed furniture map made of masking tape at her new home. “I always go to the new house a few days before and map out furniture placement for the movers. It saves time shoving things around later or being constantly interrupted with, „Where do you want this?‟”
6. Wrap dishes in your towels. Save time, money and space with Connie‟s advice to use sheets, towels and blankets to wrap your breakables. “ It protects the dishes better [than newspaper], you pack twice the items at once, and you only need to wash a load of towels instead of every dish you own.”
5. Prepare your survival kit. Lenny warns to remember to pack a box of necessities for your first night at the new house—things like toilet paper, sheets, pet food, toiletries, etc. Moving is hectic enough without digging through 17 boxes in the dark to find your contact solution and a toothbrush.
4. Think about the kids. Valerie reminds us that if you‟re moving a family, kids can be overlooked in the chaos. She touts getting everyone involved. This is an adventure. Treat it like one and fit in some fun.
3. Ask some friends for help. Aaron‟s best tip is to “leverage other people… MREA style.” Reach out to your network for boxes, trucks, manpower, babysitting, etc. You‟ll be surprised how many people are excited to help!
2. Offer incentives. Taking leverage a step further, Paul says putting some compensation on the table—in the form of food and drink—is sure to draw a crowd. Set up a few “packing” or “paint” parties, and leverage your friends for function and fun!
1. Hire movers. Last but not least, the number one trick to moving seamlessly is to hire someone to do it for you. With the help of her hired team, it took Kammi only three hours to move a 3,000 square foot house. That‟s what we call getting the job done!

Home Buyer's Top 10 Questions

 Home Buyer's Top 10 Questions
10.  Can I borrow the money for the down payment?
9.  What is the difference between a short sales & a foreclosure?
8.  Do I need a real estate agent?
7.  Can I ask the seller to pay for my closing costs?
6.  When should I lock my interest rate?
5.  Can I get a gift for the down payment and closing costs?
4.  Are there any 100% financing loans available?
3.  How long do I need to be at my job before I can buy a home?
2.  How long does it take to close a mortgage loan?
1.  What does my credit score need to be to buy a home?
For the answers to these questions and others give me a call.

Pricing your property

Which Type of Loan Best Fits Your Budget

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