Tag: #HomeOwner

The importance of a home inspection

Without a doubt, purchasing a house is one of the most important investments we do in our lives, therefore we need to make our due diligence in order to know the condition of the house we are buying.

As a Realtor, my job is to protect my client’s interest and I strongly suggest a home inspection, even on cash deals, so the buyer can know exactly the condition of the house they are looking to buy. The inspection is performed by a licensed inspector; it can take 2 to 3 hours and have an average cost of $400. The inspector will check the main systems of the house, such as AC / Heater, plumbing, electricity, plus the roof and attic and crawl space (if there are available) and write a report on the condition of the house so the buyer and this document can be used to require any repairs to the seller, request for concessions toward repairs or simply for the peace of mind of the buyer that the house has no major problem.

Note: If the house will be financed, a wind mitigation report and 4 point inspection report are suggested as well, that will provide the lender more information about the condition of the house and can also provide you a discount on the home insurance. If the house was built before 1978, there is a lead based paint test that some home inspectors offer as well in the package

Are you looking to buy a house and need assistance? Give me a call, will be happy to guide you.

Clarisa Moody

813 446 2003

If you like this blog entry, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter and you will receive interesting information about Real Estate, finances and home management.

www.ClarisaMoodyRealtor.com

Expenses to consider when buying a house

Buying a house is probably the biggest investment of our lives and it is important to know in advance all the expenses to consider when buying a house besides the down payment and closing costs.

  • Inspection- The inspection of the house done by a licensed home inspector will give you a better understanding of the condition of the house and most likely will be a contingency on your contract, make sure to review the report and make questions to the inspector, your Realtor or a GC about any doubt you have. TIP: Include a 4 point inspection and wind mitigation report in your home inspection, it could provide you some discount on your home owners insurance.
  • Home owners insurance.- You can get the service scheduled to run starting at closing day, it is important to protect your investment.
  • Survey.- The survey is the process of locating and measuring the property’s boundary lines to get the exact amount of land conveying with the sale.
  • Appraisal.- If you are buying a property through a mortgage loan, the lender will request an appraisal, basically the valuation of the property (the lender will not lend more than the value of the property estimated on the appraisal)
  • Other expenses.
    • Inspection of a well or sept
    • Water assessment
    • Structural inspection (if lender requires)
    • HOA application (when buying on condominium or gated / restricted community)
    • Moving expenses

Make sure you have an estimate of the cost of all these items when engaging into the house buying process, a knowledgeable Realtor can provide some numbers and also recommend licensed professionals to assist you.

If you are looking to buy or sell, give me a call 813 446 2003

Clarisa Moody

If you like this blog entry, make sure to subscribe to my Newsletter and you will receive interesting information about Real Estate, finances and home management.

www.ClarisaMoodyRealtor.com