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Ins and Outs of Home Inspections

by Tucker Robbins

home inspectin

Whether you are selling your home or you are looking to buy a home, there are a few things that you need to know to help your home inspection go as well as it possibly can.  Home buyers need to know that the house they are buying is in good shape and home sellers need to be on the up and up when selling their home. When it comes to home inspections there are a few tips that can help the inspection go smoothly and the process be as stress free as possible. 

  • If you are selling your home and you have a home inspection on the schedule, do your part to make it easy on the inspector by getting your pets out of the house while he or she is doing the inspection.  Your home inspector may love and adore animals as much as you do but your pets being under their feet during the inspection will not make the job any easier. 
  • During a home inspection, typically the potential buyers are inside alone with the inspector and they may want to look around to take one last look at things before making a final decision.  If you want to make a good impression on those potential buyers, you may want to clean up the clutter you have left laying around.  Believe it or not clutter can cause a potential home buyer to walk away without making an offer.
  • As a home buyer don’t freak out if the home inspector comes up with a list of things that need to be taken care of in the house.  You need to realize that most houses have some sort of upkeep or maintenance that needs to be taken care of and that inspector’s are known for being nitpicky.   Realize too that most everything can be fixed.  Even the dreaded mold and radon.  Realize as well that home inspectors cannot predict the future and won’t be able to tell you how long something will last; they will just be able to tell you that it needs attention. 

Hopefully these tips will help you out the next time you have a home inspector coming to your home, whether you are selling or buying.  Remember that the home inspector is there to help you not to harm you or to ruin your dreams.


Courtesy of New Castle County Real Estate Expert Tucker Robbins.

4 Things You Don't Want Your Home Inspector To Miss

by Tucker Robbins

home inspector

Home inspectors are good at their jobs but they are not above missing some things because they are human.   There are several things that home inspectors have been known to miss during a home inspection so you might want to keep your eyes open and pay close attention during the inspection so that you don’t end up having to pay for expensive repairs once you move in to your new home.   A few things that may be missed by your home inspector  are below.

  1. Inspectors do not always go over all the bells and whistles of a home and appliances are on the list of things they do not always pay a lot of attention to.  The last thing you want is to move into your new home to find out that you have a leaky dishwasher that needs to be replaced.  If you want to make sure appliances have not been overlooked you may want to check them yourself. 
     
  2. Leaky faucets are also things that can be overlooked by home inspectors.  Take your time to walk through your soon to be new home and check the faucets for leaks just in case your inspector may have missed something.   It’s a good idea to check outdoor faucets as well.
     
  3. Cracked sewage and drainage pipes might also be something that your inspector doesn’t take a look at and may therefore miss.  It may be worth your while to pay a bit of extra money to have an in depth look at your drainage pipes. 
     
  4. Sometimes home inspectors will not pay a lot of attention to decks, porches and balconies.  There can be problems in these areas such as safety issues and cracks that may not arise until right before you make the purchase of the home.  Perhaps a second follow up inspection may be a good idea if you feel that one of these areas may be a potential problem. 

Again, home inspectors are human and they are not above missing some potential problems  with your new home.  Realize this fact before you have your home inspection so that you too can keep your eyes open for any potential problems you see in and around your prospective new home.  Once you move in you will be able to rest assured that you have not bought into a money pit. 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtor Tucker Robbins!

Tips to Avoiding Haunting Situations When Buying A Home

by Tucker Robbins

It’s that time of year again, when little ones dress up and go out into the streets looking for tricks or treats.  Many older children as well as adults love to look for haunted houses to visit during this time of year as well.  While haunted real estateHalloween is all good and fun, no one wants to end up purchasing a home that gives them nightmares!  In this article we will look at a few tips on how to avoid haunting situations when buying a home.

  • Avoid buying a home in a bad neighborhood  by going to your prospective place of residence during the weekends.  On the weekends folks typically get outside and do yard work around their homes.  You may even be able to talk to some of  the folks who live there to see what they are like before you make a home purchase in that neighborhood.  It’s also a good idea to drop by on a Saturday night to see if there are any loud parties and such going on.
     
  • If the home you want to purchase is covered in siding, make sure to have it checked for any water issues so that you don’t end up being haunted by mold once you move in. 
     
  • Always have a thorough home inspection   before you purchase a home.  This way if there are problems that need to be dealt with, you might be able to negotiate with the sellers to get the issues fixed before you buy.
     
  • Whether or not your loan officer requires a water test, be sure to have one done before making an offer on a home.  You never know what may be in the water, especially if the home is in a rural area.  Don’t let hard water or water with worse issues haunt you…check to make sure it is safe and clean before you buy.
     
  • Ask your Realtor to see the latest insurance bills for the home you are looking into buying.  This way you will have an upfront idea of what you may be charged each month and you will be able to set your budget around it. If the home you are looking at is in an area with high flood rates you need to definitely make sure you have all of your bases covered so that you don’t end up with a bill that is going to haunt you each month.

Lastly, ask your Realtor as many questions as you possibly can so that you will feel comfortable enough to make an offer without any fears or doubts looming over you.

Information courtesy of Wilmington Delaware Realtor Tucker Robbins.

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Photo of Tucker Robbins Real Estate
Tucker Robbins
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
3838 Kennett Pike
Wilmington DE 19807
(302) 777-7744 (direct)