Move-In Ready: 6 Critical Facts Home Buyers Should Know
Buyer Beware: “Move-In Ready” Does Not Mean Inspected I’ve been thinking a lot about the phrase “move-in ready,” especially after asking buyers and real estate agents what they think it actually means. The answers were interesting because buyers and agents were not always talking about the same thing. From the real estate side, “move-in ready” […]
Home Inspection Report: 9 Critical Truths About “Big Deals”
Are Home Inspectors Making a “Big Deal” Out of Things? One of the complaints inspectors hear all the time is that we made a big deal out of something in the home inspection report. Sometimes that criticism is probably fair. There are inspectors who overstate conditions, use dramatic language, or make every defect sound like […]
Home Inspectors Aren’t Code Inspectors. Or Are They?
Home Inspectors Aren’t Code Inspectors. Or Are They? You hear it all the time: “You’re not a code inspector.” “That wasn’t required when the house was built.” “A home inspection is only about safety and functionality.” There is truth in all three statements. Most home inspectors are not municipal code officials. They are not issuing […]
Buyer Inspection Window: Stop Asking Permission
Stop Asking Sellers for Permission to Inspect Buyers do not need permission to inspect the house they are under contract to buy. Before somebody gets fired up, read that again. I did not say buyers can be unreasonable. I did not say inspectors should demand access at midnight, show up without notice, or ignore real […]
Lead Paint and Asbestos in Older Homes: What Buyers Need to Know
Lead Paint and Asbestos in Older Homes: What Buyers Need to Know If you’re buying an older house, seeing paperwork that mentions lead paint and asbestos in older homes can make your pulse jump. Those words sound serious, and in some situations they are, but in many cases they are not a sign that the […]
When “It Works” Is Not Enough: What Normal Working Order Actually Means in a Real Estate Transaction
Understanding What Normal Working Order Actually Means There is a phrase that gets tossed around in real estate every single day when someone wants to downplay a defect. It sounds simple. “Well, it works.” The furnace comes on. The sink drains. The water heater makes hot water. The lights turn on. The argument is that […]