| |
| |
|
Real Estate Information |
|
|
|
New Home Construction - The American Dream or The American Nightmare?
Buying a new home is suppose to be the American Dream. Unfortunately, for many buyers of newly constructed homes it becomes the American Nightmare. Hiring a qualified third party home inspector can increase you chance of a hassle free home. One only has to visit sites like Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings (HADD)- http://www.hadd.com or Homeowners for Better Buildings (HOBB) - http://www.hobb.org to see how widespread shoddy construction is in the industry. No area of the country is free from shoddy construction. In my job as a Professional Home Inspector I talk to hundreds of people each year about new home construction. It still amazes me that many believe the city inspector will find every item wrong with a home. Nothing could be further from the truth! A city inspector inspects for code violations. The building codes are the MINIMUM standards that a home should be built to. City code inspectors only inspect for safety and health issues as they relate to building. City inspectors do not inspect for the quality of workmanship! City building inspectors also have no liability. If your home falls down and hurts you the day after you move in, you can not go back and sue the building inspector because he missed code violations. In Houston, the area I inspect in, the city building inspectors spend about 10 to 30 minutes in a home inspecting it. At the end of their "Inspection", they will then place a green or orange 3x5 sticker at the front of the home. The Green sticker says you passed, the orange or red sticker says the home failed. There is no way that a city building inspector can note all the discrepancies on a home on a 3x5 sticker! The new trend is for builders to advertise that their homes have been inspected by a "Third Party Inspection Company." This is like listening to a used car salesman say he had his mechanic check your used car out before you bought it. If the company the builder hires becomes a nuisance by continuing to find problems, then a new company will be found who can inspect the homes the way the builder likes. Wise and prudent home buyers will research their builder before deciding on one to go with. They will also start doing their research on finding their own third party home inspector to inspect the home as it is being built. What are some things you should look for in a home inspector? To start with, not all home inspectors are created equal. Look for a home inspector that is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) - http://www.ashi.org. ASHI is the nations oldest and largest home inspection organization. They have strict membership requirements in place and not any ole inspector will be accepted. Next, make sure the inspector you choose is Code Certified. Many areas of the country have now adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) as the model building code. Check with your local municipality to determine which model code they enforce and adjust your search likewise. You can find a Code Certified IRC Inspector by going to http://www.iccsafe.org. Ask the inspectors on your narrowed down list for sample inspection reports. You're looking for a home inspector who writes narrative type reports and who will include code numbers or the code itself when he finds them. I'd avoid inspectors who say they use an onsite "checklist" type of report. Call or meet the inspector. You're looking for someone who is knowledgeable and who can communicate well. If you talk to an inspector and have trouble understanding what he's saying, it's likely his report will be hard to understand as well. Ask for references. Have the inspector send you several references and follow through checking them out. Ask questions. Ask your inspector if he/she will come back out and re-inspect after the builder says all the repairs have been made. Some will, some won't. Expect to have to pay for a re-inspection. Ask the inspector if he will communicate with the builder after the inspection if the builder has questions. Good inspectors will take the time to go over the report via phone or in person with the builder to ensure that all needed repairs are made. As a home buying consumer, it's your responsibility to ensure your home is built correctly. Not the builder, not the State, County or City. Hiring a qualified and reputable home inspector will go a long ways in helping you obtain a problem free home. Full reprint and distribution rights are granted as long as the entire article, including the sig/resource box below, is kept intact. Donald Lawson is a Professional Real Estate Inspector who is licensed in Oklahoma (454) and Texas (5824). Donald is also Building and Plumbing Code Certified by the International Code Council. He currently owns and operates V.I.P. Home Inspections, a multi inspector firm in Houston Texas. You can find more articles on New Home Construction as well as a free New Home Buyers Guide at his website http://www.best2inspect.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Real-Estate - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Successful Property Letting And Management Successful Property Letting And Management is not something that just happens, it is something that has to be worked at, and planned professionally. When a landlord or an agent has a problem let, it is almost certainly to do with the suitability of the selected tenant. Selling Your Home - A FSBOs Guide to Keeping It Safe Sellers need to keep their safety in mind when prospecting potential buyers. The real estate industry has seen a problematic climb in assaults towards realtors, and so is the concern for those who are selling their own homes. Finding, Fixing, Financing, and Flipping - The Short Course Most people get involved in Real Estate investing to make money.Pretty self-evident - or, is it?What would you say if I told you that everything you have been taught about Real Estate investing and making money "rehabbing" your real estate investments is wrong?Well, at least, much of it!Let's take a look at something that all too many people don't think about in their real estate investing - something that seems to be a secret formula to bringing in the most cash from your real estate investments. Real Estate Investing Myths That Steal Profits From Your Pocket One of the things that distresses us about our industry is the amount of wrong or incomplete information available to investors. Some myths block what otherwise would be a great deal, while others would have you believe that a bad deal is actually great. Buying Property in Bulgaria : How to Avoid Making A Bad Investment Where is it possible to buy a property on your credit card? Bulgaria, of course! With thousands of potential property buyers seduced by Bulgaria's bargain property prices, the temptation is to think that making a solid return is a no-brainer! Searching the Internet, dozens of articles and property websites boast about the 100% capital growth that can be achieved on Bulgarian property investments in the space of 12 months.For first time investors with small budgets looking for a step onto the property ladder, this seems like an opportunity almost too good to be true! The result is that thousands of novice speculators and second homebuyers are flocking to Bulgaria to cash in on the investment opportunities it offers. How to Own a Dream Home in Spain Every year hundreds of thousands of foreign visitors travel to Spain to delight in the fantastic weather, stunning natural landscapes, excellent entertainment options and superb Mediterranean beaches. Many of these people dream of one day owning their own property in Spain, in fact Spain is now one of the most desirable second home and retirement destinations in the world. Residential Income Property Financing: Part 2 of 3 Welcome to the second segment of a three-part series about income property. In this second segment we will be discussing financing options for residential income properties as well as the upside (and downside) of owning this type of property. Home Inspections or Home Warranty? Homebuyers are a curious lot. They routinely ask thought-provoking questions. Ten Creative Financing Techniques Do all the creative financing techniques you hear about really work? Yes, actually. They probably have all worked somewhere for someone at least once. Spanish Estate Agents and Inspection Visits The only way to buy a home in Spain is during an inspection visit. If you are serious about buying a property, and are in a position to purchase, this is the most effective way to ensure your find the ideal home, in the ideal area at the right price for you. Real Estate Wealth Protection Through Short Sales Is a sharp correction in store for the real estate market?Fannie Mae, the largest buyer of mortgages in the US, is worried. They recently warned that the probability of a housing bust has risen sharply in certain parts of the country. Questions Investors Should Ask When Buying and Selling Investment Property If you're a real estate investor, here are several questions to consider when looking at investment properties. Providing sound answers to these questions will greatly increase your profits:Why do homeowners sell for bargain prices?There are many factors that can prevent owners from being able to maintain their homes. 18 Easy Steps to Buy a Bargain House What is a "distressed" property? What is "bargain" real estate?A distressed property is one with a distressed seller. Job loss or transfer, divorce, death, pending foreclosure, and lack of money cause sellers to sell fast for less. Home Equity - Don't Spend It on Risky Investments The housing market has exploded in the last five years, and homeowners are finding that the equity in their homes is greater than it has ever been. The equity in a home is the difference between the market value of the home and the amount still owed on it. Finding Structural Problems During Escrow - Small Rural Home Example In rural home purchases, the transaction is often subject to a satisfactory home inspection being done. Any imperfections are usually corrected during escrow. What Can I Realistically Earn In A Lease Purchase Business? If you're looking at Lease Purchasing as a business, you'll obviously want to earn much more than the $20,000 per year in our "How To Give Yourself A $20,000/Year Raise Without Asking Your Boss" article. Let's review the numbers from that article: For every 100 calls Sue makes on For Sale By Owner property, she either speaks with or leaves messages for about 60%. How To Give Yourself A $20,000/Year Raise Without Asking Your Boss Why without asking your boss? Two reasons, one, he or she will most likely say no; and second, he or she will probably have you committed for asking. So what do you do. How to Use Color Psychology to Prepare Your Home for a Top-Dollar Sale (Part 1) You've decided to prepare your home for sale. Whether you sell by owner or hire a real estate agent, you want to get as much money as possible without spending your profits. 5 Steps To Choose the Best Cincinnati Realtor Excluding some professional real estate agents buying a house is a lifetime decision for most people. Whenever a person is decided about purchasing a house he is ready to invest a hefty amount of his lifetime savings for acquiring the house. Grab Quick Profits As Real Estate Prices Soar Real estate values rise and fall in cycles. Currently home prices are nearing a top in many areas.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2006 |
