How Secure Is Your Property Investment?
October 10, 2008
After Finding Your Home: The Home Inspection
It’s easy to make sure the home you’ve chosen is a smart buy. By having a home inspection, the home’s vital systems are checked. A home inspection allows you to purchase your home with confidence.
We will help you set up a home inspection after you have chosen the home you like.
Our recommendation is following these minimum standards when choosing a home inspector:
- Membership in ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors) and adherence to its Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.
- Written report at the time of inspection.
- UPDATE: Thanks to Nick Gromicko for noting our failure to mention NACHI (National Association of Certified Home Inspectors).
The typical inspection will take approximately three hours and will cover all major systems and components of your new home.
The conditions noted during the inspection are recorded in a detailed computerized report for your reference. Digital photographs will be included for many inspection items.
Our inspectors use a 400-item inspection plan to minimize your investment risk and provide you all the facts regarding the physical condition of your home.
We understand different buyers have different needs — first time buyers may have more questions than a seasoned real estate investor. The home inspectors we recommend take time to listen to our clients.
Our home inspectors are required to address all your concerns. We want you to make an informed investment decision without undue stress, costly repairs or delays.
What Does a Home Inspection Include?
Home inspections include a comprehensive visual examination of your home’s readily accessible elements and components.
Our home inspectors cover the:
- Structure
- Exterior
- Roof
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Interior
- Appliances
- Crawl Spaces
- Heating & Air Conditioning
Photo Credit: Justin Baeder
Additional Services May Include:
- Radon Testing
- Stucco Inspections
- New Construction Inspections
Can I Attend the Home Inspection?
We strongly encourage our clients to attend the inspection and participate in the process. Being present for the inspection will:
- Help you fully understand the home inspection report.
- Receive an in-depth overview of the home you are purchasing.
- Learn how to properly maintain your investment.
Buying a home should be a good experience, one that makes you feel confident.
Contact us today. Before you know it, you’ll be the confident owner of the perfect home for your needs - in less time than if you searched on your own.
First Time Atlanta Home Buyers Receive Tax Credit
August 4, 2008
The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 was just signed by President Bush with some amazing benefits for first time home buyers.
When is the last time someone gave you a $7,500 loan, that has no interest, no payments for two years, and if you do not make enough profit when you sell, you do not have to pay back the loan?
That is what first time homebuyers get.
Call everyone you know who wants to buy their first home, this is too good to miss.
The risk of loss in buying now is on the government. In other parts of the country where real estate is going down in value, you can lose 10% of the value of the home (up to $7,500) and the loss is covered by the fact that you do not pay back the tax credit. The North Atlanta real estate first time buyers can afford is going up in value, so we are not as worried about the risk of loss. Even a home purchase that does not go up in value is covered by the tax benefit because you get $7,500 no matter what happens.
What’s the catch?
You have to buy your first house in three years before July 1,2009, not have super high income, not use bond financing and buy anywhere in the US, Not too difficult, right?
My thanks to Tim Burrell, Raleigh real estate broker, for his informative article on tax benefits to first time homebuyers.
Digging for Bargain Houses
March 25, 2008
Digging for Bargain Houses - Guest Post by Elisa Gumbel
I love finding a deal. In retail stores I love sorting through clearance bins digging for that perfect bargain. So, when my friends are looking to buy a house for a bargain, I am the first person they contact.
Digging through the Internet for the best house and the best deal is as fun, if not more fun, than digging for clothes. Because when you find that perfect house for someone, they keep it for a very long time and you have the satisfaction of knowing you made that match possible.
It is kind of like being the best dating site on the Internet, but for people and their homes.
I have to admit, as much as I love to dig through the Internet, I am not the most Internet savvy person. What makes me good at the “great home search” is that I don’t mind putting in the time and effort to sort through all the real estate information the Internet has to offer.
My searching standards are probably pretty archaic when it comes to surfing the net, so I start off very basic. I go straight to Google and enter “homes for sale + city, state”. The sites listed below are typical responses that I get on my first search.
- Homes.com
- Free Realty Info
Usually these sites are good for digging, and take some time to find something that peaks your interest, but there are lots of hidden jewels.
I do have one complaint though: finding where these houses and condos are located…
In most cases real estate agents attach a Google maps link to the home’s info page, and it appears to be very easy to figure out where these listings are located. But, when I try to orient myself to the location Google has directed me, I get confused and can’t figure out where it is. I finally realized that if Google doesn’t recognize an address, then it places you in the center of the listed city. And in Smyrna, apparently Creatwood drive is the epicenter.
One day I ended up driving all over Creatwood drive trying to find all the great houses I found that day, and that’s when I realized that none of them are there. I know that sounds like something simple to overcome, but it took me three separate house hunts to figure that one out.
As I am sure you can tell, I have always been intrigued by the Real Estate industry. Real estate used to seem like this thing of mystery, that one day I would have to walk into it blindly. But now that I have found my love for the house treasure hunt, I realize what a fun experience house hunting can be.
Before my revelation, Realtors always seemed like money-hungry people who were looking for a fast deal. Spend no time, waste no time. After my first experience with my Sister and my Realtor, Kathy Drewien, I realized how wrong I was.
Realtors are there to make sure you are happy, and to help you find exactly what you are looking for. They are a teacher, and counselor, and a confidant (tip: if they cannot fill those roles for you… get a new Realtor). As long as you are prepared to spend serious amounts of time dedicated to your search, they will be just as dedicated — if not more. After all, this is your home that you plan on living in, and you want to love every second!
Foreclosure Properties Exist in Marietta and Roswell
February 12, 2008
The suburbs of Marietta and Roswell are not immune to the increasing housing struggle. Property values remain strong although the days on market are still longer than we would like to see. A recent property search shows a handful of foreclosures.
If you are looking to buy and “owner occupy” or buy and hold as a rental investment check out these properties identified as foreclosures.
Real Estate Agents Don’t Get the Picture
January 29, 2008
We have all seen them. Exterior shots of houses overshadowed by trees. Rooms filled with clutter. Too dark. Too bright. Just plain dumb.
Photos that eliminate the house from consideration before the home buyer logs off the computer.
Don’t know if we can educate the real estate industry… But, we can all have a good laugh.
Got a good caption for this one? Write it in the comments.
And, be sure to send us Photo Trash you find along the way.
How to Handle Real Estate Data Overload
December 27, 2007
This morning, I was reading a blog post from Chris McKeever, Center for Realtor Technology in which he stated:
…as a consumer, part of how I would choose an agent is that they can outperform me on finding the perfect property by having access to more area knowledge, refined searching techniques and experience I just can’t gain through even the best website. Just cause I use one website to search, doesn’t mean that is the broker/agent I have decided to use.
In his post, Chris makes a good point that an individual agent, or broker, is going to be hard-pressed to compete on technology with the big boys with deep pockets. On the other hand, the big boys with deep pockets are aggregating data on a national level. Real estate is, and always will be, a local issue.
So, it doesn’t really matter what website works for your personal search for Atlanta real estate. Ultimately, if you choose to work with an Atlanta Realtor, you want someone whose knowledge and expertise moves beyond the aggregated data.
You also want the Realtor to incorporate technology into their business model to enhance the exchange of that knowledge at a personal level. Do they respond to email in minutes, the same day, weeks later or never? Can they text listing information in a mobile format? Do they have an online network of specialists, vendors and colleagues who are also technologically proficient?
