Whether your offer on an older home has been accepted, or you’re buying brand-new construction, it’s highly recommended that you have the house inspected.  Yes, it’s an added expense to the home-buying process, but it could save you money and heartache in the end.  Get the most out of the inspection by following these tips: 

• Ask your RealtorⓇ for a list of qualified inspectors in the area.  Be sure to check reviews, and ask other recent home buyers for recommendations. 
• Call at least three different inspectors for price, experience, and whether your state requires a license and bonding or not, ask about these anyway.  A top certification they could have is one by ASHI (American Society of Home Inspectors). 
• Once you choose an inspector, choose a date for the inspection when you can accompany them.  If they have a problem with you being there, find another inspector. 

• Ask the seller if you can go in the house on your own before the official inspection to get an idea of the condition of the property for your own satisfaction.  Popular Mechanics offers a thorough list of things to look for in your new prospective home. 
• While you’re in the house, look for cosmetic things like paint and patching that could be covering bigger issues. 
• The inspector will have a process of their own, complete with checklist, but make one for yourself so you can have a record of your own for issues they show you as you walk through the house. 
• Don’t be afraid to ask questions during the inspection–a reputable inspector welcomes questions, plus, you’re paying them for their knowledge.  Getting answers before you get their final report will help you understand it better. 
• If you’re not quite sure of how to change the hot water heater temperature, how to work the circuit breaker box, or where the water shut-off is, the inspector can help you become more familiar and knowledgeable about the house.  Use your smartphone to take photos and video as they give you a how-to lesson, so you’ll have it in case you need it. 

Once you get your report, go over it carefully.  If there are major repairs that need to be made, ask the seller to make the repairs or offer you a credit or reduction in selling price.  Being as knowledgeable as you can be during this process can mean more money saved.  Just be sure to hire a good inspector, and stay involved in the process. 

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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Photo credit: insideoutinspectionsplus.net

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 homebuyer 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 nit-picky.   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.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently.  You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

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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.

• 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.
• Leaky faucets are also things that can be overlooked by home 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!

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.

• 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.
• Leaky faucets are also things that can be overlooked by home 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Access Teri’s one-stop Orlando FL home search website.

Teri Isner is the team leader of Orlando Avenue Top Team and has been a Realtor for over 24 years. Teri has distinguished herself as a leader in the Orlando FL real estate market. Teri assists buyers looking for Orlando FL real estate for sale and aggressively markets Orlando FL homes for sale.

You deserve professional real estate service! You obtain the best results with Teri Isner plus you benefit from her marketing skills, experience and ability to network with other REALTORS®. Your job gets done pleasantly and efficiently. You are able to make important decisions easily with fast, accurate information from Teri. The Orlando Avenue Top Team handles the details and follow-up that are important to the success of your transaction.

Get Orlando Daily News delivered to your inbox! Subscribe here!