Home Inspections Broward Buying a Home

Should I Order a Home Inspection

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Atop the long list of items to do when buying or selling a house is the home inspection. But what is involved? How much does it cost? Why is it done in the first place? It’s important to understand what a home inspection entails and how it affects the sale of your home or the purchase of a new one. The more you know, the less likely you are to get ripped off or taken by surprise.

I have seen home inspections benefit the Buyers time and time again.

What is a Home Inspection?

First, let’s clear up a commonly misunderstood point: a home inspection is not the same as an appraisal. An appraisal is an estimate of a property’s overall market value. A home inspection is much more detailed and practical. It is also not a code inspection and therefore does not report on building code compliance or give a “passing” or “failing” grade. It is defined as an objective visual examination of the structure and systems of a home by an impartial, neutral third party not related to the buyer or seller. In layman’s terms, it shows you what’s wrong with the property you want to buy or sell and if it is serious enough to prevent a sale.

The three main points of the inspection are to evaluate the physical condition of the home, including structure, construction and mechanical systems; identify items that need to be repaired or replaced; and estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems, equipment, structure, and finishes. Bottom line: a home inspection is to inform the buyer of any readily visible major defects in the mechanical and structural components, and to disclose any significant health or safety issues.

 

What Does a Home Inspection Cover?

A home inspection includes a visual examination of the house from top to bottom. There are hundred of items a home inspection covers, including general structure, flashings, basement or lower level, framing, central cooling and heating, chimneys, plumbing and electrical systems, drainage, bathrooms and laundry facilities, foundation, common safety devices, fireplaces and wood stoves, kitchen and kitchen appliances, general interior, attic, insulation. ventilation, roof, and exterior.

An inspector cannot report on defects that are not visible. For instance, defects hidden behind finished walls, beneath carpeting, behind storage items and in inaccessible areas, and even those that have been intentionally concealed. Systems that are seasonally inoperable (swamp coolers, air conditioning, furnaces) will not be turned on during the inspection.

 How Do I Find an Inspector?

To hire an inspector, get recommendations from your Realtor, or from friends and family. If you don’t know anyone who has hired a home inspector, you can find home inspectors in the Yellow Pages category “Home Inspection Services.” When interviewing inspectors, be sure to ask for references and any memberships in professional associations. Find out about the inspector’s professional training, length of time in the business, and experience.

It’s a good idea to be present during the inspection for a couple of reasons: First, you can ask the inspector questions during the inspection. Also, the inspector will have the opportunity to point out areas of potential trouble, which will mean more to you if you see it with your own eyes than read it in the inspector’s report later. Many inspectors also will offer maintenance tips as the inspection progresses.

Is the Seller Obligated to Make Suggested Repairs?

The seller is not required to make any repairs, replacements or maintenance since this is not a code inspection. However, the buyer can use the inspection report as a negotiating tool. For instance, if certain repairs or replacements are made, the buyer might offer to pay more, or if they’re not, the buyer can bid lower.

Also, never allow an inspector to contract with you to make repairs he/she has suggested — this is a major conflict of interest, not to mention unethical. However, some inspectors do offer a guarantee or warranty on their service for an additional fee, although it is not a standard practice and not required.

 How Much Does it Cost and How Long Will it Take?

Remember that a thorough, accurate home inspection takes time. The last thing you want to do is to try to hurry the inspector along. The inspector’s most important priority is accuracy, and accuracy takes time. The chances of mistakes and missed conditions are much more likely the more the inspector rushes through. Expect your home inspection to take anywhere between two and five hours (allowing about one hour for each 1,500 square feet of living space over 3,500 square feet). Of course, older homes will take longer than newer ones.

Expect your inspection to cost anywhere from $200-$500 depending on size. The cost is worth it and may be one of the most important investments you make when buying a home.

See Details, I will Contribute 10% of my Commission towards your Closing Costs for an Existing or a New Home, which is the same as Cash!

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Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Text or Call 954-648-6095

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Broward Homes Increase the Value of Your Home - Value My Home

You can increase the value of your home by doing as little as simple landscaping and putting on a fresh coat of paint in the right color inside and outside.

There are ways to increase your home’s value for resale that range from the very expensive (major remodels and additions) to free (tidying up the front yard). We’ll look at the whole range, noting how much value is added when possible.

Before you begin any of these projects, it is important that you do them with the following in mind: you do not want to raise the value of your property too far above others in the neighborhood. Why? Because people who want expensive homes will shop exclusively in higher-value neighborhoods. If you own the “best house” in the neighborhood, it is unlikely you will recoup whatever investment you’ve made. A good rule of thumb: keep the value of your property within 15 to 20 percent of your neighbors’.

The following figures appeared in the November 2001 issue of Realtor Magazine. They list the top ten remodeling projects undertaken to increase a home’s value in the United States and what percentage of your remodeling investment is recouped at resale.

Project (average cost recouped, national):

Minor kitchen remodel (88%)

Bathroom remodel (85%)

Major kitchen remodel (81%)

Family room addition (80%)

Deck addition (77%)

Master suite (75%)

Attic bedroom (74%)

Siding replacement (73%)

Window replacement (69%)

Home office (55%)

These are national averages, so in your area, the figures may be lower or higher. To explain, if you spend $10,000 on a minor kitchen remodel, you will be adding $8,800 to the value of your house. Remember that it’s a tricky business, trying to add value to your home. What seems to be value to you may not appear that way to any given prospective buyer.

Projects that may increase your home’s value include: Jacuzzi (4 jets or more); permanent hot tub; in-ground pool with nice deck area; security system; sprinkler system; substantial out buildings such as a two-car garage or finished workshop; and vaulted or trey ceilings. Think twice about the following projects however, as they may not add value to your house: above-ground pool; ceiling fans; garden pond; and light fixtures.

Some tips when attempting value-increasing remodeling:

l Remodel with mass appeal in mind. Potential buyers are usually attracted more to neutral, mainstream design.

l Don’t go cheap when it comes to construction. Use durable, quality materials. If you’re a do-it-

yourselfer, honestly evaluate your ability to do it right.

l Don’t remodel in a different style from the rest of the house. Additions and improvements that look “tacked on” may detract from a home’s appeal.

l Turning a bedroom into a bathroom is a mistake – it reduces the number of bedrooms, a chief selling point.

l Don’t do a $30,000 kitchen remodel in a $100,000 house – unless you plan to continue living there. It is a waste of money.

l If you don’t sell, there are improvements that actually reduce your tax bill. Qualifying improvements are those that increase your home's value or prolong your home's life, including: a fence, driveway, a new room, addition, swimming pool, garage, porch or deck, built-in appliances, insulation, new heating/cooling systems, a new roof, landscaping, etc.

South Broward Homes For Sale By City Or Zip Code from Tony Ortega on Vimeo.

If you don’t have the kind of money it takes for even minor remodeling, there are low-cost ways to increase your home’s value. At the very least, the following things will make your home more attractive and inviting to prospective buyers.

Make sure the outside of your home is spic-and-span. Clean out the gutters. Wash the windows and remove cobwebs and bugs. Trim the hedges, cut and edge the lawn, sweep the sidewalks and driveway. Plant some colorful flowers out front. The reason for these small things is simple: If two similar homes in the same are area are both for sale, the one with the cleanest and most appealing front yard will sell first.

You may want to add to or improve your landscaping while you’re at it. According to a study conducted by Money Magazine, landscaping may be the best investment to improve a home's value. The study found that well-planned, attractive landscaping was estimated to have an actual recovery rate 100 to 200 percent higher than a kitchen or bathroom renovation.

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Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Global Luxury Realty, LLC

1688 Meridian Avenue #700

Miami Beach, Florida 33139

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Broward Home For Sale CMA by Email - Value My Home

There is a way to establish Market Value for your home it’s not simply enough to say my home is worth so much just Because I lived Here! It’s called a CMA or Comparative Market Analysis.

There is a check and balances to your Home Market Price it is in the form of the Bank or Lender willing to lend the money to buy your house they usually go by sale of comparable homes that have sold recently in your area houses that are approximately the same size and design as yours.

If you have a few have sometime to sell your property look at some inexpensive  home improvements that you can make for example:  Landscaping, consider adding some fresh mulch or rocks as needed and the right fresh coat of paint inside and out works wonders and it’s well worth the price more on this later.

South Broward Homes For Sale By City Or Zip Code from Tony Ortega on Vimeo.

1. The Local Advantage - Take advantage of a broad spectrum of technologies and tools to support the sale of your home from start to close.

2. Internet Advertising - Since the lion's share of home buyers starts their search on the internet, top placement on search engines is essential. You'll gain access to placement on Google, Bing, and other websites. This will maximize your exposure and bring a large number of potential buyers to view information about your home.

3. Email Campaigns - It's important to "work the network." We can work together to identify the right people to target your home-and get in touch with them by email to drive excitement and interest.

4. Personal Touch - Of course, technology alone won't sell your home. Face-to-face interaction provides the advantage to sell your home-and you won't have to worry about a thing. The details will be handled with care and constant communication, to ensure the marketing and sale of your home go smoothly.

Friend Have a Wonderful Day!

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Click Here to Contact Us

Global Luxury Realty, LLC

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Broward Homes For Sale Plantation, Florida - Value My Home

Plantation, FL is a city in South Broward, Florida as of the 2010 Census it had a population of 87,496.

If you are thinking about buying a home soon improve in these important areas it will be worth it:

FICO Score Or Your Credit Bureau Rating the Higher the Better you are entitled to a free credit report every year, a good Mortgage Broker / Lender should still be able to get you a mortgage even if your FICO score is not high. 

What Is Your Debt To Income Ratio

You can get your Debt to Income Ratio list all your expenses such as car payment, student loans, current mortgage payment, etc. Divide the total amount you get by your gross monthly income ideally that ratio should be 43% or lower.

How Much To Put Down

The best scenario is to pay at least 20% as Down Payment that way you avoid having to pay PMI or private mortgage insurance.

Plantation, South Broward Homes and Condominiums we invite you to visit our website full of relevant information with a very informative Blog and an excellent property search engine simply enter the zip code or city you are interested in in our Home page and it will pull up all the properties available in South Broward.

You then select the kind of property you are looking for whether a Single Family Home, Condominium, Rental, etc.

The Six Top Reasons that  I Love Broward County

1. Affordability – The local market offers record affordability, amenities and seller incentives; 50% more affordable in the last five years; favorable currency exchange offers greater discounts for foreign buyers.

2. International Buyers – While Florida is the top state, Broward County is one of the top markets for international buyers.
3. Great Weather – A tropical paradise with an average yearly temperature of 76°F/25°C & an average winter temperature of 66°F/19°C. Don’t forget the over 3,000 hours of sunshine each year.

4. Beaches – Broward County has 23 miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline and 300 miles of navigable waterways, earning it the nickname: “The Venice of America”.

5. Water Sports – Enjoy top-rated fishing, snorkeling, sailing, boating, kayaking, swimming, SCUBA diving and other water sports all year around.

6. Boating – Home to over 42,000 pleasure crafts, Broward County is also known as the “Yachting Capital of the World”.

 

South Broward Homes For Sale By City Or Zip Code from Tony Ortega on Vimeo.

Whether you are looking to Sell, Buy, Put up property to Rent or simply rent an apartment or home we want to work for you.

Stay Safe and Healthy

                   
        

Visit our Website:  www.SouthBrowardHomesbyTony.com

Antonio Ortega LLC Licensed Real Estate Professional

Text or Call 954-648-6095

Global Luxury Realty, LLC

Click Here to Contact Us

       Join us on Social Media

Global Luxury Realty, LLC