Home Valuation and Inspections

Congratulations! You've made your decision; you've chosen your new home and your builder. So what needs to happen next? Once you have a firm contract and you have selected the features that will go into your new home, it is time for the builder to turn your dream into reality. You will undoubtedly want to visit the building site from time to time during construction to check the progress of your home. Professional builders welcome your participation and enthusiasm; however, for safety reasons ...
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Home staging is a technique used to dress or stage a home so that buyers can really see it at its best. In essence what you must do is make your home appeal to the broadest range of people. Decide on the best features of your property and work to highlight these. - Clear out your valuables, as you are likely to get numerous visits. - Polish door knobs, handles. - Prune plants that take up space. Make your home more visible. Clean the property so it is spotless. This is important and only takes ...
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Happy New Year! Here I sit on the first workday of the year. The office is not yet open and the phone has not yet rung. I love this time of year. Nothing yet accomplished, and no mistakes yet made. It is a wonderful time to reflect on the year that was, and look ahead toward the year that is yet to be. The idea that comes to mind is that it will be a fantastic year if we can inspect another 3000 homes and do it without a single complaint! A lofty goal indeed, but one worth working ...
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When you start shopping for a new home, you may encounter some words and terms with which you are unfamiliar. The following glossary will help you to be a better informed shopper. Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) - A loan whose interest rate is adjusted according to movements in the financial market. Amortization - A payment plan by which a borrower reduces a debt gradually through monthly payments of principal and interest. Annual Percentage Rate (APR) - The annual cost off credit over the ...
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Your home is the place where you can take refuge from the world and all of its problems.    Yet, even inside your safe haven, there may be dangers hidden from view behind your walls - unseen but real dangers from electrical hazards that pose a threat to you and your family.   The best time to take action is now - before it becomes a problem, and do what is necessary to ensure your home is safe from potential electrical hazards. Each year thousands of homes catch fire due to ...
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There are two types of home owners associated with the up keeping of a home. The first are those people who take great care in looking after their home and then there are the opposite, people who don't place a large emphasis on looking after their homes which can be usually down to the lack of finances. Those people who don't earn much usually can't take care of their property in such a way as people will money. People like them typically likes to keep their home well maintained ...
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After you have the home you wish to buy inspected by a professional home inspector, you probably think that you are in the clear. Although home inspections can reveal obvious problems with your future home, a home inspection is a cursory inspection at best. As a new home owner, you will probably face a few problems when you move in. If you anticipate some of these problems, however, you will be able to handle these challenges. Home ownership can be difficult when things go wrong, ...
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Keeping a house safe is a task that requires a fair bit of attention, but suppose you aren't even going to be in town? Then there are a whole other set of rules to follow. It's a well-known fact that robbers prefer to strike when houses are empty, and popular vacation times give them a lot of room to work, with many people at least getting away for a weekend. However, even business travelers who are obviously on a specific routine can be a target, so it's very important to figure out what your ...
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The best way to keep your home protected is to use a security system. Keep in mind that burglars prefer homes that are unprotected to those that are protected ' for obvious reasons. In fact, did you know that a house with a security system installed is somewhere between three to four times less likely to experience a break-in?Now, let's see if we can dispel any of the reasons you may have for leaving your house vulnerable. Here are four of the most common misconceptions about home security ...
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Cash in while the gold market is experiencing an all time high and sell gold pieces that are collecting dust in your jewelry chest. In today's economy many people are cashing in on items in their home with hopes of gaining a little extra income. The market is right and the time to sell gold jewelry and make considerable cash is now. Enjoy the ease and simplicity of making cash through the use of your computer in your home. Keep your financial affairs private and don't be coaxed to choose ...
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