Home Owner Resources
Starting the Radon Resistance!
July 31, 2018
As a naturally occurring radioactive gas, radon is quite lethal. It’s colorless, odorless, tasteless, and is the cause of 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. While this is merely skimming the surface when it comes to the dangers of radon gas, it’s still enough to spring most into action.
For that group, let’s talk about five radon-resistant features that anyone can incorporate to protect their family and home.
Roof Inspections 101
July 24, 2018
As the saying goes, “Out of sight, out of mind.” And for homeowners, there are too many aspects to keep all of them top-of-mind all the time. Roofing is one of them.
Fortunately, there’s a solution: the roof inspection. Generally, roof inspections can be divided into four components: structural, material, interior, and workmanship inspections.
Are You the Best Home Inspector for Me?
July 17, 2018
A home inspection is a vital aspect of the real estate closing process. However, countless soon-to-be homeowners have either gone down the route of buying without an inspection. This can be a monumental mistake.
Similar to any other role in the real estate closing process, you want to ensure that your resource is qualified and has enough experience to perform the job at hand. Without properly vetting your home inspector, you could leave yourself open to unidentified issues all for the sake of closing the deal.
To Fix or Not To Fix : Everything You Should Know About A Fixer Upper
July 10, 2018
Depending on how you view the idea of a “Fixer Upper” it undeniably has become a popular alternative to buying move-in ready homes. With the rise in popularity of home renovation shows on HGTV like Property Brothers and Fixer Upper, it’s easy to see why people flock to this idea. You can create a home that is modern and personalized to you for what should be a relatively good price. Of course, there are the nightmarish stories of renovation projects that lead to a money pit or a disappointing contractor, but giving a house some TLC can work out for you and a home inspector can help.
Protect Your Home During Mold Season
July 03, 2018
Throughout Illinois, the weather has grown increasingly warm. This past weekend, news stations broadcast buzz phrases, such as “heat wave” and “heat dome”. But in such a warm environment, heat isn’t the only issue to find concerning.
As a matter of fact, this is the perfect temperature for toxic mold to thrive. Although mold has positive benefits (i.e. penicillin), most of us aren’t creating home-made pharmaceuticals.
While you can’t make your home “mold-proof”, you can take steps to make it “mold-resistant”.
Home Inspectors vs. Home Appraisers
June 26, 2018
Most first-time home buyers aren’t fully aware of all the steps involved in the home buying process. Some think that it’s just a matter of getting a loan and choosing the house you want. Others understand that there are numerous peripheral roles needed to ensure a well-placed purchase.
Today, we’d like to clear up the distinction between two of those peripheral roles: the home inspector and the home appraiser. While some believe they’re one in the same, their jobs don’t necessarily overlap.
Pre-Purchase Inspections: Avoid the Money Pit
June 18, 2018
When purchasing a property, most don’t want to deal with tons of repairs. So here’s our advice: Invest in a pre-purchase home inspection. Avoid the money pit.
Are Home Inspections Deal Killers?
June 11, 2018
Whereas a pre-listing inspection (covered here last week) is typically done in the sellers’ best interests, a pre-purchase inspection is similarly done to protect the prospective home buyer(s).
In fact, many home buyers enter into a contract that is contingent upon the approval of the home inspection’s results. In the event that something isn’t as it seems, buyers usually reserve the right to request repairs, ask for a price reduction, or even pull out of the deal as a whole.
With this third option, many real estate professional have regarded home inspections as the eponymous “deal killers”. But here’s why they aren’t.
Save Money with a Pre-Listing Inspection
June 06, 2018
When a family agrees to sell their property, one of the first questions that they have is most likely, “How much is my house worth?” They may run to Zillow, Trulia, or another platform to gather a baseline idea for their home’s value. Although a home inspector typically isn’t the one to actually appraise the property in question, they can reveal a great deal of new information on the home’s condition. This can ultimately boost the market value once repairs and proper upkeep are taken into consideration.
Your Home Warranty is About to Expire. Time for an Inspection!
May 30, 2018
Most people are familiar with the concept of a warranty, but some aren’t familiar with them when pertaining to owning homes. In fact, even a purchase as large as a home can come with a warranty. For those who go through with a warranty plan, you’re usually given a certain time frame to follow through on a home inspection.
Even New Homes Need Inspections
May 22, 2018
When a new home is built, many assume that everything is perfect. After all, you controlled the entire home construction process from the ground up. But when reality sets in, homeowners with a newly constructed property are often surprised by the amount of issues that could have gone unnoticed.
Dangers of Radon Gas
May 15, 2018
You can’t smell it, taste it, or see it. But it’s radioactive, cancerous, and could very easily be harming you and your loved ones.
As the second most leading cause of lung cancer in the United States, radon has penetrated numerous homes across the nation. In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that it’s the cause of nearly 20,000 deaths each year.
The Value Behind a Home Inspection
May 07, 2018
Buying a home is the single most important purchasing decision in the lives of most people. While other large-scale purchases come along, they don’t tend to be as time-intensive or require as much of a financial input as home buying. Despite the large cost, numerous peripheral costs are also incorporated into it, including title insurance, legal fees, realtor commission, and the topic of discussion, home inspections.