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Home inspection plays a very important role in the real estate process. When you are buying or selling a home, you rely on a home inspector to provide an accurate and reliable inspection of a property. A home inspector will tell you about the condition of the home and help you avoid buying a home that needs major repairs. It is the perfect way to get an in-depth and impartial opinion of your next home before you buy it.
What to Expect
Typically, you will hire a home inspector either immediately before an offer is made on a home or as a contingency to a sale. Additionally, home inspections are ideal if you want to evaluate your home's condition or diagnose potential problems before they become serious issues.
Home inspectors perform the following duties:
-Evaluate the physical condition of a property, including the structure, construction and mechanical systems.
-Identify the items that should be repaired or replaced.
-Estimate the remaining useful life of the major systems (such as electrical, plumbing, heating, air conditioning), equipment, structure, and finishes.
Although inspections are primarily visual, inspectors may use tape measures, survey instruments, metering devices, and other equipment, such as concrete strength measurers, to aid in their inspection. They keep a log of their work, take photographs, and file a formal report.
The inspection usually takes two or three hours (depending on the age and size of the home). You should be present so you can ask questions and learn about areas that need additional work. All of the findings will be presented in a formal report that details the condition of the home.
A Close Look
The main purpose of the home inspector is to provide an objective viewpoint on the condition of a specific home at the time of inspection. The inspector does not evaluate the cost or value of the property, but provides a close examination of the following:
Structural Components: Foundations, floors and walls.
Exterior Components: Siding paint, windows, decks, garage doors, etc.
Roofing: Coverings, flashings, chimneys, etc.
Plumbing: Piping, fixtures, faucets, water heating and fuel storage systems, etc.
Electrical: Wiring, main service panels, conductors, switches, receptacles, etc.
Heating: Equipment, safety controls, distribution systems, chimneys, etc.
Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps: Cooling and air-handling equipment, controls and ducting, etc.
Interior: Partitions, ceilings, floors, railings, doors and windows, etc.
Insulation and Ventilation: Attics, walls, floors, foundations, kitchen and bathrooms, etc.
They will additionally perform the following services (sometimes for an extra fee): mold sampling, radon testing, asbestos evaluation, pests/wood destroying organisms, carbon monoxide testing, lead testing, and more. These services are not always available.
Make sure to protect your investment. Get a home inspection before you buy your next home!
Labels: California real estate, home inspection, Home Inspector
You've decided that you want to get your real estate license. You've heard of a broker license too. What is the difference between these two real estate professions? Unless you've been involved in a real estate transaction or are familiar with the careers, you might not know the exact differences.
If you want to pursue your real estate license, you should thoroughly understand the similarities and differences.
All states require that real estate sales professionals, including salespersons and brokers, be licensed by that state. Brokers will generally be required to complete more real estate education and experience than a salesperson.
A real estate agent is usually an independent contractor who provides his or her services to a licensed real estate broker on a contract basis. In return, the real estate broker pays the salesperson a portion of the commission earned from the agent's sale of the property.
Real Estate Salesperson - An individual who can show property for sale on behalf of a seller, but who may not have a license to transact the sale and collect the sales commission.
* Assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest price.
* Assist buyers in purchasing suitable property for the best possible price.
* Acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller.
Real Estate Broker - A person licensed by his or her particular state to charge a fee for bringing a buyer and a seller together to purchase real estate.
* Assist sellers in marketing their property and selling it for the highest price.
* Assist buyers in purchasing suitable property for the best possible price.
* Acts as an intermediary between the buyer and seller.
* Buys and sells real estate for a company or individual on a commission basis.
Real estate salespersons and brokers perform many of the same duties including: obtaining listings, determining sales price; showing properties; assisting with financing; selling property; overseeing inspections, and more.
The state examination, which is more comprehensive for a real estate broker than an agent, includes questions on real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. Most states require that a real estate salesperson complete between 30 and 90 hours of instruction. A real estate broker needs between 60 and 90 hours of real estate education and a specific amount of experience selling real estate (usually 1 to 3 years).
Labels: broker license, California real estate license, real estate license