New Home Construction - The American Dream or The American Nightmare?
By Donald Lawson

Buying a new home is suppose to be the American Dream. Unfortunately, for many buyers of newly constructed homes it becomes the American Nightmare. Hiring a qualified third party home inspector can increase you chance of a hassle free home.

One only has to visit sites like Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings (HADD)- http://www.hadd.com or Homeowners for Better Buildings (HOBB) - http://www.hobb.org to see how widespread shoddy construction is in the industry.

No area of the country is free from shoddy construction.

In my job as a Professional Home Inspector I talk to hundreds of people each year about new home construction. It still amazes me that many believe the city inspector will find every item wrong with a home. Nothing could be further from the truth!

A city inspector inspects for code violations. The building codes are the MINIMUM standards that a home should be built to. City code inspectors only inspect for safety and health issues as they relate to building. City inspectors do not inspect for the quality of workmanship! City building inspectors also have no liability. If your home falls down and hurts you the day after you move in, you can not go back and sue the building inspector because he missed code violations.

In Houston, the area I inspect in, the city building inspectors spend about 10 to 30 minutes in a home inspecting it. At the end of their "Inspection", they will then place a green or orange 3x5 sticker at the front of the home. The Green sticker says you passed, the orange or red sticker says the home failed.

There is no way that a city building inspector can note all the discrepancies on a home on a 3x5 sticker!

The new trend is for builders to advertise that their homes have been inspected by a "Third Party Inspection Company." This is like listening to a used car salesman say he had his mechanic check your used car out before you bought it.

If the company the builder hires becomes a nuisance by continuing to find problems, then a new company will be found who can inspect the homes the way the builder likes.

Wise and prudent home buyers will research their builder before deciding on one to go with.

They will also start doing their research on finding their own third party home inspector to inspect the home as it is being built.

What are some things you should look for in a home inspector?

To start with, not all home inspectors are created equal. Look for a home inspector that is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) - http://www.ashi.org. ASHI is the nations oldest and largest home inspection organization. They have strict membership requirements in place and not any ole inspector will be accepted.

Next, make sure the inspector you choose is Code Certified. Many areas of the country have now adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) as the model building code. Check with your local municipality to determine which model code they enforce and adjust your search likewise. You can find a Code Certified IRC Inspector by going to http://www.iccsafe.org.

Ask the inspectors on your narrowed down list for sample inspection reports. You're looking for a home inspector who writes narrative type reports and who will include code numbers or the code itself when he finds them. I'd avoid inspectors who say they use an onsite "checklist" type of report.

Call or meet the inspector. You're looking for someone who is knowledgeable and who can communicate well. If you talk to an inspector and have trouble understanding what he's saying, it's likely his report will be hard to understand as well.

Ask for references. Have the inspector send you several references and follow through checking them out.

Ask questions. Ask your inspector if he/she will come back out and re-inspect after the builder says all the repairs have been made. Some will, some won't. Expect to have to pay for a re-inspection. Ask the inspector if he will communicate with the builder after the inspection if the builder has questions. Good inspectors will take the time to go over the report via phone or in person with the builder to ensure that all needed repairs are made.

As a home buying consumer, it's your responsibility to ensure your home is built correctly. Not the builder, not the State, County or City. Hiring a qualified and reputable home inspector will go a long ways in helping you obtain a problem free home.

Full reprint and distribution rights are granted as long as the entire article, including the sig/resource box below, is kept intact.

Donald Lawson is a Professional Real Estate Inspector who is licensed in Oklahoma (454) and Texas (5824). Donald is also Building and Plumbing Code Certified by the International Code Council. He currently owns and operates V.I.P. Home Inspections, a multi inspector firm in Houston Texas. You can find more articles on New Home Construction as well as a free New Home Buyers Guide at his website http://www.best2inspect.com

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Home Buying Guide: Five Things to Remember When Making an Offer
By Brandon Cornett

The offer is a critical part of the home buying process. It's when you, as the buyer, say to the seller: "Here's what I'm willing to pay for this house."

This home buying guide will explain the five factors of a smart offer.

1. Base the offer on hard evidence

Before making an offer, you should have a good idea of the home's estimated value. This knowledge will come from understanding your market conditions and knowing what comparable homes are selling for in your area. Making a realistic offer will increase your chances of acceptance, while preventing you from overpaying.

If you agree to a price higher than the home's value, and the subsequent home appraisal comes in lower than that price, you'll have trouble getting financing. That's time wasted!

2. Make the offer contingent

It's a safe practice to make your offer contingent on two things -- loan approval and inspection. Even if you've been pre-approved by a lender, there's a chance you could get turned down for the actual loan (especially if the price you agree to pay is higher than the pre-approval amount).

The home inspection is also critical, because you won't know the true "health" of the house based on a casual walk-through. Only a qualified home inspector can dig up the facts. Your offer should be contingent on both of these things.

3. Set a time limit

The last thing you want to do is sit around wondering when you'll hear back from the sellers (if at all). For this reason, it's common practice to put a time limit on a home buying offer. It shows the seller you're serious and prevents the process from dragging on. Some buyers limit their offer to 24 hours, some for 48 hours, and others even longer. It will depend on your comfort level and unique circumstances.

4. Hope for acceptance, but plan for everything

Of course you want the seller to accept your offer. But there's always a chance they won't, so you need to have a plan in place so you can react quickly. Discuss this with your agent before making the offer. Have a plan for three different scenarios -- an acceptance, a rejection, and a counteroffer.

5. Know your limits

If you've been pre-approved for a certain loan amount by a mortgage lender, then you have a pretty good idea of your limitations. Be careful making offers that exceed your pre-approval amount (unless you can make up the difference in cash).

Keep this home buying guide in mind when making offers. Practice the five factors of a smart offer. Good luck and happy home buying!

* Copyright 2006, Brandon Cornett. You may republish this article if you keep the byline and author's note, and also leave the hyperlinks active.

Learn more!

This home buying guide was brought to you by HomeBuyingInstitute.com, the Internet's largest library of home buying advice. Increase your home buying IQ at http://www.homebuyinginstitute.com!

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Knowledge Is Important When Buying A Home
By Martin Lukac

When you are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a home, you need to make sure that what you are getting is well worth it.

No home is absolutely perfect. You can always expect to have to spend something on your new home. The average is $6,000 within the first six months, according to industry experts. In a time when you should be looking at paint samples and new furniture, why would you want to spend your time on repairing what you just bought?

A professional home inspection is key to truly understanding the home you are purchasing. You want to turn to a reliable inspector that is a member of an association that establishes strict requirements for membership, such as the American Society of Home Inspectors and the National Association of Home Inspectors.

The inspector should provide you with a list of what the inspection will result in. For example, some inspectors will not inspect for termites or termite damage, indoor air quality or the potential of mold to cause illness. The inspector should remind you that the inspection report is not a guarantee. The inspector is not liable for any repairs as a result of his or her performance.

But even though you hire an inspector, you are still responsible for doing a little investigating yourself. For example, even if your lender doesn't require it, hire a termite inspector. But have the inspector look for all pests. Termites aren't the only pests that cause damage. So do carpenter bees, rats, squirrels and scorpions.

You may have received a disclosure form with the signed contract for purchase. Many states require that the seller fill out this disclosure. But don't let yourself rely only on this report. Many issues are forgotten about or not considered major by the owner. Yes, the basement got wet twice in the last ten years, but they could forget about it or not consider it a problem.

Disclosure issues usually arise because buyers expect the disclosure to hold more power than it really does. Make sure that your inspector has a copy of the disclosure and will look at any issues brought up by the seller.

When it comes to buying a home, you need to know everything you can about the home, neighborhood, market conditions and mortgage options. Your knowledge will give you an added negotiating tool when dealing with agents, lenders and sellers. Make sure that you have a full understanding of each step.

Martin Lukac, represents http://www.RateEmpire.com, a finance web-company specializing in real estate/mortgage market. We specialize in daily updates, rate predictions, mortgage rates and more. Find low home loan mortgage interest rates from hundreds of mortgage companies! Visit http://www.RateEmpire.com today.

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10 Tips To Maximizing Sale Of Your Home
By Paul W Wilson

If you are even thinking of selling your house the priority would be to get a higher price. To achieve this you must not think like a seller but like a buyer. This will enable you to optimize conditions such that the value of the house increases substantially. The corner stone is that visibility adds value. However it must be done subtly so that it does raise the appraised value or property tax bill.

Here are a few tips:

1. Pay attention to the exterior first. This is what potential buyers notice. Give priority to home improvements that are visible to the naked eye. Fixing the façade will get you a better price than ensuring the foundation is solid.

2. Tidy up the yard and garden. If there are signs of neglect most buyers will not even step in. what one needs to do is create a presentation. Make sure there are no tires or wood lying around and any loose shutters or storm drains and gutters are properly fixed.

3. It helps to landscape. This does not mean you need to spend on redesign. Prune hedges, trees, and shrubs. Weed flower beds and paint old pots.

4. Ensure that the roof is clean and sparkling. Have it power cleaned. Statistics reveal that 30% curb appeal is a sparkling roof.

5. Have the interior repainted and the carpets and vinyl flooring replaced. Most buyers want to move in right away. Few would consider investing in a house where they need to get work done.

6. Reduce clutter and spruce up the interiors. Sparkling windows, clean curtains, attractive upholstery, bright cushions, flowers on tables and a few paintings or photographs placed strategically make a room a home. It gives the place warmth and invites a person to take a look.

7. Pay attention to odors. What may seem fragrant to you may be repulsive to others. Invite a friend in to inspect on your behalf. Many find pet odors, smell of urine, sprays, insecticide, herbs, deodorants, incense, spices, and so on repulsive. Often if curries are cooked or egg or bacon fried the smell tends to hang around the house.

8. Spruce up the kitchen and bathrooms with friendly plants, colorful towels and inexpensive fixtures or brick-a-back.

9. Have the house cleaned from top to bottom. There should be no evidence of mold, mildew, or leaks.

10. Arrange the furniture and lamps to give a warm glow. If you have too much furniture or personal belongings of sentimental value have them stored. The closer the interiors come to being out of the glossies the faster the home will sell and that to for a good price.

Never overspend or make changes that are not in keeping with the neighborhood. If handled cleverly 80-90% of the costs of repair and sprucing up can be recovered. If emotions and sentiments cloud your judgment seek professional help, ask an interior designer or consultant to give you a few guidelines. The internet today is an invaluable source of information. Do some research which will clear your mind and give you direction. When in two minds seek the advice of the local real estate agent who has property values at the tips of his fingers and a licensed appraiser who would know what is best.

Paul Wilson is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Discuss.com/home-improvement/ , the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Home Improvement including topics on exterior home improvement, gardening, decorating, buying and selling, electrical home improvement and more. He also freelances for the premier Home Improvement Article Submission Directory Site http://www.1888Articles.com/home-improvement-articles-159_15.html

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Welcome to Home Inspection!!!!!!!!

I'd like to start by welcoming you to Home Inspection/Inspection Guide. In the process of buying and selling homes you would be surprised how often home inspections are overlooked. This could prove to be a costly mistake for both buyers and sellers.
I hope this blog will be helpful to you, and that you leave any comments you might have.