When you find your house and get in contract, it is an extremely exciting time and also a very busy time. The option period (usually the first 5-10 days of the escrow period) is when you bring out inspectors to help you learn exactly what you’re buying. It is not something buyers do frequently, so […]
Do Buyers Need to Attend a Home Inspection if They’re Getting a Written Report?
With long hours at work, family commitments and everything else that demands your time, it is understandable that you might want to eliminate as many additional time commitments as possible. The home buying process in itself is a considerable time soak. After you’ve devoted time to finding the right house and getting your offer accepted, […]
What to Expect During a Home Inspection
When buying a home in Austin, a home inspection is one of the most important parts of the process. Not only can a home inspection reveal defects that cannot be seen with an untrained eye, but it will also teach you a lot about home ownership. Plan to attend your home inspection, even if that […]
3 Things No Home Buyer Thinks to Check Out, But Should
Three issues will powerfully impact how satisfied you are living in a home and how much you can sell it for when you are ready to move. Not many Austin home buyers spend too much time researching these issues. Ignore these important issues and you might find yourself in a home you no longer enjoy […]
The Two Scariest Words in Home Buying: Inspection and Appraisal
Buying a home is scary, especially if you don’t know what to expect. For most, the scariest events are the home inspection and appraisal. Inspections and appraisal evoke feelings of doubt, anxiety, and uncertainty in both home buyers and sellers. Fear of the unknown is a fairly common human condition, especially when it involves large […]
Should I Buy a Home with a Foundation Problem?
Foundation problems are not uncommon in Central Texas. Our clay soil expands or contracts as the moisture content in the soil changes throughout the year. The expansion and contraction of the soil can place disproportionate stresses on the foundation causing it settle. Settlement in one area may not be the same in other areas, thus […]
Should I Inspect a New Home?
Should I inspect a new home in Austin? Buying new construction from a builder does not necessarily mean a problem-free home. Don’t assume that a brand-new home was built right or well. A home is an expensive purchase and the cost to repair the other guy’s mistakes can be expensive as well. Why Inspect? Far […]
We’ve Never Had a Septic System Before
Last month I attended a septic inspection with my clients – first time buyers, new to Austin. While they had rented houses for years as they moved around attending to their careers, they never had the responsibility of maintaining a home. As I listened to the Inspector explain what he was doing and why, I […]
The Dirt on Dirt in Austin – How to Protect Your Home
Austin is different. One major difference between where you are moving from and here is our local soil composition. Right now some of you might be thinking “who cares about dirt?” Well, if you are considering buying a home in Austin, you should know how soil conditions may affect your future home. Here’s the quick […]
Why Every Seller Should Get a Pre-Sale Inspection
Sellers often ask “What can I do to prepare my home to sell?” They’re looking for things like change the knobs on the cabinets, paint the walls eggshell white or install ceiling fans. Though some of those things will help improve the appearance and desirability of your home, they won’t give you the protection a […]