1. How long have you been in the home inspecting business? How many home inspections have you done? It is important to have a home inspector with a lot of experience so that you can be sure that all parts of your future home are thoroughly inspected.
2. What does your home inspector cover? You should make sure that all state requirements are met for your home inspection.
3. Do you offer repairs based on the home inspection? Sometimes the home inspectors are able to repair some of the problems they may find.
4. Do you have experience in residential inspections? It is important that your home inspector has experience in residential inspections. Construction and engineering experience is helpful, but residential experience is a must.
5. How long will the inspection take? The average time is 2-3 hours.
6. Will I be able to attend the inspection? If the inspector refuses to allow this, you may want to reconsider your choice. This could be a red flag. It is a good idea to see your future home with the help of an expert on your side.
7. What kind of inspection report do you provide? How long will it take to receive this report? Most inspectors provide their report within 24 hours of the inspection.
8. How much will it cost? A typical range is between $300-$500.
9. Are you a member of a professional home inspector association? Request to see their ID. Make sure your home inspector is qualified.
10. Do you work to continue your education in order to keep your expertise up to date? The inspector’s commitment to furthering his/her education is a good measure of their professionalism.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Ten Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Are you facing foreclosure?
Are you facing foreclosure?
You May Have A Better Way Out!
There are countless hardships that can turn home ownership from a joy into a burden. The loss of a job, medical bills, or an unexpected hike in monthly payments can all make a mortgage unaffordable. But ignoring the bills will not make them go away, it will only make things worse.
If you need help, there are approaches that can help, but you may not be familiar with them. One of these is a “short sale.”
In an approved short sale, the lender agrees to accept less than is owed for the property, and the homeowner is relieved of the debt. A lender may be willing to do this because it spares a lot of hassle and expense involved in executing a foreclosure. And typically, a short sale does far less damage to the homeowner’s credit than a foreclosure does.
Visit www.AvoidForeclosureToledo.com for more information about “short sale.”
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
What is flipping a house?
The key to making money in real estate is learning how to flip a house. Any experienced or inexperienced person can flip a house. You don’t even need help from anyone else! Here are the key steps towards flipping a house.
Begin by buying a HUD repo which allows you to buy a house with no money down. Now, you can begin working on flipping this house. Make all of the updates and upgrades. Then put the house on the market, preferably with a Realtor. Once this house is sold, you can go straight into buying another fixer-upper. This time you can buy the house with all cash. Work on flipping this house, put it on the market, and once it sells you will have even more money collected and can buy another house to flip.
One of the key things that makes this formula work is buying the right house. The key is to buy a house that needs only cosmetic repairs, not structural changes. Cosmetic repairs include painting, updating lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures, and installing new carpeting and flooring.
If you use this formula to your advantage, you can make as much profit as $100,000 a month! The key is getting started. Don’t believe others when they say that in order to successfully flip houses, you need a lot of starting money. You can a buy a house with no money down and the sellers can often help you with closing costs.
If you have any questions about flipping a house or would like to start flipping houses, feel free to contact me. I can help you find the best houses to flip and can also help you sell them with maximum exposure once they are flipped. You can email me at luhring@bex.net or call me at 419-460-5587.
Begin by buying a HUD repo which allows you to buy a house with no money down. Now, you can begin working on flipping this house. Make all of the updates and upgrades. Then put the house on the market, preferably with a Realtor. Once this house is sold, you can go straight into buying another fixer-upper. This time you can buy the house with all cash. Work on flipping this house, put it on the market, and once it sells you will have even more money collected and can buy another house to flip.
One of the key things that makes this formula work is buying the right house. The key is to buy a house that needs only cosmetic repairs, not structural changes. Cosmetic repairs include painting, updating lighting fixtures and plumbing fixtures, and installing new carpeting and flooring.
If you use this formula to your advantage, you can make as much profit as $100,000 a month! The key is getting started. Don’t believe others when they say that in order to successfully flip houses, you need a lot of starting money. You can a buy a house with no money down and the sellers can often help you with closing costs.
If you have any questions about flipping a house or would like to start flipping houses, feel free to contact me. I can help you find the best houses to flip and can also help you sell them with maximum exposure once they are flipped. You can email me at luhring@bex.net or call me at 419-460-5587.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Helpful Home Staging Tips
Here are some helpful tips for staging your home for maximum profit. Although small things like adding a vase of flowers or painting a room will not always deter a potential buyer, many buyers have an easier time imagining themselves in the home when there are things that make the home look “homey.” As an Accredited Staging Professional (ASP), I have been professionally trained in home staging and I am available to help you stage your home for maximum profit. If you should choose to list your house and would like me to do it, I would be happy to help you and give advice to you about staging your home. For now, here are some helpful tips:
1. Try to clean up all clutter in your home. Buyers who are looking at a cluttered home maybe distracted by the clutter and not even give the home a chance. If the home is clean and tidy, the buyer can look at the important things in the home, like if they like the layout.
2. Curb appeal is very important. Make sure the “drive-by” view of your home is appealing. Try planting some simple flowers and making sure your lawn is freshly mowed before a showing.
3. Take a walk-thru of your home and notice what items your eyes catch. If your eyes are drawn to an unsightly spot on the wall where your 2-year old got a hold of a crayon, maybe you should consider painting the room.
4. Clean, clean, clean. Always make sure your home is clean for a buyer. Like I said before, buyers can better imagine themselves in a clean and tidy house.
5. Find someone to make the minor repairs in your home, a fix-it person. Make sure no taps are dripping and all cupboards shut and open properly. If they don’t, find someone you trust to help you fix these. Or do it yourself!
6. Stuffiness is bad. Let some air into your home before a showing (especially if you are not using air-conditioning). No one likes to walk through a stuffy house.
7. Try staging your home with fresh flowers. They let in a light, pleasant scent and are visually pleasing. They make the home seem fresh and up-kept.
8. Let some light in. Natural lighting always looks better than artificial lighting. Try opening your blinds or pulling them up. Let the outdoors in!
9. Try playing some soft, pleasant music in the background for showings. It’s normally better to have a CD in rather than a radio station because some people don’t like to listen to the commercials. And make sure it is not turned up too loud, so that the buyers and the buyers’ real estate agent can talk about your home without shouting.
1. Try to clean up all clutter in your home. Buyers who are looking at a cluttered home maybe distracted by the clutter and not even give the home a chance. If the home is clean and tidy, the buyer can look at the important things in the home, like if they like the layout.
2. Curb appeal is very important. Make sure the “drive-by” view of your home is appealing. Try planting some simple flowers and making sure your lawn is freshly mowed before a showing.
3. Take a walk-thru of your home and notice what items your eyes catch. If your eyes are drawn to an unsightly spot on the wall where your 2-year old got a hold of a crayon, maybe you should consider painting the room.
4. Clean, clean, clean. Always make sure your home is clean for a buyer. Like I said before, buyers can better imagine themselves in a clean and tidy house.
5. Find someone to make the minor repairs in your home, a fix-it person. Make sure no taps are dripping and all cupboards shut and open properly. If they don’t, find someone you trust to help you fix these. Or do it yourself!
6. Stuffiness is bad. Let some air into your home before a showing (especially if you are not using air-conditioning). No one likes to walk through a stuffy house.
7. Try staging your home with fresh flowers. They let in a light, pleasant scent and are visually pleasing. They make the home seem fresh and up-kept.
8. Let some light in. Natural lighting always looks better than artificial lighting. Try opening your blinds or pulling them up. Let the outdoors in!
9. Try playing some soft, pleasant music in the background for showings. It’s normally better to have a CD in rather than a radio station because some people don’t like to listen to the commercials. And make sure it is not turned up too loud, so that the buyers and the buyers’ real estate agent can talk about your home without shouting.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
What to do when Buying a House
Buying and owning a home is a dream for many people. But there are so many things you have to put in order for the transaction to go smoothly. You want the purchase of your dream home to be as perfect as possible. Here are some tips for a smooth transaction:
1. Make sure your credit is strong. It is a good idea to resolve any credit disputes and pay off all credit cards prior to buying a house. Also, check your credit score. You can easily do this online for free. This will give you an idea as to what your credit score is like and will let you know if you need to do something to improve it.
2. Use a mortgage calculator to determine how much you can afford in the purchase of your home. Then make sure you get pre-approved by lender you trust. Many home sellers will not accept offers from buyers who are not pre-approved.
3. Meet with a loan officer before contacting your real estate agent. This way, you can have a better idea of how much you can afford in a home before you see houses and become attached to one.
4. Sign up for a MLS (Multiple Listing Service) alert service so that you can see all of the homes for sale in your price range and criteria. This way you can pick out the ones that are the most attractive to you and schedule a showing.
5. Make the decision from the beginning that you will not “fall in love” with a house until you have closed. This way you can be sure to get the best price for the home and not have your emotions mixed in with your decision making process.
6. Research the areas and find the one that best suits your needs. It is a good idea to really put some time and effort into choosing the right area based on school districts, entertainment, grocery stores, and other shopping. You want to find the perfect area before you begin shopping for your dream home.
7. Make sure you are detailed in describing what you want in a home. You want to make sure that you find the home that has as many of the amenities you seek as possible.
8. Take your time. It is important to not rush into something, unless you don’t have a choice. If you have the time, shop around.
9. Look at many things when considering a home, from the area to the potential problems. It is important to consider the resale value of your home in order to make a confident decision.
10. Always schedule a home inspection. This way you can have a professional expert look at the house before you buy it. You can always back out based on an inspection, as long as it is within the inspection deadline. It is a good idea to have many types of inspections, such as the general inspection, pests, dry rot, radon, flood plains, and hazardous material. Also make sure you check into crime rates and local sex offenders lists.
1. Make sure your credit is strong. It is a good idea to resolve any credit disputes and pay off all credit cards prior to buying a house. Also, check your credit score. You can easily do this online for free. This will give you an idea as to what your credit score is like and will let you know if you need to do something to improve it.
2. Use a mortgage calculator to determine how much you can afford in the purchase of your home. Then make sure you get pre-approved by lender you trust. Many home sellers will not accept offers from buyers who are not pre-approved.
3. Meet with a loan officer before contacting your real estate agent. This way, you can have a better idea of how much you can afford in a home before you see houses and become attached to one.
4. Sign up for a MLS (Multiple Listing Service) alert service so that you can see all of the homes for sale in your price range and criteria. This way you can pick out the ones that are the most attractive to you and schedule a showing.
5. Make the decision from the beginning that you will not “fall in love” with a house until you have closed. This way you can be sure to get the best price for the home and not have your emotions mixed in with your decision making process.
6. Research the areas and find the one that best suits your needs. It is a good idea to really put some time and effort into choosing the right area based on school districts, entertainment, grocery stores, and other shopping. You want to find the perfect area before you begin shopping for your dream home.
7. Make sure you are detailed in describing what you want in a home. You want to make sure that you find the home that has as many of the amenities you seek as possible.
8. Take your time. It is important to not rush into something, unless you don’t have a choice. If you have the time, shop around.
9. Look at many things when considering a home, from the area to the potential problems. It is important to consider the resale value of your home in order to make a confident decision.
10. Always schedule a home inspection. This way you can have a professional expert look at the house before you buy it. You can always back out based on an inspection, as long as it is within the inspection deadline. It is a good idea to have many types of inspections, such as the general inspection, pests, dry rot, radon, flood plains, and hazardous material. Also make sure you check into crime rates and local sex offenders lists.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Summer Safety Tips
FINALLY summer is here! Now is the time to spend your spare hours outside in the sun or in the water. With kids begging to play outside and out of your sight, it is important to teach them how to take care of themselves and protect themselves against the sun and other outdoor dangers. Here are some helpful tips for staying safe outdoors this summer.
When it comes to the heat, most people will seek relief in a pool or lake this summer. With this in mind, it is important that you and your children know how to swim. Take some swimming lessons at the local pool or YMCA. Also, teach your children to always swim with a friend, or to always have someone watching them. Never swim alone!
Swim in supervised areas only and make sure to obey all swimming rules. These rules are probably there for a reason.
Don’t mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your judgment, coordination, and balance, and also reduces your body’s ability to stay warm.
Never swim during a storm. If you plan on going swimming later on, check the local forecast to see if any bad weather is coming.
When boating, beware of weather changes. Choppy water and wind shifts are a good indication of bad weather. Always bring a radio to check the weather throughout your trip.
Make sure you are prepared with all of the appropriate supplies, such as sun tan lotion, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and extra sunglasses.
Always tell someone where you are going and who you are going with.
Make sure you check your boat, supplies, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before you leave.
When it comes to the sun, make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Take frequent breaks from working in the sun. It is important to give your body a break from the sun and heat.
For more summer safety tips, visit the American Red Cross website. Click Here!
When it comes to the heat, most people will seek relief in a pool or lake this summer. With this in mind, it is important that you and your children know how to swim. Take some swimming lessons at the local pool or YMCA. Also, teach your children to always swim with a friend, or to always have someone watching them. Never swim alone!
Swim in supervised areas only and make sure to obey all swimming rules. These rules are probably there for a reason.
Don’t mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your judgment, coordination, and balance, and also reduces your body’s ability to stay warm.
Never swim during a storm. If you plan on going swimming later on, check the local forecast to see if any bad weather is coming.
When boating, beware of weather changes. Choppy water and wind shifts are a good indication of bad weather. Always bring a radio to check the weather throughout your trip.
Make sure you are prepared with all of the appropriate supplies, such as sun tan lotion, a flashlight, a first aid kit, and extra sunglasses.
Always tell someone where you are going and who you are going with.
Make sure you check your boat, supplies, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before you leave.
When it comes to the sun, make sure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
Take frequent breaks from working in the sun. It is important to give your body a break from the sun and heat.
For more summer safety tips, visit the American Red Cross website. Click Here!
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Victoria Luhring is an ASP (Accredited Staging Professional)
Victoria Luhring has been certified as an official ASP, or Accredited Staging Professional. She has taken the two day class that taught her many techniques important in staging a home for a quick sale. ASP real estate agents are true professionals who have been trained under strict guidelines that have been developed for over 30 years.
Here are some simple home projects that could greatly increase your chances for a quick sale of your house:
93% of ASP staged homes sell in one month or less, compared to the average market time of 160 days for non-ASP staged homes. This is why it is important to have a professional like Victoria on your side.
Click Here to go to the official ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) Website
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