In your imagination it seems like a great idea – you purchase an older run-down property and you have the chance to fix it up and turn it into the home of your dreams.
To Renovate, Or Not To Renovate
However, the renovation project that is simply a quick montage in your imagination will actually take several months or years and thousands of dollars in real life.
The concept of renovating a “fixer-upper” property is exciting, but the reality is a lot of work and investment. How can you make sure that you are making the right choice for you?
One of the main advantages of buying a fixer-upper property is that you will usually be able to get the property for a much cheaper price. But is it worth it for the amount of time and money you will need to invest in the property?
Here Are Some Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself When Making Your Decision:
Do you (or your friends and family members) have the skills to be able to perform most of the renovations yourself? If you do the labour yourself, you will be able to save thousands of dollars that you would have spent hiring contractors, which will make the renovation a much more profitable project.
Are you comfortable with the idea of living in a construction zone, perhaps for several months or more? There will be dust and noise everywhere and you might have to cope without a kitchen or a shower for a while.
Make sure that you have a thorough inspection of the home performed so that you can see whether the home has a sturdy foundation, good wiring and plumbing, etc. If your inspection reveals any structural issues or water damage, you might be in for more than you bargained for. You need to start with a house that has “good bones”.
If the home has serious structural, plumbing or wiring problems you should stay away – these repairs are very expensive but “invisible”, so you are unlikely to recoup your costs when you sell the home.
Add up the estimated costs for renovating the property along with the cost of the home – does it still work out to be a better deal or would you be better off buying a new property.
What is your strategy for financing the renovations? If your only option is putting it on the credit card, you might want to think twice because this is a very high interest option.
Buying a fixer-upper property can be a great investment and can give you the opportunity to transform a run-down old house into the property of your dreams. However, make sure you that you consider the choice carefully before making your decision.
For more information about about buying or selling a fixer-upper or any questions regarding real estate, contact your trusted real estate professional.
Your house is one of the most important investments you will make. Unfortunately, no house is perfect, and when you’re in the process of making the purchase, a repair issue may crop up. How do you determine what should be done, and whose responsibility it is to take care of it?
Red
Flags for House Hunters
Searching for your next abode is a big deal.
You want a place that’s safe, comfortable, and enjoyable, and most homeowners
don’t want to deal with problems immediately after moving in. With a little
scrutiny, you can often rule out homes early in the process.
For example, when you’re at a showing, take a
hard look for evidence of roof issues. Do you see missing or
damaged shingles? Is the paint in good shape, or is it peeling and blistering?
Are there stains on the interior ceilings? A roof repair might or might not be
a deal-breaker, but unless the home is being sold “as-is,” it’s certainly a bargaining chip.
Along those same lines, there are some other red flags worth noting. Standing water can
cause issues, so look for evidence of rotten wood in the kitchen, bathroom, and
laundry floors. If the appliances come with the home, examine them for signs of
neglect, and be alert to drainage concerns around the foundation, such as
ponding water, severe settling, or mold. Also, weed out homes with issues that
are more than you want to face.
Call in
a Professional
Once you find a home you want to purchase, one
of the wisest choices you can make is to invest in a professional home
inspection. This is typically done when you have begun formal contract
negotiations. Fortune Builders points out that you should check the qualifications of inspectors you’re
considering hiring, and ask to see samples of reports they have produced.
Request references, and check with family members and friends to see who they
used, and whether or not they were satisfied with the work.
To Fix,
or Not to Fix?
Once you select an inspector and the report is
complete, you’ll need to sort through the details to figure out what, if
anything, is a sticking point. There are certain repair requests home buyers shouldn’t
bother to make of sellers, such as cosmetic issues, common wear and tear items,
and renovations you intend to complete anyway. (After all, if you’re planning
on doing the work, you want it done to please you. If you leave it to the
seller, they have no obligation to suit your tastes, only basic standards.) The
requests worth considering include things like termite or pest infestations, drainage concerns, major plumbing or electrical problems, lead paint, mold or radon issues, and structural concerns. Basically, stick with
safety issues and problems which are especially expensive to resolve.
Paying
for Repairs
There are a couple of things to bear in mind
regarding your repair requests. Since the seller won’t be staying in the house,
you could have reason to worry about the repairs being completed the way you
would like. Besides, sellers are often in the midst of a lot of expenses, just
like buyers, so they might not have the cash flow to do a nice job. In this
case, you might want to ask for a seller’s concession. Basically, it gives you a
break on the purchase price and allows the seller to get on with the sale, so
everybody wins.
Another idea is to pay for repairs out of
escrow. As Total Mortgage explains, your mortgage company would reassess the
home based on the projected value once repairs are complete, then set the money
aside in an escrow account for you to use toward repairs.
You want your next home to keep you happy,
safe, and comfortable. When you’re purchasing a house, take a hard look during
the showing, and follow up with a professional home inspection. Afterward,
negotiate repairs to ensure you’re satisfied with the results. With a solid
plan in place, you’ll have your investment well-protected.
When buying real estate, you may find some unexpected problems. Generally, these issues revolve around plumbing, wiring or sticking doors and windows. Although they aren’t as expensive to fix as other issues, there’s always a possibility that they indicate bigger problems.
Sticking Doors/Windows
Spotting wear and tear on doors and windows is fairly easy. Check the hinges and locks. Squeaking hinges or locks that stick indicate wear on seals and metal.
Although sticking doors and windows aren’t a big deal in and of themselves, these issues can be indications of moderate to severe foundation problems. If you find these issues in real estate, make your way to the basement and look for cracks or dips in the floors and walls.
Pay attention to how the floors of the house feel when you walk. If you’re at all uneasy, have an inspector look at the house before you buy.
Plumbing Problems
Sometimes, plumbing problems aren’t so easy to find. Sellers have been known to use temporary fixes, which does a good job of hiding the issues. However, there are places to look that make the problems easier to find.
Look up in the corners where the walls connect to the ceiling. Spackled ceilings make issues especially easy to spot, as they pick up water stains or crack and flake.
Another place to check is the bathroom, along the bottom of the wall.
Tile grout has a tendency to crack or flake, become discolored or loosen with continuous proximity to water.
Finally, check the closets.
People who use temporary fixes will generally work hard to cover up the problems in lived-in rooms, while forgetting to fix walls and ceilings in closets.
Faulty Wiring
Spotting faulty or old wiring depends on the size of the issue and where it’s located. For instance, a bad socket can be found by looking for darkened spots around the holes. However, it’s impossible to look through the walls to find faulty or old wiring behind them. An electrician will be able to give you a better idea of the wiring in the real estate.
Remember, nothing takes the place of getting real estate you’re thinking of buying inspected by a professional.
Are you considering purchasing a new home? Let me help you get your dream home at the lowest price. Call your trusted real estate professional.
In your imagination it seems like a great idea – you purchase an older run-down property and you have the chance to fix it up and turn it into the home of your dreams.
To Renovate, Or Not To Renovate
However, the renovation project that is simply a quick montage in your imagination will actually take several months or years and thousands of dollars in real life.
The concept of renovating a “fixer-upper” property is exciting, but the reality is a lot of work and investment. How can you make sure that you are making the right choice for you?
One of the main advantages of buying a fixer-upper property is that you will usually be able to get the property for a much cheaper price. But is it worth it for the amount of time and money you will need to invest in the property?
Here Are Some Questions You Should Be Asking Yourself When Making Your Decision:
Do you (or your friends and family members) have the skills to be able to perform most of the renovations yourself? If you do the labour yourself, you will be able to save thousands of dollars that you would have spent hiring contractors, which will make the renovation a much more profitable project.
Are you comfortable with the idea of living in a construction zone, perhaps for several months or more? There will be dust and noise everywhere and you might have to cope without a kitchen or a shower for a while.
Make sure that you have a thorough inspection of the home performed so that you can see whether the home has a sturdy foundation, good wiring and plumbing, etc. If your inspection reveals any structural issues or water damage, you might be in for more than you bargained for. You need to start with a house that has “good bones”.
If the home has serious structural, plumbing or wiring problems you should stay away – these repairs are very expensive but “invisible”, so you are unlikely to recoup your costs when you sell the home.
Add up the estimated costs for renovating the property along with the cost of the home – does it still work out to be a better deal or would you be better off buying a new property.
What is your strategy for financing the renovations? If your only option is putting it on the credit card, you might want to think twice because this is a very high interest option.
Buying a fixer-upper property can be a great investment and can give you the opportunity to transform a run-down old house into the property of your dreams. However, make sure you that you consider the choice carefully before making your decision.
For more information about about buying or selling a fixer-upper or any questions regarding real estate, contact your trusted real estate professional.
If you enjoy history and fixing things, then it may be hard to drive by historic homes for sale without feeling the urge to buy one and fix it up.
Before you do, you need learn the three R’s of fixing up historic homes and the differences between them.
The three R’s of fixing up historic homes are restoration, renovation and repair. Some of the differences are minor, but they can make all the difference in cost, time and problems.
Restoration
“Restoration” literally means returning something to its original state.
Restoring historic homes for sale involve city and state programs. It’s essential that you check to see if the home is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) or if it’s located in a historic district.
If either of these is the case, there is a specific set of rules that you must follow while renovating.
Cost: Restoration is not a cheap endeavor. For a home to keep its historic value, the materials used need to match the original materials, including furnishings. These can be very expensive due to their antique value.
Renovation
Renovating is less complicated than restoring, at least when talking about what you can and can’t do. However, with a renovation, you’re generally turning the home into a more modern living place, which lowers its historic value. Make sure it isn’t listed in the NRHP or located in a historic district.
Cost: Depending on the amount of renovations, i.e., modernizing, gutting or remodeling, this can also be expensive. However, it’s much easier to find deals on modern appliances than it is on antiques.
Repair
Repairs differ because they generally aren’t as in depth as the others. For restoration repairs, it’s important to use materials that fit the house, such as plaster walls and wooden floors. For renovation, original materials aren’t as important.
Cost: Again, the cost depends on the number of repairs, as well as, whether you’re keeping the historic value.
Whether restoring, renovating or repairing historic homes for sale, the key is cost. Don’t get so caught up in the possible that you miss the probable. Thinking of buying or selling an historic home? I can help! Call your trusted real estate professional today.
Buying your first home is a major milestone in your life, similar to graduating high school or moving out of your parent’s house.
When you buy a property, you are making a long-term investment decision in your future and potentially taking the first step toward your future financial security.
However, buying a house before you are ready can actually be a negative move that puts a cramp in your plans.
It is important to assess where you are in life, so that you know whether or not it’s the right time to buy a house.
Some people buy their first home at 21, others at 30 and some might continue to rent for the rest of their lives – the decision depends on personal circumstances. But how can you determine for yourself whether you are ready?
You Have All Of Your Finances In Order
Is your credit score looking healthy? Have you paid off your credit card debt, student loans or personal loans?
If not, it is important to clean up your finances and pay down your debts before you start looking for a home, or you will be adding a mortgage on top of the debt before you are able to handle everything.
You Have Enough Savings For A Down Payment
Just because you can buy a home for as little as 3.5% down payment, doesn’t mean that you should. You will have your dream home, but your mortgage payments will be so high that you won’t have any money left over for repairs or improvements.
Also, you will end up paying thousands of dollars more in interest over the length of the loan. The bigger down payment you can save, creating equity in your home, the better.
You Are Earning Enough To Comfortably Afford The Mortgage Payment
Financial experts recommend that you never take a monthly payment that is more than 25% percent of your take home pay – including taxes and insurance.
Stretching yourself thinner will leave you little room for error and if your income drops for any reason – you will quickly find yourself in hot water.
You Are Happy To Settle In One Place
Could you see yourself settling in this location for the long term, or are you still considering moving elsewhere in the country or living abroad?
Buying a home is a long-term investment, so if you think that you might possibly move somewhere else in the next five years, you might want to think twice about buying a home and rent instead.
These are just a few of the signs that you are ready to purchase your first property. For more information, contact your trusted real estate professional.
In your imagination it seems like a great idea – you purchase an older run-down property and you have the chance to fix it up and turn it into the home of your dreams.
When buying real estate, you may find some unexpected problems. Generally, these issues revolve around plumbing, wiring or sticking doors and windows. Although they aren’t as expensive to fix as other issues, there’s always a possibility that they indicate bigger problems. 
In your imagination it seems like a great idea – you purchase an older run-down property and you have the chance to fix it up and turn it into the home of your dreams.
Buying your first home is a major milestone in your life, similar to graduating high school or moving out of your parent’s house.