Homes Fort Mill SC

Home inspections should include the use of Thermal Imaging.

Infrared Thermography (IR), or more commonly referred to as Thermal Imaging, is a technology developed for use by the Defense Department; however, it provides a tool that has become very powerful for other industries, especially the Home Inspection industry. In years past, IR cameras were prohibitively expensive; only recently have the costs of the technology become low enough to be feasible for use by home inspectors, etc.

An IR camera basically takes infrared energy given off by an object and converts it into colors visible to the naked eye. This technology is very advanced, but the use of the camera is very basic. The colors shown by the camera can, with a little interpretation, represent temperatures of an object, or in this case components in a home. It is in understanding what these temperature differences can be caused by that becomes invaluable in a home inspection. (more…)

Save yourself money in the long run by getting your future home inspected.

In years past, most people did not have their homes inspected before they bought them; you accepted the home “as-is.” In recent years, it is more common to have the home inspected by a licensed home inspector prior to closing. If you choose to save a few dollars now by not hiring an inspector, you will be at risk when you sell the home later. (more…)

Radon Gas Testing by Homeowners

Radon gas testing relative to a real estate purchase contract requires an unbiased 3^rd party professional to perform the testing; however, everyone should be aware of the radon gas levels in the home/apartment where they live.  Testing a home outside of a real estate transaction can easily be performed by the person living in the home.

There are several sources of radon gas test kits on the market. Most are inexpensive and very easy to use.  A Long Term test is most accurate and only requires placing a test canister in the home for 1 month to up to a year, and then mailing the canister to a laboratory for analysis.

Radon gas is a naturally-occurring byproduct of the radioactive decay of Uranium in the soil. Depending on your geographic location, the radon levels of the air you breathe outside of your home may be as high as 0.75 pCi/L. (more…)

Great news for Fort Mill Home Buyers and Sellers.  Congress has passed legislation to extend the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit. But the bill added incentives to current home owners. Here are the details of the extended home buyer tax credit signed by the President November 6,2009.

The new bill:

* Extends the First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers until April 30, 2010.

* Expands the credit to grant up to $6,500 credit to current home owners purchasing a new or existing home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. (more…)

Should I buy or sell a home now?

If you are thinking about selling or buying a home right now you obviously have to be wondering how today’s economy, interest rates and local real estate market will affect your bottom line. There is not one answer for everyone, and as when any of us invest in the stock market, it is the long term return that should be our focus.

If you are thinking about buying a home now every investor and real estate analyst has stated that this is absolutely the best time. As with most markets, Fort Mill and Tega Cay SC are considered to be a “buyers market”. What does a “buyers market” mean?. It means that buyers are in the driver’s seat. There are a good number of homes on the market which gives you plenty of available inventory to see and choose from. Depending on the location or community some homes are now selling at 2005 pricing. The other side of the equation when looking at purchasing a home is interest rates. Interest rates are changing daily and are still considered to be low when compared to years past. If you are considering a home purchase this is NOT the time to get left behind.

Home sellers how about you? For sellers who have more than three years equity this can be a perfect time to find value in your next purchase. Move up buyers who have a solid amount of equity on their home can still sell for a reasonable profit and purchase in a market that is offering tremendous buying opportunities. Again, this is NOT the time to wait. We are still seeing price reductions and a steady inventory. To sell a home in this market you have to win the beauty contest and you need to be the best value in your price point. Be realistic about your gain today and look forward to the future growth of the investment you are buying at a discount price.

Consider the following points (more…)

What is one of the most important things to do when buying a home? Visualize were your furniture will go in each room. Well… yes that is part of the processes but more importantly hire a professional to do a home inspection.

So even if you manage to find the perfect home a good home inspection can help you understand exactly what’s not so perfect about the home you’re going to buy. That’s a good thing. Because when you’re buying a home you’re also buying all of the home’s problems too.

You’re making a large investment in the property and it’s nice to understand exactly what you’re buying. A structural problem or a heating and air condition system that isn’t functioning properly can be expensive to fix. So conducting a series of thorough inspections is a lot like buying an insurance policy against future expenses or knowing more about what you are buying into. Keep in mind, however, that home inspections are not a warranty or guarantee of the home.

What is a typical home inspection like? A home inspection typically includes an examination of the heating and central air conditioning systems, interior plumbing, electrical systems, the roof, attic, visible insulation, walls, ceilings, floors, windows, foundations, and basements.

A typical home inspection will take about 2 to 4 hours depending on the type of home; an unoccupied one story home on a concrete slab will take about 2 hours, where an occupied two story home on a crawlspace foundation will take about 4 hours to complete.

Although the home inspection report should include detailed descriptions and color digital pictures of any defects in the home, it is best if you are able to attend the inspection for a review and discussion of the findings. You, your agent, the owner/sellers, etc. should attend the entire inspection. Once the inspection is complete, you should walk through the home with the inspector to discuss any concerns or defects that may be present.

Some things that are not included in the general inspection are:

• Appliances that are not installed
• Building Code Compliance
• Environmental issues such as Radon, Mold, Lead, etc. (unless specifically requested) I would recommend including a least a radon test for the Fort Mill/York County area.
• Systems/components/areas that are not readily accessible or readily visible or shut down.
• Cosmetic issues (Acceptability is subjective and should be determined by the client)
• Exterior features such as retaining walls, storage buildings, pools, etc. (Unless their condition may affect the building)
• Low voltage systems/components such as: intercom, security systems, antennas, etc.

You will most likely have to hire a separate professional to do a termite inspection.

If you are selling your home, have an inspection done before you put your home on the market and you may avoid any surprises when potential buyers have a home inspector check it out. You may choose to have any repairs made using a contractor of your choice without having to satisfy a potential buyer or you may choose to disclose the conditions you are not going to repair and protect yourself from liability of nondisclosure claims.

Should you hire a home inspector when buying a new home? Absolutely. Just because the home is new doesn’t mean there aren’t problems. The contractors building a new home are human and make mistakes. There is no better time to catch and fix mistakes or problems than before you close and move in.

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Making a decision to buy or sell a home is full of challenges. So it’s important to be well educated with quality information to make the process successful.

HGTV is airing a special episode this month called The “25 Biggest Real Estate Mistakes”. Carmen and I watched the first showing of the episode and found the show and tips to be accurate and timely. (more…)

Carmen sent me a link the other day for a website called housingmarketfacts.com. So I’ve now become a real estate website critic during my lunch. Should I say two thumbs up?

Anyway, the new website is by the National Association of Realtors® or Realtor.com. The website is a resource promoting the benefits of owning a home. (more…)