Register Real Estate Advisors

When you purchase a home, the home inspection is one of the move important parts of the process. If you don’t get a home inspection, you may pay for a house that has a leaky roof, poor wiring, termites and other pest damage, dangerous asbestos qualities in the air, or a cracked foundation. After you’ve purchased the house, there is little you can do if you’ve waived your right to a home inspection. As a Realtor, I highly recommend all buyers get home inspections. I have many inspectors that I have personally worked with and can give you a list to choose from if you are not familiar with an inspector to call on.

1. Not getting a home inspection is the number one mistake you can make when purcahsing a home.
2. You should always sign a contract with your home inspector that outlines the services he will provide for you and the price.
3. Don’t use a person, use a company for your home inspections.
4. Read the contract carefully that the home inspector provides so you understand what he will be inspecting. There should be a guarantee in the contract against mistakes and omissions the inspector might make.
5. Consider all of your payment options. When did sellers last get a home inspection? Maaybe they have a recent one you can use. Or maybe you can get them to pay for part of it.
6. Make sure your inspector is not affiliated with a contractor. That’s just bad…don’t go there.
7. Make sure you get samples of thier work and recommendations before you lock into a contract with an inspector.
8. Buyers should attend the home inspection so they understand any negatives the inspector adds to the report. You need to understand your home inspection report.
9. For anything you don’t understand about the inspection results, ask the inspector to explain it to you. Many inspectos provide photos in their reports which can be helpful.
10. Sellers will need to understand the inspection if they are going to be asked to make repairs on the home.

Ever wonder how to find the right builder to build your family a home?  Below are my Top 10 recommendations for finding the builder that is right for you!  If you would like to purchase a home, RREA has many experienced and seasoned Realtors that can help you and there is no cost to you.  Your builder will pay our commission!  Call RREA today to find the Realtor that best meets your real estate needs – 281.288.3500.

10.  Use a Realtor!  Realtor’s comply to a strict Code of Ethics and are licensed by the state.  They have a fiduciary responsibility to protect your best interest in a transaction.  Builders do not fall under this Code of Ethics.  They are looking out for their best interest, and many times have their attorneys write their contracts for them.

9.  Find the areas of town you want to live in and interview the builders that will build in those areas.

8.  Get Pre-Approved for your Financing or have a letter from your financial institution stating how much home you can afford to buy.

7.  Figure out the type of home you want – ranch style, basement, two story, patio home, etc.

6.   If your Realtor is a member of the Greater Houston Home Builders Association they have access to the list of builders who construct homes in the area.  All of the Realtors at Register Real Estate Advisors has access to this membership list.

5.  Once you have narrowed down a list of builders, see some of the homes they have under construction and some that have been completed.  Ask for testimonials from their clients or references.

4.  Before picking a floorplan, walk through as many new homes as you can.  You can do this by attending open houses or visiting new communities.  This way you can see the differences between builders and find ideas you want to incorporate in your new home.  Check out the quality of the homes and see what building trends they use (bay windows, art niches, etc.)

3.  Remember that you will be picking your tiles, carpet, countertops, paint, appliances, and much more.  When touring homes and looking at magazines, inspect these items to find out what you like best.  Take lots of notes to share with your builder and photos if possible.  Ask lots of questions!

2.  Your goal should be to find a builder you trust and feel comfortable talking to.  You will have a close relationship during the months that your home is being built.

1.  When you finally pick your builder, ask about his company history, experience, philosophy, and building and payment process.  Talk with the builder at length about what your expectations are for the new home.

10. Make a list of what you had in your wallet or purse (You should do this BEFORE you lose your wallet. Now would be a good time.) Tackle the most important things first.

9. Immediately cancel all your credit and debit cards, letting your bank know that your wallet or purse was lost or stolen. Request new copies of the card with a new account number.

8. If you were the victim of theft, file a police report immediately so there is an official record.

7. Report a missing driver’s license to your state’s department of motor vehicles and request a new copy.

6. Alert the fraud departments of the three major credit reporting companies. They will place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number, and you can request that they alert you before opening a line of credit in your name. (Equifax: 1-800-525-6285; Experian: 1-888-397-3742; Trans Union:1-800-680-7289)

5. Request a replacement Social Security card and consider not carrying it in your wallet in the future.

4. Contact either your company’s HR department or your health insurance provider directly to get a replacement insurance card. If you’ve lost a Medicare card, contact the Social Security Administration to get a replacement.

3. For other club membership, video rental and bonus club cards, you’ll have to contact each company individually. Use the directory on www.consumeraction.gov to get a direct line to consumer affairs or member relations departments.

2. If your credit reports suffer damage due to the loss of your wallet or purse, there are companies out there that can help you repair your credit.

1. Buy a new wallet or purse!

These tips came from the Federal Citizen Information Center and can help you recover after such a loss.

1. They work on commission
2. The more you pay, the more they get paid
3. Don’t Argue – they have all day to argue back!
4. Don’t ask for a Supervisor – you cannot win an argument with them
5. Don’t give them any info over the phone – they should have it
6. Make all payments with a money order or certified funds
7. Keep records of mailings with return receipts
8. Get written confirmation of any negotiated payoffs
9. Wait for them to call back with a better offer – don’t take the first offer
10. Keep copies of your credit reports

Don’t know what to get dad this Father’s Day?  Here’s my top 10 list of gift ideas for Dad…

10.       Dewalt 3-AMP 5” Heavy-Duty Orbit Sander for the Painter.

9.         Hitachi 6-gallon 145 PSI Electric Air Compressor for the Handyman.

8.         Kobalt 10” 15-AMP Sliding Miter Saw for the Woodworker.

7.         Bostitch Twin Blade Knife for the Hunter.

6.         IPAD II for the Office Dad.

5.         Tape measure for the Do-It-Yourself Dad.

4.         12-pack storage cooler for the Golfer.

3.         “Warriors Remembered” book for the Reader or Veteran. http://warriorsremembered.com

2.         Can’t go wrong with a Ralph Lauren Polo for the Stylish Dad.

1.         Geaux Outdoors Bait for the Fisherman. http://geaux-outdoors.com

10.  Would you like me to get the Christmas tree out of storage for you?

9.  Can I put lights on the roof and around the yard this year?

8.  No need to make it from scratch if you can buy it in a box!

7.  Buy the kids more gifts; we can never have enough toys around the house.

6.  I am on my way home from work.  Do you need anything from the grocery store while I am out?

5.  Let’s go out to dinner tonight.

4.  Do you have some wrapping paper I could use?

3.  I will put those toys together for you after the kids go to bed tonight and will even add the stickers!

2.  I want to travel and spend Christmas with your family this year.

1.  Let’s take more family photos!

I have a wonderful husband, but these are 10 things I have never yeard him say during the holidays.  Add this post to your facebook page if your husband doesn’t say these either.  Merry Christmas!!

1. Get rid of clutter. Throw out or file stacks of newspapers and magazines. Pack away most of your small decorative items. Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier. Clean out the garage.

2. Wash your windows and screens to let more light into the interior.

3. Keep everything extra clean. Wash fingerprints from light switch plates. Mop and wax floors. Clean the stove and refrigerator. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.

4. Get rid of smells. Clean carpeting and drapes to eliminate cooking odors, smoke, and pet smells. Open the windows.

5. Put higher wattage bulbs in light sockets to make rooms seem brighter, especially basements and other dark rooms. Replace any burnt-out bulbs.

6. Make minor repairs that can create a bad impression. Small problems, such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet, may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.

7. Tidy your yard. Cut the grass, rake the leaves, trim the bushes, and edge the walks. Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.

8. Patch holes in your driveway and reapply sealant, if applicable.

9. Clean your gutters.

10. Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.

Reprinted from REALTOR Magazine Online by permission of the National Association of Realtors, Copyriht 2005, All rights reserved.

If any of these are your New Year’s Resolutions, let me know.  I would love to help you with all of your real estate needs in 2010.  832.628.7355

10.  Invest in Real Estate this year

9.  Stop renting and paying other people’s mortgages

8.  Downsize to a smaller home for debt reduction or because all the kids have moved out

7.  Get organized

6.  Move on and find a better job

5.  Clean up my credit so I can purchase a home

4.  Sell my current home

3.  Stick to a budget

2.  Rent a property

1.  Buy my own house!

Shannon’s New Year Top 10 List: Reasons to Buy a Home

10. Homeowners who don’t itemize their taxes can deduct property taxes from their federal income.

9. New Home Buyers can use their tax credit up to $7,500.00. This can mean cash in your pocket.

8. The New Home Buyer tax credit is only going to be available until June 30, 2009. What are you waiting for? This is a no interest loan that gets paid back over 15 years. It’s the nicest thing your Uncle Sam has ever done for you!

7. Interest rates are still moving south. Rates are very low.

6. You don’t have to be a first time homeowner to use this tax credit. You can qualify if you have not owned a principal residence in the past three years.

5. Get your homeowners tax exemption.

4. It’s the number one savings plan for families in the United States. More so than 401K’s or the stock market.

3. The pride of homeownership…enough said!

2. Renting just pays someone else’s mortgage.

1. Home prices in Texas haven’t been this low since the 1980′s. There are lots of great deals out there.  Start house shopping so you can help the economy!