Come Join Us This Saturday, October 27th from 12- 4pm!!!

 

Come Join Us This Saturday, October 27th from 12- 4pm!!! 

Pop-by, say "hi", and get your FREE pumpkin!

*Oh, by the way, if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, 
please call me with their name and business number. 
....I'll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

Choosing a Professional Home Inspector

Choosing a Professional Home Inspector

There are approximately 30,000 home inspectors nationwide today. Only about half of the states require any kind of certification or licensing for home inspectors. So how do you know you are recommending the best home inspectors to your clients?

Hiring the right home inspector is as important as the actual home inspection itself. As with most professions, both qualified and unqualified individuals can claim to be "professionals," but what makes the home inspection industry especially vulnerable is the fact that it is currently unregulated in most states. Here are some ways you can protect your clients from hiring an unqualified inspector:

Busy real estate professionals are likely to have a list of inspectors ready to refer to clients. As those lists change due to retirement, relocation and other reasons, it's a good idea to always be on the lookout for professional home inspectors to add to your referral list. Follow up with clients immediately after the inspection and then again six months down the road. They may say they were happy with an inspector immediately following the inspection, but when problems are uncovered during the first year of homeownership that a home inspection should have found, clients may change their mind on a recommendation.

After recommending home inspectors to your clients, encourage them to do their own research. They should be asking potential inspectors for their qualifications, professional affiliations and certifications. Professional association affiliations can include membership in the National Association of Home Inspectors and American Society of Home Inspectors. Members of both of these organizations are committed to standards of practices and codes of ethics.

Inquire about insurance. Professional home inspectors carry Errors and Omissions insurance (E&O), which can protect your client if the inspector makes a mistake. Home inspectors should also carry commercial general liability insurance.

Do not refer or hire inspectors who either perform repairs or refer contractors. Although some states allow this, it could potentially represent a conflict of interest.

Ask for a sample home inspection report. A good report will clearly state the problem, explain the significance and recommend a course of action. Many inspectors also offer home maintenance guides that contain information about how a home works, how to properly maintain it, repair cost estimates, seasonal maintenance checklists and various ways to save energy.

Ask home inspectors about the technology used during the inspection. Look for inspectors who use computers and take photos during inspections and incorporate those photos into the report.

A professional home inspector will tag all accessible shut-offs within the home. This is a great added value for homeowners unfamiliar with the inner workings of a home.

Ask how long the home inspection will take. Most inspections take at least three hours, some longer, depending on the size of the house and the nature of the inspection. Encourage your clients to stay for the duration and to shadow the inspector and ask questions about noted problems. Many things uncovered in home inspections are easy fixes and should not lead to a deal falling through.

Know when to call in an expert. If your client is looking at a home with a pool, make sure the inspector has experience with pools. Additionally, if your client is concerned about mold, radon or lead paint, make sure the home inspector has the ability to do the proper testing.

Dan Steward is the president of Pillar To Post Home Inspections.

For more information, visit www.pillartopost.com.

 

Committed to your success,
Cynthia

* Oh, by the way, if you know of someone who would appreciate the level of service I provide, please call me with their name and business number. I'll be happy to follow up and take great care of them.

Cynthia M. Parker, ABR®, SFR®, CDPE®
Broker Associate
"Marketing your home for all it's worth"!

RE/MAX Alliance
1873 S. Bellaire St., Suite 700
Denver, CO 80222
Office: (303) 757-7474
Mobile: (303) 563-9700
Fax: 866-673-0053
E-mail: cynthia@cynthiamparker.com
Web site: http://www.CynthiaMParker.com

BUYERS: "Find out how to buy a home with for as little as $ 1,000 down"...visit: http://www.FreeCOHomeInfo.com
SELLERS: "Find out what the home down the street from you just sold for"... visit: http://www.HomePricesInYourArea.net

September Market Snapshot

So, what is happening in our local real estate market?

This weather is cooling but this market isn't.  With nearly one solid year of month-over-month improvement, it's fair to say....we have definitely turned a corner.  Buyer's continue facing multiple offers and competitive offers from other buyers. Potential sellers, are beginning to see opportunity to move up to that dream home, with some in equity positions.

Metro Denver, inventory remains low at 32% down from this time last year and average sales prices up over 11%. Some areas are seeing inventory reduce to 60% less that this time a year ago. The refinance market is also a contributing factor as some seller's are opting to refinance and stay put.

The market is heating up....don't get burned. For a more detailed report on your specific area, visit: Home Market Report or call 303-300-8989, to speak Cynthia TODAY!

One in Five Say It’s a Good Time to Sell

One in Five Say It’s a Good Time to Sell
-Rismedia
By Steve Cook

Last month the largest percentage of Americans since the housing bust said they believe it’s a good time to sell a house, according to the latest Fannie Mae National Housing Survey.
Results from the survey show Americans’ optimism about the recovery of the housing market, and that homeownership continued its gradual climb, bolstered by a series of mortgage rate decreases experienced throughout the summer. Consumer attitudes about the economy also improved substantially last month, breaking the progression of waning confidence seen during much of this year.

Survey respondents expect home prices to increase an average of 1.5 percent in the next year. The share who says mortgage rates will increase in the next 12 months dropped 7 percentage points to 33 percent. Nineteen percent of those surveyed say now is a good time to sell, marking the highest level since the survey began in June 2010. Tying the June 2012 level (and the all-time high since the survey’s inception), 69 percent of respondents said they would buy if they were going to move.

With regard to the economy overall, 41 percent of consumers now believe the economy is on the right track, up from 33 percent last month, while 53 percent believe the economy is on the wrong track, compared with 60 percent the prior month. Both the right track and wrong track figures mark the highest and the lowest readings, respectively, since the survey began in June 2010.

Thirty-seven percent of those surveyed expect home prices to go up in the next year, the highest level since the survey’s inception in June 2010. Thirty-three percent of respondents say mortgage rates will go up in the next year, a decrease of 7 percentage points since last month. Those who say now is a good time to buy dipped slightly to 72 percent.

Consumer optimism climbed in September, with 41 percent saying the economy is on the right track—the highest level recorded since the survey’s inception and an 8 percentage point increase over last month. Forty-four percent of respondents expect their personal financial situation to improve over the next year, up from 42 percent in August.

The share of respondents who say their household income is significantly higher than it was 12 months ago decreased by 3 percentage points to 17 percent. Thirty-four percent of those surveyed say their household expenses are significantly

For more information, visit www.realestateeconomywatch.com