Our Blog

Inspection vs. Appraisal- by Olivia Brion, Showing/Listing Assistant

November 25, 2015

Whether you’re thinking of buying a home, renovating your home, or selling your home it’s natural to want the very best home for the very best price. If you’re selling your home, having a minimal to non-existent list of items that need to be fixed or replaced combined with a great appraisal is the best possible outcome. If you’re currently looking to purchase, finding that perfect home and then going thru a fairly easy inspection provides comfort like no other. Either way, Inspections and Appraisal are a huge piece of your real estate transaction. But what’s the difference?

A home inspection is a choice that is offered to you once you write an offer on your new home. Inspections are not mandatory or required by any lender or seller. Many also believe that the cost of an inspection is something that is part of your closing costs, should you have any. This is not true. Inspections are an out of pocket expense and are typically priced based on the square footage of the home. The entire process can take 3-4 hours. Your inspector will look closely at the foundation, all the appliances, any and all major systems, and they observe the overall condition of the home. Their job is to give you their opinion and call out any deficiencies they may find. It is then up to you to decide if you’d like to continue with your buying process or continue to search for your next new adventure.

Like inspections, and appraisal is also an out of pock expense based again on the square footage of the home. Appraisals are ordered by your lender and typically take anywhere from 7-10 business days to complete. The appraiser will come to the property, observe the land it sits on, observe the materials used to build the home, the current condition of the home, and pull all known records on the home. Once back to their office, they will then compare the price and condition of the home to all other recently sold, pending, or available homes on the market today to determine if the property is fairly priced in the current market.

If you or someone you know is thinking about buying a home and/or selling your current home, contact The Better Living Group today! We are here to provide you with information on purchasing a home and a free market analysis for the home you are considering to sell. The Better Living Group are Real Estate professionals in the Twin Cities and Greater Metro areas who are ready and able to assist with all of your Real Estate needs and goals and to provide only the best Real Estate service to all of our clients past, present and future.

To see your current home value click here.

The Better Living Group

Realtors- GRI, ABR, CDPE

cknutson@kw.com or 763-496-2903

Keller Williams Classic Realty NW

 

Inspection vs. Appraisal- Video by Olivia Brion, Showing/Listing Assistant

November 17, 2015

Listen as Olivia Brion, Showing/Listing Assistant, explains the difference between an Inspection Report and an Appraisal.

Listen Now

The Better Living Group

Realtors- GRI, ABR, CDPE

cknutson@kw.com or 763-496-2903

Keller Williams Classic Realty NW

 

 

 

 

Home Inspections: Why should I pay for one?

October 14, 2015

When purchasing a home it is an option for you to get a home inspection. There is a cost, and many people ask why they should even have one completed if it is going to cost them extra money. There are an abundance of reasons but we will start with the most important.

Yes, a home inspection is a cost that is paid separately by you, the individual purchasing the home. This cost can range anywhere from $295-$450 depending on the size of the home as well as the style. This is going to provide you with an expert who inspects homes for a living and will dig deeper then the eye can see. It will also answer questions about your home you would have never thought to ask.

A question we get a lot is “What are they going to look at?”. Well, your inspector is going to spend quite a large amount of time in the home looking at, well, everything. They will be checking the condition of your foundation, looking for any way intrusion that may have occurred or may be occurring. They will also look at your water heater, furnace, and also in your attack. They do not just check the interior of the home, they also do a detailed check of the outside. On the outside they will check your grading to ensure there is not water entering around your foundation walls. They will climb on your roof to ensure it is in a condition that will last you for hopefully many years. Amongst these items, there is also so much more!

Lastly, you are going to get a third party opinion. Yes, you, your family and your Realtor will all be viewing the home prior to the inspection and will see many things. Having an inspector come through is another opinion on the over all condition of the home from a professional in that field. Going in to your new home feeling comfortable and knowledgeable is huge! You will have a sense of comfort and relief knowing what it is you need to do to make the home what you want it/need it to be.

If you or someone you know is thinking about buying a home and/or selling your current home, contact the Better Living Group today! We are here to provide you with information on purchasing a home and a free market analysis for the home you are considering to sell. The Better Living Group are Real Estate professionals in the Twin Cities and Greater Metro areas who are ready and able to assist with all of your Real Estate needs and goals and to provide only the best Real Estate service to all of our clients past, present and future.

The Better Living Group

Realtors- GRI, ABR, CDPE

cknutson@kw.com or 763-496-2903

Keller Williams Classic Realty NW

Home Inspections: Video discussion by Georgie- Lead Buyer Specialist

October 12, 2015

Are you considering whether or not you should invest in having a home inspection done when purchasing a new home?  Listen to what Georgie has to say about home inspections.

Stay tuned for more on Wednesday when Georgie blogs about the benefits of having a home inspection done.

Click here to watch Georgie’s video on Home Inspections

The Better Living Group

Realtors- GRI, ABR, CDPE

cknutson@kw.com or 763-496-2903

Keller Williams Classic Realty NW

 

 

Why should I pay to get a home inspection done?

April 7, 2015

It is not required for you to complete a home inspection when purchasing a home. As Realtors we highly, HIGHLY recommend you pay the $350-$450 (on average) to hire a professional inspector to come through the home. The cost varies as they typically go off of the square feet of the home.

When an inspector goes through the property, they look at everything from visible condition of the inside and outside to climbing on the roof, entering in to the attic and taking a thorough look at your major mechanicals. They will look at all aspects of the home. However, they cannot break in to walls or do any sort of intrusive testing.

Your inspector will always provide you with a detailed report of anything and everything they look at and find as “deficiencies” in the home. This is for your records and for you to look at when you choose to complete any repairs that are needed.

As we always tell people, it is best to know the most current condition of your home when you have closed and are now ready to move in. Going in to a new home can be a lot to take in. With all this information in hand it will typically give people the comfort of knowing the full condition of the home, instead of just the cosmetics.

If you or someone you know is thinking about buying a home and/or selling your current home, contact the Better Living Group today! We are here to provide you with information on purchasing a home and a free market analysis for the home you are considering to sell. The Better Living Group are Real Estate professionals in the Twin Cities and Greater Metro areas who are ready and able to assist with all of your Real Estate needs and goals and to provide only the best Real Estate service to all of our clients past, present and future.

The Better Living Group

Realtors- GRI, ABR, CDPE

blghomesmn@gmail.com or 763-496-2911

Keller Williams Classic Realty NW