Home Inspection

Sellers, Don’t Lock Buyers Out of a Final Walkthrough

November 24, 2007

Last week a couple of my buyers had a closing for a house they bought in Bartlett. We scheduled a final walkthrough the night before so that they could verify that inspection issues had been resolved and that the house was in the same condition as when they last saw it. I arrived a few Click to continue...

Condo Inspections

May 3, 2007

As I write this I’m on my way home from a condo inspection in the Loop. Even though condos don’t have as many components to check as houses, a home inspection by a licensed home inspector shouldn’t be skipped. The condo was recently updated so you wouldn’t expect many problems, but the home inspector found Click to continue...

Pre-Listing Home Inspections

April 17, 2007

David Ousley, president of Building Specs of Illinois spoke at my office yesterday about pre-listing home inspections. Typically, home buyers hire a home inspector after their offer has been accepted on a home. With a pre-listing home inspection, home sellers hire a home inspector before putting their home on the market. According to David, homes Click to continue...

Another Opinion on Attic Mold

March 20, 2007

Yesterday I met with Dan Horvath of Harry Bellock & Associates (general contractors) at a townhouse where mold was found during the home inspection (see Home Inspection Finds Attic Mold). Dan has done a lot of work for insurance companies whose policy holder’s homes have suffered damage. He confirmed that there were no leaks allowing Click to continue...

Home Inspection Finds Attic Mold

March 16, 2007

This morning I met with Rob Plachy of American Environmental Solutions at a home a couple of my buyers had inspected last Saturday. During the home inspection, mold was discovered in the attic and it appeared that mold remediation had already been attempted. Rob determined that the mold encapsulant used by the mold remediation company Click to continue...

New Home Inspection Tool – Thermographic Scans

January 22, 2007

This weekend while visiting family, I learned of a new technology used to supplement home inspections. The technology goes by a variety of names including thermographic scan, infrared testing, thermal scan, and thermal image scanning. What all of these have in common is that they produce images identifying temperature differences in surfaces such as walls, Click to continue...

Bring a Tape Measure to Your Home Inspection

December 9, 2006

Last Saturday a couple of my buyers attended their home inspection. The next day they went furniture shopping and realized they needed some measurements of the house before they could decide on the new furniture. The sellers graciously agreed to let my buyers come back to the house today to take measurements, but it’s an Click to continue...

Schedule Plenty of Time for Your Home Inspection

November 6, 2006

Yesterday I spent 4 hours at a home inspection in Arlington Heights. It was a big house (over 3,400 sf.) with a lot of gadgets. Most home inspections for houses I’ve attended last around 2 hours. Condos typically take an hour. Fortunately, my home buyers could also attend. The home inspector gave them a first Click to continue...

A Walkthrough is an Important Step in Buying a Home

August 27, 2006

Yesterday a couple of buyers and I did a walkthrough of the newly rehabbed Edgewater condo they are buying. A walkthrough is an opportunity for buyers to verify that any inspection issues were resolved and make sure the rest of the home is still in acceptable condition. The buyers found several inspection issues that the Click to continue...

Consult with your Realtor When Negotiating Inspection Issues

August 24, 2006

Yesterday a home seller killed the sale of his house. If he had consulted with his Realtor® before responding to inspection issues, this might have been avoided. My buyer’s inspections revealed several major problems with the house including radon at unacceptable levels and 2 natural gas leaks. Through her real estate attorney, my buyer requested Click to continue...

An Unfortunate Situation That Could Have Been Avoided

May 4, 2006

Today I had coffee with another businesswoman, Jennifer, who shared her story of buying a new home. The woman used a REALTOR® to buy the home from a builder in Algonquin. After the contract was signed the agent disappeared not to emerge until the end of the closing when she picked up her commission check. Click to continue...

Attend Your Home Inspection

April 16, 2006

Yesterday two couples I’ve been working with had home inspections done on the homes they intend to buy. Both couples also attended the home inspections which I recommend, if at all possible. Attending a home inspection is a great way for buyers to learn about their future residences. Good home inspectors will take the time Click to continue...

Pick Your Real Estate Professionals Carefully

February 3, 2006

Last Friday after a disconcerting phone conversation with a buyer’s mortgage broker, I wrote “A Mortgage Pre-qualification is Worthless as Part of an Offer“. The mortgage broker tried to get me to accept a mortgage pre-qualification for inclusion with my buyer’s offer. I insisted on a mortgage pre-approval. Any good listing agent receiving an offer Click to continue...

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