Before you bid on a home, check for potentially dicey, and pricey, problems.

In most states, home sellers must disclose any defect they know about that could affect how desirable — and marketable — their home is before they sign a purchase contract. Even in the six states that lack a “mandatory seller’s property condition disclosure” (Alabama, Arkansas, Kansas, Vermont, West Virginia and Wyoming), the state’s licensing agency may require real estate agents to tell buyers what they know. In all states, real estate agents who belong to the National Association of Realtors are obligated by their code of ethics to disclose any defects they know about.

But you may have fallen in love with a house, and spent hours preparing a purchase contract, before the disclosures are made. You should always make your purchase contract contingent on a professional home inspection ($300 to $350). Home inspectors could miss hidden problems, however, such as a basement that floods during a downpour.

Poor water pressure. Aside from issues of comfort and convenience, low water flow may indicate plumbing problems, such as corroded pipes that will need to be replaced down the road. Tearing out old plumbing and replacing it with copper pipes can run $2,000 to $15,000 or more in a typical 1,500-square-foot home. A less costly alternative is cross-linked polyethylene (PEX) piping, which unlike rigid copper piping, is flexible and easier to install (approved for potable use in all U.S. model plumbing and mechanical codes, but may not be approved in local building codes).

Among tests you can do: Run water in a bathroom sink and check for weak flow. Flush the toilet while the water is running. Does the faucet flow drop off during the flush? In the bathroom located farthest from the water heater, turn on the hot water. Is there an unduly long delay before the water turns hot?

Ceiling stains. Something’s leaking. If the stain appears beneath a bathroom, odds are the shower is leaking. It may merely need recaulking or regrouting, but it could also require ripping out tile and replacing the shower pan, a much more costly process (about $1,500). Most roof leaks result from neglected flashing that seals “valleys” in the roof or around a chimney or vents (cost to repair: $200 to $500). But roof leaks may also mean it’s time to replace shingles — at $100 to $350 per 100 square feet for asphalt shingles and $210 to $1,000 for wood shingles.

Troublesome doors. Are the doors hard to close? Do they swing open by themselves or fail to open fully? If you have one bad door, it may simply have been installed incorrectly. But more than one may indicate a serious structural issue, such as a foundation that has settled or framing that is deteriorating. Fixing this problem can require structural and geotechnical engineering reports and thousands of dollars in repairs.

Overloaded electrical outlets or lots of extension cords. Today’s electrical demands may exceed the capacity of homes built as little as a decade ago, says Kuhn. You’ll spend $75 to $250 to have an electrician add a 120-volt outlet to an existing circuit. Or, if the electrical system is very outdated, it may require a new electric panel. A new, 100-amp panel will cost $1,500 to $2,500.

Exterior features that slope toward the home. A porch, patio, driveway or grading that slopes toward the home all but guarantees water in the basement. And that may lead to structural decay, mold and insect infestation. In the basement, a musty smell may indicate previous flooding or ongoing moisture problems. Check the walls for stains, dark or light, which are tell-tale signs that water has penetrated the walls.

Solving the problem may be as simple and cheap as adding gutter extensions or re-grading soil away from the home, or it could require thousands of dollars to excavate and build drains. Some homes may require exterior drains (one at the bottom of a sloped driveway, for example) as well as buried drains.

Odors. Cigarette smoke and pet odors can be hard to get rid of. And if a home smells too clean — heavy with the scent of cleaning products (especially bleach) or plug-in deodorizers — the seller may be trying to cover up an odor, such as mold or urine. If so, you need to inquire further, says Richardson, of the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Synthetic stucco siding. This must be installed precisely or else moisture will be trapped behind it, resulting in mold and decay. In the worst case, the siding will have to be replaced. For a medium-sized house (1,250 square feet of exterior surface area), replacing vinyl siding can cost $2,500 to $8,750, while wood or fiber cement siding can cost $5,600 to $10,000 or more. Especially in humid climates, you may want to pay for a special inspection.

If you find out before you close your purchase that the seller deliberately misrepresented or failed to fully disclose the home’s condition, you may have the right to rescind the contract under state law. If it’s a done deal, you’ll probably have to sue the seller to recoup your damages. In some states you can also seek repayment of your legal costs. Consult with a lawyer who specializes in real estate fraud. If you have reason to believe that the seller’s agent was negligent, you can take it up with the local Board of Realtors (www.nar.com, click on “local and state associations”) and the state’s licensing agency (to find yours, visit the Web site of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials).

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

Many Californians swear by Feng shui (English pronunciation: fung?-shway), an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to use the laws of both Heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive qi (an active principle forming part of any living thing), so I did a little research on the subject. As feng shui is becoming more and more popular in countries far away from China or Chinese influence, it is worth looking at its history and understand how feng shui started and why feng shui is bringing such powerful results when properly applied.Feng Shui has a history of many thousands years, some say 2,000 years, some go as far as 5,000 years. As an organized body of knowledge

feng shui was practiced since Tang Dynasty, where we can find early recordings about employing feng shui masters in selecting auspicious sites, as well as about feng shui texts being required reading for imperial exams (court of Emperor Hi Tsang, 888 A.D.)One of the famous feng shui names recorded in the history of feng shui is Master Yang Yun Sang, who left a legacy of many classical feng shui texts and is considered the founder of the landscape school of feng shui.

In time, almost a hundred years later, another feng shui school of thought - the Compass Feng Shui School - gained strength and popularity. The main influence in this feng shui school was a Feng Shui Master by the name Wang Chih who developed his teachings during the Song Dynasty.The Compass Feng Shui School calculations are based on

The level that creates a lot of confusion about feng shui applications is the symbolic level of feng shui.Feng Shui Symbols have a rich, culturally specific history and meaning. Most of us are familiar with the look of many feng shui items such as Chinese coins tied with a red string, wind chimes, three legged toads, gods of wealth, etc.

·                         Dragon and Phoenix

·                         Mandarin Ducks

·                         The Double Happiness Sign

·                         Peony Flowers

Wealth Feng Shui Symbols

·                         Gold Arrowana or Koi Fish

·                         Chinese Coins

·                         The Three Legged Toad

·                         Golden Ingots

·                         Sailing Ship

Good Fortune Feng Shui Symbols

·                         Chi Lin, the Dragon Horse

·                         Golden Cicada

·                         The Red Bat

Health & Longevity Feng Shui Symbols

·                         Sau, the God of Longevity

·                         Lucky Bamboo

·                         Wu-Lou, Gourd

Feng Shui Symbols were used for centuries in feng shui applications because of the power of symbols and associations, as well as because of the energy certain items embody. If a certain feng shui symbol does not resonate with you, feel free to chose one that works for you, expresses the same energy, and it is from the culture you grew up in.

More detailed information on Feng Shui, I’d suggest you do a search on Wikipedia, Google or Bing.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

With today’s economic climate, everyone wants to save some money!  Some of the simplest ways to save money during energy spikes include weather stripping and programmable thermostats. But you may also want to consider more expensive attic fans, high-efficiency windows, and reflective roofs.

Rising fuel costs ripple through the economy, and could spark inflation in the price of materials and labor. Home equity loans are an attractive way to finance costly home projects, and the ability to write off the interest paid on home equity loans and lines of credit may make these loans palatable for you and your family. Other benefits include possible tax credits and low-interest loans for energy-saving home projects; check with your state government to see if you qualify.

Improvements to boost energy efficiency offer other benefits. Insulating pipes reduces energy lost during hot-water delivery in case your main heating system fails. And a high-efficiency natural-gas fireplace can become a valuable backup to oil or electric heating systems.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

Anyone who has ever spent any time looking at home inspector websites has probably noticed the overused “10 Questions you should ask before you choose a home inspector” lists. These lists have always seemed like the inspector is telling the client what he or she should be looking for (ie: “if your inspector isn’t a member of XYZ Association he is unqualified”, “if your inspector doesn’t have my particular background he is unqualified”, etc).  Anyone could easily tailor a bunch of questions so that the proper responses make them seem like the perfect inspector, so why not ask the questions you want answers to?

I encourage anyone who has questions of their own to either call me (818-266-2267), e-mail me at  sblaney@mindspring.com, or visit my website (link listed below). Only when YOUR questions are answered should you decide who will be YOUR home inspector.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

1.       Confirm that water, electric and gas service are on, with gas pilot lights burning.

2.     Ensure pets won’t hinder the inspection. They should be removed from premises or secured outside. Tell your agent about any pets at home.

3.     Replace burned out bulbs to avoid an “inoperable” report that may suggest an electrical problem.

4.     Test smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and replace dead batteries.

5.     Clean or replace dirty HVAC air filters. They should fit securely.

6.     Remove stored items, debris and wood from foundation. These may be cited as “conducive conditions” for termites.

7.     Remove items blocking access to HVAC equipment, electric service panels, water heaters, attics and crawl spaces.

8.     Unlock areas the inspector must access such as attic doors or hatches, electric service panels, closets, fence gates and crawl spaces.

9.     Trim tree limbs to 10′ from the roof and shrubs from the house to allow access.

10.  Attend to broken or missing items like doorknobs, locks and latches; window panes, screens and locks; gutters, downspouts and chimney caps.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

Quick fixes before selling a home always pay off, but which repairs bring the biggest return? Specific answers to this often-asked question largely depend on a variety of factors such as:

·                    Time of year

·                    Location of the home

·                    Market temperature

·                    Competing inventory

Here are some suggested home repairs that can add to your profit margin when selling your home. 

Flooring Fixes

·                    Hardwood Floors
If your home has hardwood floors, that’s what buyers want, and it would pay to have the carpeting removed and the floors refinished.

·                    Carpeting
If your sub-floor is plywood, then replace the carpeting with light tan. Neutral carpeting is your best bet for resale.

·                    Ceramic
Replace chipped or cracked tiles. Clean or replace the grout. But don’t install ceramic (it’s too expensive) unless it’s for aesthetic reasons in an entry way.

Paint Ceilings & Walls

Buyers spend more time than you would think staring at ceilings. They are looking for signs of a leaky roof, but what you don’t want them to see are stains from grease or smoke and ceiling cracks. Ditto for walls. Nothing says freshness like new paint, and it’s the most cost effective improvement. Use fiberglass tape on large cracks, cover with joint compound and sand. Paint a neutral color such as light tan - think of coffee with cream.

·                    Wallpaper
It’s not that all buyers hate wallpaper. They hate your wallpaper - because it’s your personal choice, not theirs. And they hate all dated wallpaper. Get rid of it. The easiest way is to steam it off by using an inexpensive wallpaper remover steamer.

·                    Wood paneling
Even if your wood paneling is not real wood but composite, you can paint it. Dated paneling must go. Older wood paneling such as walnut, mahogany, cedar and pine, it’s all gone out of style. Paint it a neutral and soft color after priming it.

·                    Textured ceilings
Older popcorn ceilings with the “sparkles” often contain asbestos and if disturbed are health hazards. Say goodbye to it. But even recently sprayed ceilings turn off buyers. It’s not expensive but it is time consuming to remove. Lay down drop cloths and scrape it off. You will need to repaint.

Kitchen Improvements

Appliances and cabinets are typically the most expensive items to replace in a kitchen. If you don’t have to replace them, you’ll save a ton of money. However, if your cabinets are dated and beat-up, your house might not sell if the cabinets aren’t replaced.

·                    Cabinets
Resurfacing is your best option. This involves attaching a thin veneer to the surface of the cabinets and replacing the doors and hardware. If your cabinets are painted, add a fresh coat of paint and new hardware.

·                    Counter tops, sinks & faucets
Granite counters are not necessary. Simple laminates, newer faucets and sparkling sinks sell. Buyers don’t want leaky faucets or stained sinks.

Bathrooms

New floors, fixtures and lights payoff.

Roofs & Exterior

If your home needs a new roof, bite the bullet and do it. Even though most roofing tear-off jobs take one to two days, buyers shy away from buying a home if the roof needs to be replaced.

·                    Patch cement cracks in sidewalks

·                    Resurface asphalt driveways

·                    Plant flowers

·                    Caulk windows and doors

·                    Replace doorknobs and locks

·                    Fix or paint fences

Conclusion

Overall, buyers want to buy a home that has no deferred maintenance, newer appliances, updated plumbing, electrical and heating (including a/c), modern conveniences and is ready to occupy.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

When you’re preparing your home to be shown to prospective buyers, it takes a lot of effort to make it presentable.  Buyers spend more time than you would think staring at ceilings. They are looking for signs of a leaky roof, but what you don’t want them to see are stains from grease or smoke and ceiling cracks. The same applies to your walls. Nothing says freshness like new paint, and it’s the most cost effective improvement. Use fiberglass tape on large cracks, cover with joint compound and sand. Paint a neutral color such as light tan - think of coffee with cream.  Here are some suggestions for quick fixes for ceilings and walls:

Wallpaper
Not that all buyers hate wallpaper; they hate your wallpaper because it’s NOT theirs. Get rid of it. The easiest way is to steam it off by using an inexpensive wallpaper remover steamer.

Wood paneling
Even if your wood paneling is not real wood but composite, you can paint it. Dated paneling must go. Older wood paneling such as walnut, mahogany, cedar and pine, it’s all gone out of style. Paint it a neutral and soft color after priming it.

Textured ceilings
Older popcorn ceilings with the “sparkles” often contain asbestos and if disturbed are health hazards. Say goodbye to it. But even recently sprayed ceilings turn off buyers. It’s not expensive but it is time consuming to remove. Lay down drop cloths and scrape it off. You will need to repaint.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Like with most professions, you will find qualified and unqualified individuals proclaiming themselves a professional. Home inspectors are no different. In some ways, it’s even more difficult to differentiate the good home inspectors from the bad home inspectors, primarily because few states regulate or license home inspectors.

This means any John or Jane Doe can print up business cards that identify the individual as a home inspector, and go about the practice of collecting fees from unsuspecting buyers while networking with agents for more business.

Here are a few ways you can protect yourself from hiring an unqualified inspector:

Review a Sample Home Inspection Report

A home inspector should be able to e-mail you a copy of a sample report or have one on their website. If it’s three or four pages long, don’t hire that person. While lengths of reports may vary, comprehensive reports average between 20 and 50 pages and often contain color photographs highlighting defects or problems. Check this link for a sample home inspection report:  http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/sample-report.asp

Don’t Hire Inspectors Who Recommend Contractors or Perform Repairs

Home inspectors are in the business of inspecting homes. If a home inspector offers to direct you to a contractor to perform work, that inspector could be creating a conflict of interest. Some state regulations and inspector associations allow an inspector to undertake specified repairs, but I don’t recommend hiring such an inspector.

Inquire About the Length of Your Home Inspection

To do an adequate job, most home inspections take at least three hours, sometimes longer.  A proper home inspection will require that amount of time to be precise and allow the buyer to be well informed on their potential important purchase.

Ask if the Inspector Charges for a Reinspection

The question isn’t if the inspector will find something wrong. All homes have defects. There is no such thing as a perfect house. Even new homes have imperfections.

However, if an inspector notes a problem, and the seller agrees to repair it, in many states, it’s considered a courtesy for the inspector to verify the repair without charging for a return visit. In other states such as Texas, for example, some inspectors charge for a return trip. When you interview inspectors, ask upfront about fee policy. Tip: If you elect to accept the seller’s word that the problem has been repaired, you may find yourself in Small Claim’s Court after the transaction closes.

Ask to Attend the Home Inspection

If your schedule is such that you can’t be present during the entire home inspection, you owe it yourself to be there for the last 30 minutes. Let the inspector walk you through the home to point out defects. Use this opportunity to ask questions about which noted “action items” are minor and which are major.

Sometimes a home inspector will suggest further inspections. Find out whether the inspector suspects a problem or if the inspector routinely suggests buyers obtain inspections for items the inspector does not generally cover.

An inspector may suggest a pest inspection because home inspectors are not licensed to perform pest control inspections. Such a suggestion does not necessarily imply the inspector found termites or dry rot. Not all home inspectors walk on the roof and therefore might suggest a roof inspection. In California, many sellers pay for pest and roof inspections.

Ask for Credentials & Qualifications

    Certification. Choose a certified inspector. There is no shortage of home inspector associations.  The California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA) certifies that Inspectors who have successfully passed a comprehensive written examination of the property system and who maintain 30 hours of continuing education each year may use the CREIA logo. The logo ensures consumers that the inspector has been tested and qualified to CREIA’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics. Most inspection services promote their business with brochures through real estate offices. Many claim their reports meet or follow CREIA Standards of Practice. Do not be fooled; look for the CREIA emblem on these brochures. Only inspectors who have met CREIA’s rigorous professional and educational requirements may qualify as a Certified CREIA Inspector and display the CREIA emblem. CREIA’s Code of Ethics requires a high degree of professionalism and integrity and that a Certified CREIA inspector act fairly and impartially.  To find out more about CREIA please visit their website at www.CREIA.org 

     Qualification. Ask friends for referrals. Ask your real estate agent for a recommendation, and then double-check that inspector’s qualifications. Some inexperienced agents recommend inferior inspectors because they don’t want a full-blown inspection that could blow their deal. Reputable agents demand qualified inspectors because they want their buyer informed.

Always, always, always get a home inspection when you buy. And hire a qualified and accredited individual to perform the inspection — not your Uncle Joe or your buddy the contractor, get a real inspector. Be there for the inspection and ask questions. Pay close attention to safety issues. Be an informed buyer.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections.

When shopping for a home, the two most important factors you need to assess aside from your budget is the location of the house and its condition. The overall state of the house is a “do or die” matter.

A home inspection will not only give the buyer an idea of the property that he wants to purchase, it will also assist in determining the price of the house.  The seller also needs to have a home inspection so that he will know how to evaluate the market value of the house.

This puts everything into clarity so that there are no problems in pricing. Also, a home inspection will save you time and money from doing the inspection all by yourself. Aside from the market analysis prepared by a real estate agent, the home inspection report will also help you put a price on the house. If the house is in top condition, or if there are new appliances and installations in the property, then a home inspection report can prove that and therefore increase the pricing of your house.

The seller also has the responsibility of completing the necessary repairs for a house. A home inspection will reveal the areas and items in the house that need to be repaired. After the repairs have been done, the seller can attach proofs to the inspection report to prove that repairs have actually been done. This increases the chances for the home to be sold easily.

A home inspection will primarily make negotiations as objective as possible. Moreover, since everything about the condition of the house is included in the home inspection report, there would be fewer needs for renegotiations.

By investing in a quality home inspector, you not only save time. You are also able to establish yourself as a seller with integrity and objectivity. The price you pay for a professional home inspector is well worth the money spent.

Call me at 818-266-2267 or check our website link below for further details or any information on our home inspection  services.

Shawn Blaney,

President,

West Coast Home Inspections

http://www.westcoast-inspections.com/

Home inspection for the home buyer can make your dream home a worry-free reality. This is our mission statement at West Coast Home Inspections