Jeremy Walsh Real Estate

As we mentioned in our previous blog, Selling Your Home: How to Prepare for a Home Inspection, a home inspection can either make or break a sale. So it is important to prepare. But did you know that this applies to the buyer, as well?

It does.

While there is not a lot that a buyer needs to do to prepare for a home inspection, a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring the inspection is as productive as possible. So be sure to do the following…

Hire Well-Qualified Professionals: Do some research and look for a home inspector with a solid background. As for references and double-check certifications. You can never be too careful.

Attend the Inspection: This allows you to get an in-depth look at the property. This is also your way of knowing that every inch of the home was properly inspected.

Ask Questions: Make a list of questions you wish to ask the inspector and bring this list to the home inspection.

Be Reasonable: There is no such thing as a flawless house. Every house inspection will uncover some problem with the property. Be prepared to discuss these flaws with the current homeowner. Also be sure to consult your contract to determine whether you have an inspection contingency clause and speak to a professional if necessary.

Proper preparation for your home inspection is beneficial for all parties involved.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You Need To Be Exclusively Represented And Have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) On Your Side To Handle All Of The Important Details For You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Sources:

Preparing for a Home Inspection

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

A home inspection can either make or break a sale. So it is important to prep your home prior to inspection. Properly preparing for a home inspection will both ensure that your house is in its best condition as well as prevent any closing delays brought on by incomplete or multiple inspections.

Be sure to do the following…

Make Repairs (and keep receipts): You want to present your home in the best way possible. To do this, you should fix any problems with the house, even minor ones. Mend broken handles/knobs, fix leaky faucets, and repair any obvious cracks. Also be sure to either repair major issues – such as your roof – or be straightforward about the situation and adjust your asking price.

Clean: This is often overlooked by most sellers, but a clean home just looks nicer. It is that simple. An unkempt house gives the buyer the impression that you just don’t care.

Leave a Key: Be sure to leave a key to your home and any other areas that the inspector might need to access. Inaccessible systems can lead to incomplete inspections and closing delays.

Keep Utilities Connected: If the property is unoccupied, be sure all utilities – electricity, gas, oil, and water – are connected and filled enough for appliances to run. The home inspector will need to check the following:

• Heating and Cooling Systems (HVAC unit)

• Plumbing

• Appliances

• Faucets

• Electrical Systems

• And more!

If your utilities are not connected, the inspection cannot take place.

Do Not Extinguish Pilot Lights: Home inspectors will not light pilot lights on stoves, furnaces and water heaters for safety reasons. So if your pilot lights are not lit, the inspection cannot be completed.

Make Room Around Appliances: Remove any items or clutter that may be surrounding your appliances, HVAC unit or electrical systems.

Make Yourself Scarce: Most inspections take about 3 hours. So plan on making yourself scarce during the inspection process.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You Need To Be Exclusively Represented And Have Jeremy Walsh (located in Baltimore, Maryland) On Your Side To Handle All Of The Important Details For You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Sources:

Preparing for a Home Inspection

How to Prepare for a Home Inspection

Are you looking for a home in a child-friendly neighborhood? If yes, we are here to help by giving you some great tips on how to find a safe place to live, grow and play with your children. Read below to learn!

You should ask yourself the following questions:

Does the area allow or require fenced yards?

This is an important question to ask about a community because some neighborhoods do not allow fenced yards and other neighborhoods make having a fence a mandatory requirement.

If you have a child, pet or both, they will need a safe place to play, without wandering into the street. A fence will protect your privacy as well.

Are children important in the community?

Before you pick a new neighborhood to live within, you need to see how important the healthy development of children is to the community. A great way to figure this out is going to the local library. If children are important, the library will have a great selection of children’s books in good to great condition. Look at the local newspaper. A local newspaper with a variety of children’s events and activities are signs that the community is child friendly. See how many playgrounds, parks; ball fields are in walking distance or a short drive from your potential new neighborhood. Space is crucial for a neighborhood that is child-friendly.

For more great tips on finding a child-friendly neighborhood, read this article from TheHousePlanShop.com.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You Need To Be Exclusively Represented And Have Jeremy Walsh On Your Side To Handle All Of The Important Details For You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

While lowering your monthly payments will always be a driving factor when it comes to refinancing your mortgage, there are at least 5 other reasons to refinance, as well. These reasons include:

1. Move to a Fixed Rate: Adjustable Rate Mortgages draw you in with low introductory rates, which is great. But with periods of uncertainty, there mortgages make it hard to budget. So if interest rates are low, it makes sense to switch to a Fixed Rate Mortgage.
2. Consolidate: One mortgage payment is better than two. I am no mathematician, but even I can tell that makes sense. When interest rates are low, refinancing allows you to consolidate your main mortgage and an outstanding home equity loan.
3. Change Your Terms: By switching from a 30-year to a 15-year, you’ll pay a lower interest rate and shorten your total interest costs. While your monthly payments will go up, you will build equity more quickly and pay off your debt sooner.
4. Cash Money: A cash-out mortgage refinance allows you to turn an intangible asset-accumulated home equity into a tangible one-cash. This makes sense for any home improvement project with long-term benefits.
5. Divorce: If your home is jointly owned, refinancing will allow you to turn the obligation over to the spouse keeping the home.

If any of these solutions makes sense for you and your current mortage, contact your lender and see if they will offer you preferred rates or reduced closing costs on a mortgage refinance.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

You Need To Be Exclusively Represented And Have Jeremy Walsh On Your Side To Handle All Of The Important Details For You!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Sources:

5 Reasons for a Mortgage Refinance Other Than Lowering Your Payment

Are you considering purchasing you first home, but you are still on the fence? Don’t let the naysayers deter you from ce. Take a look at our list of the five best reasons why homeownership is great! They include:

1. Equity: When you pay rent, you never see that money again. Owning a home, on the other hand, will earn you money, over time, in the form of equity. Homes appreciate about 4 to 6 percent per year. Homeownership is about building long-term wealth. And if you are worried about the current state of the housing market, don’t; experts feel that the market will bounce back sooner rather than later.
2. Relationships: If you rent, you are surrounded by other tenants who rent. They come and go frequently, meaning your neighbors are constantly changing. Homeowners, however, have more time to develop relationships. And research has shown that people with healthy relationships lead happier, less stressful lives.
3. Predictability: As long as you have a fixed-rate term on your mortgage, it will be predictable. This means your payment amount is fixed for the life of the term. This allows homeowners to easily budget from month to month.
4. Ownership: Well, duh. Homeownership means you OWN your home. It is yours. You can renovate, update, paint and decorate your house the way you want. You do not have to answer to anyone, except maybe your wife. Okay, definitely your wife.
5. Great Deals: Now is the time to buy. Interest rates are low and home prices are low, which means that if you have a steady income and cash for a downpayment, it is the perfect time to buy your first home.

So if you have decided to purchase your first home, you have come to the right place. We take a tremendous amount of pride in being First Time Homebuyer Experts.

If you have any questions, please contact Jeremy Walsh Real Estate by calling 443-610-5722 or click here today!

Buying a Home is a complex process! In today’s market, you owe it to yourself to take full advantage of the market and have a dedicated and professional agent on your side to help you accomplish your goals. We have created and offer a systematic step by step approach to Buying Your First Home. In today’s market, Traditional Buyer Representation Is No Longer Enough!

You Need To Be Exclusively Represented And Have Jeremy Walsh On Your Side To Handle All Of The Important Details For You!

We have a common goal: Making you a homeowner. Let’s make it happen!

You can also follow me on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn as well!

Sources:

Five Great Things about Homeownership