Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

New Home Construction - The American Dream or The American Nightmare?


Buying a new home is suppose to be the American Dream. Unfortunately, for many buyers of newly constructed homes it becomes the American Nightmare. Hiring a qualified third party home inspector can increase you chance of a hassle free home.

One only has to visit sites like Homeowners Against Deficient Dwellings (HADD)- http://www.hadd.com or Homeowners for Better Buildings (HOBB) - http://www.hobb.org to see how widespread shoddy construction is in the industry.

No area of the country is free from shoddy construction.

In my job as a Professional Home Inspector I talk to hundreds of people each year about new home construction. It still amazes me that many believe the city inspector will find every item wrong with a home. Nothing could be further from the truth!

A city inspector inspects for code violations. The building codes are the MINIMUM standards that a home should be built to. City code inspectors only inspect for safety and health issues as they relate to building. City inspectors do not inspect for the quality of workmanship! City building inspectors also have no liability. If your home falls down and hurts you the day after you move in, you can not go back and sue the building inspector because he missed code violations.

In Houston, the area I inspect in, the city building inspectors spend about 10 to 30 minutes in a home inspecting it. At the end of their "Inspection", they will then place a green or orange 3x5 sticker at the front of the home. The Green sticker says you passed, the orange or red sticker says the home failed.

There is no way that a city building inspector can note all the discrepancies on a home on a 3x5 sticker!

The new trend is for builders to advertise that their homes have been inspected by a "Third Party Inspection Company." This is like listening to a used car salesman say he had his mechanic check your used car out before you bought it.

If the company the builder hires becomes a nuisance by continuing to find problems, then a new company will be found who can inspect the homes the way the builder likes.

Wise and prudent home buyers will research their builder before deciding on one to go with.

They will also start doing their research on finding their own third party home inspector to inspect the home as it is being built.

What are some things you should look for in a home inspector?

To start with, not all home inspectors are created equal. Look for a home inspector that is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) - http://www.ashi.org. ASHI is the nations oldest and largest home inspection organization. They have strict membership requirements in place and not any ole inspector will be accepted.

Next, make sure the inspector you choose is Code Certified. Many areas of the country have now adopted the International Residential Code (IRC) as the model building code. Check with your local municipality to determine which model code they enforce and adjust your search likewise. You can find a Code Certified IRC Inspector by going to http://www.iccsafe.org.

Ask the inspectors on your narrowed down list for sample inspection reports. You're looking for a home inspector who writes narrative type reports and who will include code numbers or the code itself when he finds them. I'd avoid inspectors who say they use an onsite "checklist" type of report.

Call or meet the inspector. You're looking for someone who is knowledgeable and who can communicate well. If you talk to an inspector and have trouble understanding what he's saying, it's likely his report will be hard to understand as well.

Ask for references. Have the inspector send you several references and follow through checking them out.

Ask questions. Ask your inspector if he/she will come back out and re-inspect after the builder says all the repairs have been made. Some will, some won't. Expect to have to pay for a re-inspection. Ask the inspector if he will communicate with the builder after the inspection if the builder has questions. Good inspectors will take the time to go over the report via phone or in person with the builder to ensure that all needed repairs are made.

As a home buying consumer, it's your responsibility to ensure your home is built correctly. Not the builder, not the State, County or City. Hiring a qualified and reputable home inspector will go a long ways in helping you obtain a problem free home.

Full reprint and distribution rights are granted as long as the entire article, including the sig/resource box below, is kept intact.

Donald Lawson is a Professional Real Estate Inspector who is licensed in Oklahoma (454) and Texas (5824). Donald is also Building and Plumbing Code Certified by the International Code Council. He currently owns and operates V.I.P. Home Inspections, a multi inspector firm in Houston Texas. You can find more articles on New Home Construction as well as a free New Home Buyers Guide at his website http://www.best2inspect.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Real Estate - Google News

Rogue Valley Commercial Real Estate In Upswing - KDRV


KDRV

Rogue Valley Commercial Real Estate In Upswing
KDRV
Signs advertising commercial space for sale are not hard to find in the Rogue Valley, but local real estate agencies say these spaces are gradually becoming easier to fill. Strips of retail or office space are seen in many areas around Medford.
Q&A: Broker's job expands as market contractsPress-Enterprise

all 3 news articles »

Real estate market likely to see an increase in M&A activity - China Daily


China Daily

Real estate market likely to see an increase in M&A activity
China Daily
By Hu Yuanyuan (China Daily) BEIJING - China will see more mergers and acquisitions in the real estate sector this year, with domestic players continuing to dominate the market, according to industry analysts. The cash flow of property developers will ...
Cushman & Wakefield | Commerce Releases 2012 Utah Commercial Real Estate ...Utah Pulse

all 3 news articles »

Real estate developer says he plans to make cash bid for Philadelphia's 2 ... - Washington Post


Real estate developer says he plans to make cash bid for Philadelphia's 2 ...
Washington Post
PHILADELPHIA — A wealthy real estate developer said Tuesday he and four partners plan to make an offer to buy the city's two largest newspapers, whose downtown offices he already owns. Bart Blatstein said he plans to pursue an acquisition of some or ...

and more »

UAE Banks Dip Back Into Real Estate - Wall Street Journal


Wall Street Journal

UAE Banks Dip Back Into Real Estate
Wall Street Journal
DUBAI—Banks in the United Arab Emirates are tiptoeing back into real-estate lending. As the region's economy improves and some sections of the real-estate market show signs of stability and growth, banks are cautiously beginning to lend again.

Real estate market rebounding - Park Record


Real estate market rebounding
Park Record
The Park City Board of REALTORS shut the book on the 2011 real estate market, releasing their annual report on last year's number of sales, sales prices and number of foreclosures. 2011 sales increased by a total of six percent from the year before ...
Real Estate Market Picks UpKIII TV3

all 2 news articles »

Alexandria Real Estate Q4 FFO Rises - Quick Facts - NASDAQ


Data Center Knowledge

Alexandria Real Estate Q4 FFO Rises - Quick Facts
NASDAQ
(RTTNews.com) - Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE) Tuesday reported an increase in funds from operations for the fourth quarter, as revenues grew. Funds from operations, FFO, attributable to common stockholders for the quarter was $67.8 million ...
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year Ended ...MarketWatch (press release)
2011 Operating Results And Increased 2012 Guidance Announced By National ...Daily Markets (press release)
BRE Properties 4Q Net Soars As FFO ImprovesWall Street Journal
4-traders (press release) -RTT News -Business Wire (press release)
all 68 news articles »

Real Estate Weekly- What is a 203K Rehab Mortgage Loan? - Ukiah Daily Journal


Real Estate Weekly- What is a 203K Rehab Mortgage Loan?
Ukiah Daily Journal
By Deanna Parrish You find this great house that is in the perfect location, it's in a great school district, excellent floor plan and the yard you always wanted. It's the lowest price in the neighborhood. So what's not to like? It's a foreclosure.

and more »

REAL ESTATE: Refinancing expanding for Fannie/Freddie borrowers - Press-Enterprise


Los Angeles Times

REAL ESTATE: Refinancing expanding for Fannie/Freddie borrowers
Press-Enterprise
With the changes that are expected to make the program much more effective, the program is being called HARP II by those in the real estate and mortgage industries. Probably the most significant improvement is that it lifts the ceilings on the amount ...
US mortgage giant plans massive auction of foreclosure propertiesA Place in the Sun

all 140 news articles »

Collins Joins Equity Office Properties in Boston as Regional Director - Citybizlist Real Estate


Citybizlist Real Estate

Collins Joins Equity Office Properties in Boston as Regional Director
Citybizlist Real Estate
Collins brings more than 15 years of experience in real estate investment management to this role. Formerly, Collins was a Director at Long Wharf Real Estate Partners and was involved in the group's asset management activities.
Sam Zell "Comes Clean" for Penton's National Real Estate Investor (nreionline.com)MarketWatch (press release)

all 5 news articles »

The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go Mobile in Just Minutes With Free Online ... - MarketWatch (press release)


The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go Mobile in Just Minutes With Free Online ...
MarketWatch (press release)
LAWRENCEVILLE, GA, Feb 07, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- With more and more consumers relying on mobile devices for local information, real estate professionals can no longer ignore this increasingly important channel when marketing properties.
The Real Estate Book Helps Agents Go MobileRisMedia.com (press release)

all 4 news articles »

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

List4Sale Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us

© www.List4Sale.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker