If you’re tired of sweltering and melting in your own home, join the club. Air conditioners are one of the country’s most in-demand major appliances right now. But which type of air conditioning is the most appropriate for your house? Central AC is awesome, but is it the right choice for you at this time? You’ve probably heard a lot about heat pumps — are they really more efficient than the other styles [...]
Your home’s internal systems are what keep your family safe, secure, and comfortable. But what “systems” do we mean, and how long can you expect them to last before they need to be replaced? According to the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, there’s a multitude of interlocking parts and products that ensure the smooth functioning of your daily life, both on the inside and the outside of your house. In this article, [...]
What comes to mind when you think of summer in the Windy City? Warm weather? Trees swaying in the breeze? Going for a long walk on a peaceful evening? Enjoying a day at Wrigley Field, or listening to the tunes at Ravinia? As the days get warmer and longer and we move further away from the harsh winter months, it’s important to remember that taking on some common summer maintenance tasks can help [...]
Unfortunately, even the most elegant of homes can have problems that might affect your purchasing timeline, make the selling or buying process much more difficult, or even derail the sale altogether. You don’t want to be saddled with a piece of real estate that needs costly repairs to be livable or worth your investment. But there’s no need to panic. After you’ve found a highly experienced home inspector you can trust and a [...]
Buying or selling your home can be scary — but it doesn’t have to be. Imagine purchasing a house, thinking everything is fine, and then finding out days or months later that your home needs thousands of dollars of repairs. In order to prevent any expensive, unwanted surprises in your new home, it's crucial to choose a highly qualified home inspector who knows how to uncover these dreadful home inspection nightmares before it’s [...]
Buying or selling a home is, by nature, a process that involves some degree of risk and uncertainty. According to real estate website Trulia, around 4% of home sales fall through between offer and close, imposing costs on both buyer and seller. The right home inspection can help to reduce that risk, ensuring that both parties to the sale are aware of potential problems or issues with the property and able to discuss [...]
When you decide to take the plunge and make a real estate investment, you want to do everything you can to ensure that your investment is as sound and secure as possible. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy to know what services are necessary, and which may just involve cost with little value added. For example, many condo purchasers may be unsure about the home inspection process. After all, a condo purchase generally involves [...]
If you’re reading a home inspection report for the first time, it can seem overwhelming. The report can range from about 15 to about 50 pages, and contains a great deal of information about the home, the inspector’s process, and any defects or dangerous conditions found during the inspection process. Some of these conditions present real risks or potential expenses down the line, while others may not present any issues at all once [...]
Most home purchase contracts include several contingencies; that is, conditions that must be satisfied before the sale of a home can be finalized. One of the most common of these contingencies, included in virtually every home sale contract, is the home inspection contingency. This contingency can be confusing, especially for first-time buyers. The inspection contingency gives the buyer the right to have the home inspected within a specified time period. It serves as [...]
You’ve found your dream home. You’ve made an offer, it’s been accepted, and you’re under contract. Your financing has been approved. Only one thing stands between you and closing on your dream home: the home inspection. While paying for a home inspection may seem like little more than an added cost to the homebuying process — after all, someone is likely living in the home you purchase exactly as it is — it [...]
