We have taken extra steps to receive training and understanding so that we may reduce risk and keep everyone as safe as possible.

The Home Inspection is a necessary part of the buying process but with COVID-19 there are many concerns about having an inspector in a home for long periods of time touching everything. There are a few things that can be done to prepare for a Home Inspections during these uncertain times.

The main issue is the simple fact that a stranger (Home Inspector) is in a home that may or may not be occupied…while we do we wear our mask and rubber gloves to ensure safety there are a few things sellers/agents can do to reduce contact.

1. Turn on all the lights and fans in the home so we don’t have to touch the switches.
2. Make sure that belongings are cleared from areas that we need to access so we don’t touch your stuff.
3. Open the cabinet doors under the sinks and move the stored items so we don’t have to touch them.
4. Make sure the A/C is on and running.
5. Make sure that the whole family is not at the inspection – Necessary persons only.

These simple things reduce our contact with the home, reduce our contact with you and reduce your contact with us.

Win Win

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First day off I get my self caught up and cleaned up – I’m talking everything.. I get the truck back in order, I get the finances caught up, I delete unneeded emails and pictures etc,

Second day I get my hustle on… send out emails, get on FB and check out whats for sale, work on the website, go drop off some business cards, work on more certifications, mail letters to agencies…whatever, just Hustle and grow the business.

Third day off and any following days – Most Important – I try to just take it easy and hang with my family and just be home… which is hard for me…I have a hard time turning off if you know what I mean –

Point – When your in business for yourself you work – all you can – 20, 30 , 45 days in a row – It is real nice when you get 2 or 3 or 4 days off without actually taking vacation

The post What I Do When We Have A Little Slow Down…..#Hustle#EnjoyIt appeared first on Green Light Properties, LLC.

1. Make sure the inspection has been properly scheduled with other agents, owners, buyers and whoever else needs to be in the loop.

2. If you are not coming to the inspection then make sure the keys are where they’re suppose to be, make sure the lock box codes are correct.

3. Make sure that the utilities are on and any important information has been shared with the Inspector. Disclosures are good or just a phone call or text is fine.

4. Make sure that dogs are out of the way, it’s not fun to do an inspection while fighting off dogs or listening to them bark for 2 hours.

5. Answer the phone, I may have a question or a problem or who knows what. I don’t need a babysitter but I may need something.

6. Give proper addresses and directions, I may not know the area as well as the agents and I may not be aware of landmarks and local names for things…Bob’s Corner is not on my GPS.

7. Be on time, especially if you’re coming to let me in.

8. Protect me from the sellers and buyers – Answering questions while doing an inspection is like giving an interview while taking a test. It sucks…

9. Ask the sellers to make sure that everything is readily accessible…attic access, electrical panel, water heater, furnace closet

   Conclusion – I totally get that the Home Inspection is a pain for most Real Estate Agents but it’s just part of the process. I try to treat every agent and house like it’s the only thing in the world but the truth is that it’s not – I usually have more that 1 inspection to get done on that day so if I’m on the phone trying to verify the appointment while being lost for 15 minutes, get there and can’t get in for 15 minutes, agents shows up late, I have to move stuff for 15 minutes, I have to fight the dogs, I have to have to discuss every picture with the sellers and buyers…… Not Fun – Plus I’m trying to give a quality inspection so all the agents and brokers can move the deal along and get closed.

   I hope this helps.

   And to those who try to help out the Home Inspector – We all love you.

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Price – My prices vary. $285 is a good general idea though very often I charge less ($200-$250) for a number of reasons. For example if I already have another inspection in the area on that day or if it is really not far from home for me. Or if it is for an Agent that uses me over and over, Also I take the house itself into consideration along with how busy I am. For instance if it’s a basically new home in an area that I am close to then I may drop the price, or if the home is small. Now I don;t just shoot from the hip on pricing, I have some very specific questions – For example I will always ask where the house is, the age of the house and the square feet. See a 1800 sq ft home built in 2001 is a different price than the same size home built in 1930 (you can imagine the reasons) And I always try to schedule it to where I can give a price break if possible. After all I am in the business of repeat business and referrals.

Scheduling – I think I covered that but I try to meet every need of my client or agent. Now sometimes I just cant seem to find a date and time that works for everyone and then it just is what it is but I do often go WAY out of my way to get the business….example: I recently gave an agent 5 different dates and times and nothing seemed to work so I missed the job…I was bummed but I did my best…. But please don’t call an inspector and say “I’m calling to schedule an inspection next Thursday and 9 am” That’s not nice

Where will I go? Anywhere – But at a certain point I have to really consider drive time and miles. That being said I have had plenty of calls that were a long distance and I simply factored that into my quote and it was fine…Hey if you really need the inspection done right now and are willing to pay then I’ll be there.

Conclusion – I charge what is appropriate, I do my best to schedule to everyone else’s needs, and if you got the money…I got the time.

I will always provide a quality inspection and a fair price and I try to get to them in a timely manner.

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The point is to NOT buy a P.O.S (this is a very technical Inspector term) Unless you are a house flipper or just have a bunch of cash to dump into a property then I suggest you get you a G.L.P inspection. (that’s Green Light Properties B.T.W)

G.L.P can save you from a P.O.S – No B.S

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As far and the when…. Book the inspection as early as possible in the buying process – I can’t tell you how many calls I get and the client says I have to have my inspection done by tomorrow.

Read your contract – There are an allotted amount of days you have to complete your inspections and good inspectors are buys and can’t drop everything to get your done (although I will do my best to get to it)

So as soon as the contract is signed by both parties get the inspection booked –

The post How To Book A Home Inspection and When appeared first on Green Light Properties, LLC.

Are there things we miss? Of course there are, just like any other job. That’s why you use your judgement and choose the best inspector you can and just trust the process. I have certainly made a few (NEVER anything serious I should add) I have checked wrong boxes in my reporting software, I have gotten home and while reviewing my report before I sent it realized that I didn’t take a picture of some component and several other things. And I have done my best to correct the mistake and try to not do it again.

Here’s the deal – If you have hired a good inspector with a good reputation then any over-sites will be minor and won’t be anything that would have affected you decision to but anyway – I could go into this in major detail but I won’t – Do this, when you and whoever look at the house if you see something odd, strange, broken or whatever then write it down or show it to your inspector. The more eyes the better.

Home Inspections Visual and Non-Invasive –

The post Will The Home Inspection Find Out Everything That’s Wrong? appeared first on Green Light Properties, LLC.

Lets say you’re buying a $200,000 home and your Real Estate fees are %6 and the back is making you get a termite inspection, then there is abstract, title, closing etc etc etc.

The one thing you have control of is the Inspection – And guess what? It is the cheapest part of the whole thing……………..I know you know about houses and your dad and uncle have been in construction for 30 years, and they may very well be able to give you the advice you need but what you are looking for is an objective opinion. When I inspect a property it is just that…a property – No 2 are alike and I don’t care if you but it or not. I’m just doing my job.

That’s what you want….and unemotional objective opinion from someone who looks at houses all day.

So don;t be stupid to save a few hundred bucks –

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Here are a few pointers

Price – Just like many things, you get what you pay for. Now that’s not to say that the most expensive inspection is the best and the least expensive is the worst at all but you should stay away from $99 inspections. There is no was in hell I’m doing one for $99. It’s just worth more that that.

Tools – If all your inspector has is a flashlight then they don’t have enough. The bac, any k of my inspection truck is filled with all kinds of stuff because I never know what I may need. Some common tools are a flashlight, electrical testers, moister meters, ladders, tape measures, gas and carbon monoxide detectors, temperature gun, safety equipment and more.

Knowledge – Now this one is tough but here is what you don’t want. If every other word that comes out of your inspectors mouth is something that you have never heard of and it all sound like gibberish them either the inspector just has poor communication skills or they memorized a bunch of fancy words and use them to hide the fact that they have no clue what they are doing.

Conclusion – An average home inspection is about 2 hours long, should be noticeably thorough, should cost around $250 – $400 range (just my opinion, there is no set price), the inspector should be licensed and insured and they should know enough to explain anything in a way that the average person can understand.

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