Author: silvistermasi

Curb appeal. It’s all about how your home looks to people walking or driving by. But there is no more important audience to attract than potential buyers, who are highly influenced by their first glimpse. If you’re selling, you can boost that first impression by making sure your home looks great before it hits the market. Here are some tips and techniques that can positively affect your home’s curb appeal and perhaps even its value.

Cleanup and Repair – Tackle some basic maintenance and repairs before moving onto larger projects. Clean windows and siding, stow away yard tools and equipment, and clean up dead branches and leaves. Make sure fences, walkways, and the driveway are in good repair, too – a home that looks well taken care of is always more attractive to buyers.

Landscaping – A full landscape overhaul may not be warranted, but the yard, especially in front, should look neat and well maintained. Trim any overgrown shrubs, remove weeds, and tidy up planting areas. A fresh layer of mulch is an inexpensive way to make planting areas look well maintained. If the season is right, add some colorful flowering plants to brighten up around walkways and at the front entrance. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to create an instant welcoming feeling.

The Entrance – The front door is another key element of that all-important first impression. If replacement is cost prohibitive, consider revitalizing a tired, faded door with a fresh coat of paint in a great accent color and swapping out the hardware. Updated house numbers that reflect the style of the home are another impactful but inexpensive addition.

Paint It New – Brighten up the exterior with a new paint job. It’s always best to go with neutral colors that have widespread appeal so that potential buyers won’t be put off by polarizing colors or combinations. Painting the exterior is a significant improvement that can even add to the home’s value. If the existing paint is already in good shape, have the exterior pressure-washed to get rid of accumulated dirt and grime. Have the windows washed inside and out to brighten the overall appearance of the home and to maximize incoming light.

There’s nothing worse than home “lookers” who drive by – and keep right on going because they’ve already decided a home doesn’t appeal to them based on looks alone. With these tips in mind, chances are your home will catch the eye of more potential buyers.

Many homeowners are concerned about the possibility of asbestos in the home and the health hazards associated with it. Breathing asbestos fibers over a long period of time can lead to asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma.

For years, asbestos was widely used in various materials such as wall and ceiling insulation, vinyl flooring, insulation for heating ducts, pipe wrap for water heating systems, roof tiles, acoustic ceiling tiles and much more. While the use of asbestos in construction has been greatly reduced, many of these materials are still present in thousands of homes. If there is a suspicion of asbestos in the home, homeowners will need to contact an expert to sample and confirm its presence. A visual inspection cannot determine whether a given material contains asbestos.

Is it always a problem? It’s important to know that asbestos poses a health risk when the fibers become airborne, which can occur if materials are crumbling or damaged. If there is minor localized damage, it can be professionally repaired by encapsulating the asbestos fibers with a specialized sealant. If the asbestos in products is in good condition, the best course of action may be to leave the asbestos-containing materials alone. Newer materials that contain asbestos are designed to encapsulate the fibers, preventing them from being released into the environment.

The biggest risk is for homeowners or other non-professionals to attempt asbestos removal. Disturbing asbestos usually makes it dangerous. If it must be removed, it’s a job for an expert who will also properly dispose of it. In some cases, such as a home renovation, asbestos removal is the only option.

Condominium buyers sometimes underestimate the value of a home inspection – or sometimes want to forego it altogether. But a home inspection can be just as important for condo buyers as it is for buyers of single-family homes in terms of making an informed purchase decision, or simply becoming educated about the home. Here are some of the questions we hear:

Does the condo inspection cover more than just the subject unit? Usually not. Common areas and items such as the roof, exterior walls, elevators and foundation are not normally part of the scope of a condo inspection because their condition and upkeep are the responsibility of the homeowners’ or condominium association, not the individual owners. HVAC components exclusive to the individual unit would be included in the condo inspection.

Will condo buyers receive a comprehensive inspection report?  By nature, a condo inspection covers fewer areas than a standard home inspection, but the report should cover each of the included items or systems with the same amount of detail as a single-family home inspection.

Should buyers plan on attending the condo inspection? It’s always a good idea for the buyer to accompany the home inspector during the inspection. Not only will they learn about the home’s condition, but the inspector may point out features or functions the buyer may be unaware of. Attending the inspection also provides the opportunity to ask questions during the process, providing further insight on the home.

The builder claims the condo doesn’t need a home inspection because the development is new. Is that accurate? New construction doesn’t always mean everything is okay. In fact, issues very often come to light during the first year or two after a building is completed. Occupancy inspections by local building departments check primarily for code compliance and are not equivalent to a home inspection.

By learning as much as they can about the condo they’re considering, your buyers are more likely to end up satisfied with their purchase.