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  • 24 May 2017 10:46 AM | Amy Newcomer (Administrator)

    New! Ohio Home Inspector Training

    Corporate College is pleased to announce that it has partnered with the All American Training Institute (ATI) to offer Home Inspector Training at Corporate College.  ATI is the nationwide leader in Home Inspector training, currently offering both classroom and/or online training in 38 states.

    This one of a kind course is designed to provide a 6 day training boot camp that teaches the proper process of a Home Inspection and small business practices. This unique hands-on approach will include classroom props, live inspections on real homes as well as community guest speakers.  A Cleveland area Realtor® will present on how to gain referrals and market to broker and real estate offices.

    Hands on field training, along with learning to get clients and make more money are the building blocks that differentiate this training boot camp from other courses.

    ATI Training provides live instructor support, community resources and makes sure that home inspector graduates from this course are qualified, not just certified in the industry of home inspection

    http://www.atihomeinspectortraining.com/Cat/States/Ohio

  • 13 Apr 2017 11:54 AM | Amy Newcomer (Administrator)

    What to Expect on a Home Inspection:

    Inspection day is often one of the most exciting moments of home buying because it’s likely the first chance you have to go inside the home since you made your offer. It’s also usually the last chance you’ll have until a final walkthrough. But more importantly, it’s your opportunity to make sure you know what you’re getting yourself into when it comes to the condition of the home.

    Home inspections can be reassuring, fun and exhausting all at the same time.

    Home inspections don’t just provide you with a list of problems you want to negotiate with the seller to fix or something catastrophic that makes you back out of the deal altogether. It will provide you a detailed report that is something of a “new owner’s manual” for the home. It will include maintenance tips and schedules you should follow.

    Finding an inspector

    You should hire a licensed, professional inspector to conduct a thorough inspection. How do you choose one? Along with agents, lenders and other home pros, Zillow has lists of inspectors with reviews. You can use the Agent Finder tool to find all kinds of real estate pros, including inspectors. Get recommendations, check their online reviews and study their websites. Get a sample report to make sure what they will produce is thorough. Your agent probably has suggestions but you don’t need to use them.

    You will want to be clear on exactly what is and isn’t included in the inspection price. Will they test for lead paint? How about asbestos in the ceiling tiles? Is that part of the basic inspection or will it cost more? The price, though you will pay it, is probably the least of your concerns. Most inspectors are in a similar range of $300-$500 anyway and any fluctuation is a small price to pay for what you will get. Early in the home buying process start researching inspectors and have at least a couple in mind, especially if the market is busy. You’ll need to be sure you can get an inspection scheduled within your contract timeline, so if your first choice isn’t available, you need someone waiting in the wings.

    Inspection day

    You should plan on being there and your agent should be right there with you the entire time. Chances are the seller’s agent will be there, too to help get any quick answers the inspector might need. Block off the entire morning or afternoon. Home inspections take time and you don’t want to rush through it. During this time, follow along as much as you can. You don’t have to follow the inspector into the crawlspace – they bring protective clothing just for that – but anyplace reasonably accessible, you should go too.

    You aren’t being a pest. (That’s a different inspection altogether. If you have any reason for concern, hire an additional pest inspection.) You’re being a student. Inspectors will explain your home’s systems and give you maintenance tips. Those should also be in the final report, along with pictures. But hearing and seeing it in person is helpful. The day of inspection will probably feel like a whirlwind of activity. You may be a little nervous about what the inspector will find. It will help if you make like a Boy Scout: Be Prepared.

    Full disclosure

    In addition to your own eyes, ears and nose, you should get a seller’s disclosure statement before your inspection. Use the statement to help you pinpoint anything you want your inspector to look at. If they disclosed that they had a leaky window replaced or repaired, make sure that gets some extra attention from your inspector.

    Disclosure requirements vary by state and sometimes local jurisdictions, so ask your real estate agent if you have any questions about what is included. Disclosure typically comes in the form of boilerplate documents with a series of yes/no questions for the seller to detail their home and their experience there.

    One thing to look for is whether any unpermitted work has been done. If so, you could be on the hook for bringing the house up to code should you ever remodel. Even if that’s not even remotely on your radar, unpermitted work needs to be carefully inspected, particularly electrical and plumbing work.

    Source:  Zillow.com

    Like this article?  Read more here:

    https://www.zillow.com/home-buying-guide/home-inspection-checklist/


  • 06 Apr 2017 3:50 PM | Amy Newcomer (Administrator)

    Are Home Inspections Worth It? - Price vs. Value

    According to the experts at Investopedia, Home inspections are an important part of determining whether a home will need additional repairs or maintenance before it’s sold or bought. But are they always worth the investment? It depends on whether the benefits of home inspection outweigh the cost. This information will help you decide.

    Why Get a Home Inspection?

    Home inspections are used to provide an opportunity for a buyer or seller to identify any major issues with a home prior to closing. Realtors are also known to include home inspection clauses in some situations, such as new home construction.

    What is Covered in a Home Inspection?

    In new home construction, inspections generally cover:

    Foundations: Checking before the concrete is poured (once poured there’s very little that can be corrected).

    • Pre-drywall: Checking the structure and mechanics before the drywall is laid.
    • Full inspection: A full inspection is performed of the completed home.

    Home buyers and sellers may hire local inspectors to take an in-depth look through the home’s exterior and interior, checking:


    • Bathrooms: This room will be inspected for leaks, ventilation and any other major issues. An absence of windows or fans could indicate mold or mildew problems.
    • Electrical: An inspector will check your home’s wiring, testing how the outlets and GFCI perform to prevent any shocks or potential electrocutions. They will check your electrical panel to make sure it doesn’t present a fire hazard.
    • Foundation: While the inspector usually can’t look at the foundation (because it’s underground), he or she can identify secondary issues brought on by foundation problems, such as cracks or settling.
    • Grading: If your grading doesn’t slope away from the house like it should, the inspector will let you know. Moisture seeping into your home as a result of poor grading presents a danger to your foundation and the structure itself.
    • Garage or carport: The inspector will look at your garage door to make sure that it’s operating correctly and that it’s well-ventilated (prevents carbon monoxide poisoning in the garage).
    • Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC): An inspector will check your HVAC system to see that it functions correctly. Exposed ducts will be checked for leaks or asbestos.
    • Kitchen appliances: Inspectors may will sometimes check appliances to see whether they work. Ask ahead of time if these are covered in the inspection.
    • Laundry room: The inspector will make sure this room is well-ventilated and free of fire hazards.
    • Plumbing: The inspector will check plumbing, including all faucets, showerheads and visible pipes, for leaks. He or she will also test the water pressure and the state of the main water shutoff.
    • Roof: Inspectors will check the roof for any potential damage or leaks into your attic. He or she will also check the vents and gutters for damage.
    • Walls: The inspector will look at your siding and check for missing or damaged pieces, cracks, or signs of pests underneath.

    What a Home Inspection Doesn’t Cover

    Home inspections are limited. Even with an inspection, you may end up with undiscovered issues you’ll have to fix down the road. Home inspections only find the “visual cues” for problems. A foundation crack, slanted floors, doors that don’t properly close -- these are signs of bigger problems. However, problems without visual cues -- pests, radon, lead -- may crop up after the inspection. Some inspectors offer radon testing as an add-on; some will recommend asbestos testing services if your home appears to be at risk.

    Some areas inspectors won’t look at include:

    Inside walls (won’t cut open drywall or insulation)

    • Inside pipes or sewer lines
    • Inside chimneys
    • Behind electrical panels

    An inspection is also:

    Not the sole determinant for buying a house: Maybe you’re willing to make some renovations on the house with these problems. The inspection will help you determine exactly how many you’ll need to do.

    • Never free and clear of problems: An inspection will always find a problem with a home. Even new home constructions will have small issues that need to be addressed.
    • Not getting all the fixes done: No seller is going to fix everything for you. They may negotiate on some of them, but expecting resolution of all is unreasonable.

    Is it Worth the Investment?

    The average cost to hire a home inspector is $310. This cost will vary depending on a variety of factors. Ask ahead of time how an inspector charges. The average inspection will last three hours. Always accompany your inspector on an inspection, asking questions throughout the process.

    Compare this cost against the value of the home inspection. If you’re a seller, an inspection will help you understand exactly where there are problems in your home that could make or break a sale (i.e., cost you a lot of time and money and keep your home on the market for longer than it should be). If you’re a buyer, this inspection is crucial to understanding how much money you may need to spend on a home after the sale. For new home construction, it’s an imperative part of the building and finishing process. Either way, addressing issues early through a home inspection can save you tens of thousands of dollars down the road.



    Read more: Are Home Inspections Worth It? - Price vs. Value | Investopedia http://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/073015/are-home-inspections-worth-it-price-vs-value.asp#ixzz4lk1Fcx3f
    Follow us: Investopedia on Facebook


  • 21 Mar 2017 1:44 PM | Amy Newcomer (Administrator)

    The Scope of a Home Inspection

    A home inspection is a professional consulting service that determines the present condition of the home’s major systems, based on a visual inspection of accessible features. It focuses on the performance of the home, rather than cosmetic, code or design issues. Inspections are often performed during a real estate transaction, but may be done anytime.

    A Home Inspection is

    • An in-field evaluation and professional opinion of the performance of the readily accessible installed systems in a home at one point in time
    • Primarily a visual examination
    • Intended to identify components that are significantly deficient, unsafe or near the end of their life
    • Documented with a written report

    A Home Inspection is not

    • An insurance policy, guarantee or warranty on the home
    • An invasive or destructive exercise
    • Intended to identify concealed defects
    • A code or design review
    • Intended to predict future performance or life expectancy
    • An environmental review or energy audit

    Components Included

    • Roof
    • Structure
    • Exterior
    • Electrical system
    • Heating and Air Conditioning system
    • Plumbing system
    • Insulation and Vapour Barriers
    • Interior
    • Mechanical and Natural Ventilation systems

    What’s Excluded

    • Cosmetics
    • Outbuildings
    • Swimming pools and spas
    • Specialty systems including telephone, cable TV, alarm systems, lawn sprinklers

    Source: Carsondunlop.com

    • 10 Mar 2017 8:11 AM | Amy Newcomer (Administrator)

      Drones Are Changing Real Estate

      2017-03-08  Press

      9 ways drones are changing real estate

      9 ways drones are changing real estate

      What’s that buzzing above the neighbor’s house?

      As the spring homebuying season gets underway, drones may be a more common sight above homes about to go on the market. More and more real estate professionals are turning to drone photography and videos to better market their listings.

      In August 2016, the Federal Aviation Administration loosened its restrictions on the use of drones. Drone pilots no longer need an FAA pilot’s license — just a remote pilot certificate that costs about $150 — and drones are now approved for commercial use. That has opened them up to a host of industries, but they’re especially appealing to real estate pros.

      Brian Balduf, CEO and co-founder of real estate photography company VHT Studios, said his company started offering drone photo and video packages to clients last year in addition to its other photo services.

      “In marketing real estate, you’re trying to get people’s attention and get them to spend more time looking at the property,” Balduf said. “Drone photography and video is definitely unique and offers a cool, interesting perspective.” 

      Read more at: Drones are Changing Real Estate

    • 01 Jan 2017 11:08 AM | Amy Newcomer (Administrator)


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