Home inspection costs will vary depending upon many factors, including the home’s location, the Home Inspector’s capabilities, the size of the home, and more.  On average, you can expect to spend $450-$500 for a home inspection on a 2,500 square foot house.

Because of the variance in home inspection costs, it is important to get an estimate from your professional home inspector before the project begins and agree on a price.  Some home inspectors charge by the size of the property (number of square feet).  Others charge by the hour.  Most charge a flat fee plus additional fees for radon, mold, or other tests.

Be sure to understand what you’re getting from your home inspection.  Generally, it’s best to be as thorough as possible, but as with any aspect of home buying or selling, you should understand what you get from your investment.  Don’t over pay a home inspector or purchase an unneeded service.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

When you pay a qualified home inspection professional to inspect your real estate purchase, you should expect an objective report on the current condition of the property – top to bottom, inside and out.  You should also expect to learn about needed repairs and replacements that may be needed in the near future.

Typically, a home inspection involves the review of more than 100 parts and systems.  Exterior inspections include checking siding, trim, gutters, decks, garage, doors, and windows.  Property foundation and framing systems are examined for cracks, sagging, and other structural defects.

Interior inspections include close examination of ceilings, floors, and walls of every room.  To help the inspector do his or her job, the home owner should ensure easy access to all areas of the property.

The entire electrical, plumbing, and air-conditioning systems are inspected for correct operation and excessive wear.  Swimming pools are examined for cracks and leaks.

The inspector also looks for evidence of and damage by pests, termites, or the presence of toxic materials.

Once the inspection is complete, the Home Inspector will provide a report to all parties.  The report will cover the condition of all areas inspected, noting any major or minor defects, potential future issues and suggested repairs.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

When you talk with a prospective home inspector, always check their credentials but also clarify what you expect from that person.  Home inspection associations recommend that you ask the following questions when you retain a home inspector:

• What kind of training and credentials do you have?
• How long have you been in this business?
• Are you affiliated with any real estate agencies or local construction businesses? (Possible conflict of interest.)
• Can you provide an advance list of areas to be inspected?
• Do you provide a detailed written report of all defects and recommendations for corrective measures?
• How much do you charge?
• Are there additional charges for certain tests?
• Can you provide recent references?

No professional home inspector will object to these questions. If someone is reluctant, hire someone who you know you can work with.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

You should prepare for a home inspection carefully, repairing all known defects ahead of time, and clearing access for the inspector to all parts of the home.  The cleaning and possible repair work you do will not only will facilitate the inspection, it will improve your home’s marketability.

Before the inspector arrives, be sure to:

• Repair cracked or broken items you may find.
• Clear access to the electrical control panels, and major home systems for the inspector.
• Replace broken glass and grouting around windows and doors.
• Fix leaky faucets.
• Make sure toilets flush properly.
• Replace rotted wood around plumbing, doors, and windows.
• Make sure electric outlets are active and replace cracked outlet covers.
• Replace air filters and clean vents.
• Check the roof for loose shingles and sagging gutters, if applicable.
• Paint rooms that need it.
• Clean the oven and replace burner drip pans, if needed.
• If you have already moved, make sure utilities will be turned on during the inspection.
• Make a file of utility records, warranties, and receipts for major repairs.
• Keep all pets and small children safely away during the inspection.

If you are the seller, make yourself available to the home inspector, but don’t look over their shoulder.  If they have questions, answer them truthfully, and don’t take their comments on the home as a personal criticism.  The Home Inspector is there to act as a professional, and you should treat them in a professional and courteous manner.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

A professional home inspection report by a credible inspector is also a marketing tool in your effort to find prospective buyers.  Even if a later inspection reveals defects in your home, the preliminary seller home inspection from a credible professional is proof that you have nothing to hide.

If you do have your home inspected before you list it, you may find defects you weren’t unaware of.  If so, it’s likely that you are legally responsible to disclose those defects to potential buyers.  Consult with your REALTOR® and an attorney about any applicable laws relating to disclosure of pre-listing inspection results.

Sellers should understand that buyers will likely want another inspection to occur before purchase, and most banks require another by a home inspector they select.  Sellers shouldn’t be offended if a potential buyer wants a second opinion – its best that both sides fully appreciate the soundness of the home before the contracts are signed.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

Since most places do not regulate home inspections – or home inspectors – it’s best get advice from a REALTOR® or local Board of REALTORS® to be sure you get a bona fide qualified professional.  Most REALTORS® will recommend several inspectors for you to choose from.

Here’s some key advice for picking a Home Inspector:

• Look for someone who is a member of the American Society of Home Inspectors or National Association of Home Inspectors.  Both organizations hold members to standards of practice and a professional code of ethics.
• Make sure your home inspector is insured.  Only the most established inspectors carry Errors and Omissions liability insurance, which is difficult to qualify for, and expensive.  It protects both the inspector and you.
• Trust your instincts.  If you do not feel comfortable with a prospective inspector, look elsewhere.
• Be cautious just picking someone out of the phonebook or internet.  Since their inspection may well be the clincher in your house deal, you want to be sure that the inspector you choose is a qualified professional.

Your home inspection is one of the final steps in purchasing your home, and one of the most important in guaranteeing its livability in the years to come.  Don’t rush through the process or hire just anyone.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

Your Home Inspection will help you understand whether a home’s sale price is a true indicator of its worth, at least from the standpoint of structural soundness.  It takes much of the guesswork out of the purchase, protecting both buyer and seller.  While most Home Inspections fail to turn up any major property defects, there are a few things any new real estate purchaser should watch out for.

According to the Real Estate Inspection Association, some of the most common major defects discovered during home inspections are:

• Roofing defects due to aging, wear, or improper installation.
• Ceiling stains indicating past or present roof leaks.
• Electrical hazards.
• Rotted wood on the exterior or around plumbing.
• Building code violations.
• Fire hazards.
• Improper gas system/gas water heater installation.

Very few home inspections result in a completely positive report.  Over time, wear and tear often create the need for some kind of repair.  If any element of a home fails inspection, it doesn’t mean that the home itself is “bad”, but that some aspect of it needs correction.

Typically, sellers will agree to make major repairs prior to sale.  Just as often, seller will buy a home with full knowledge of minor flaws, and make the repairs later, either as needed, or as part of a more expansive renovation.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

Absolutely!  While most lenders require a home inspection, it only makes sense to have an expert go over any new property you purchase.

When real estate is sold “as is” or as a “fixer-upper,” a home inspection can give you a “heads up” on whether the property’s needs are greater than its worth.  Older properties need close inspection simply because of the ravages of time; however, even new homes may harbor hidden structural or mechanical defects that could turn you new purchase into a nightmare.

Generally, buyers assume the cost when they request an inspection.  Often the only problems uncovered are minor cosmetic flaws or defects that are easily repaired or corrected.  In the event major defects are discovered, a professional home inspection could save thousands of dollars and provide documentation for property price reductions or other concessions.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

Even if you’ve found what seems to be the perfect home, you need to find a home inspector to cast a critical and experienced eye on every aspect of the property.  Only then will you understand the true condition – and true value of the property.

It doesn’t just apply to older homes.  Even newly built homes can have flaws that need fixing.  A professional home inspection will provide peace of mind, and ensure that your investment is a wise one.

You can learn more about home inspections from these articles (click below):

• Should All Real Estate be Inspected?
• What to Expect from an Inspection?
• Finding a Qualified Home Inspector
• Home Inspection for Sellers
• Prepare for an Inspection
• Pre-Screening a Home Inspector?
• What is Involved in a Home Inspection?
• How Much Does a Inspection Cost?
• The Inspection Report

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today to get answers to some of the questions you might have and to help you find a qualified Home Inspector.  Click here.

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.

If your military relocation takes you to a new location that becomes “home” in your heart, then you may want to think about purchasing property there for the long term.

Owning a home is a way to put down roots for retirement.  Although subsequent PCS assignments may take you far away, you know you have a home to return to when the time comes to leave active duty.

Retiring to a community where a military base is close by has many benefits, which includes easy access to base facilities and resources.  You’ll be able to:

• Buy your grocery at commissary prices.
• Shop the Exchange.
• Access to military medical facilities.
• Usually gain entry to on-base clubs, MWR facilities, and more.
• You continue to enjoy the camaraderie and support of the military community.

If you do buy a home and must leave for a new PCS, renting your home allows you to retain ownership and take advantage of rental benefits:

• Rental income helps cover the expenses of maintaining your home.
• Rental property offers tax deductions.  (Consult a tax professional for tax advice on the advantages/drawbacks of owning rental property.)
• In most military areas, it’s relatively easy to find property management agencies that can handle the logistics of finding renters, rental contracts and home maintenance issues.
• During those years you are away on future assignments, your mortgage balance is dropping and equity is building.
• You will build home equity that can be tapped for college expenses or updating and renovating your home.

Best of all, when the big day comes when one of your real estate investment may be a paid off mortgage and the extra money and time you need to enjoy leisurely days on the golf course or other favorite recreational activities.

Contact Infinity Realty Guam today for the real estate company that will provide quality service you deserve.  (Click here).

DISCLAIMER: This information is provided for general awareness only and is not intended for the purpose of providing legal, accounting, tax advice or consulting of any kind.  Please consult with a professional in their respective expertise for complete details.