Why Are Home Inspections Crucial When Buying in Our Area?



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Many of our buyers ask us whether they should do home inspections, and our answer is simple: absolutely! There are three basic home inspections that can be done that you should know about.

-The general home inspection: This is when a home inspector checks out the mechanical systems, appliances, outlets, the attic, and the structural components, among others, of the house in order to determine whether there are any defects or repairs that need to be addressed before going through with the sale.


- Heat and air inspection: This is where a qualified professional checks out the heating and cooling systems in the home and makes sure the system is functioning properly.
 
- Termite inspection: This is the one required by most loan programs to make sure there are no wood-destroying insects or fungi plaguing the home. They crawl under the home to ensure there is no rotting wood that might attract termites and that there are no termites present in the home.

Once these inspections are done, if any defects are discovered or anything that the seller should take care of, we will prepare a repair addendum. This addendum, presented to the seller or the seller's agent, asks that certain defects are addressed. The contract prescribes that we do this in a 10 business day period of time in order to protect your earnest money and ask for repairs to be done. If the seller refuses to do these repairs, as a buyer, you have the right to void the contract and walk away with your earnest money.

Inspections are important to do because purchasing a home is a very important investment in your life. Getting it done right, and in the right time frame, is crucial if you want the best results. If you have questions about the process, or if you would like more tips from Columbia's most helpful real estate team, give us a call or shoot us an email. We would love to assist you!

Do You Need Help with Pest Control in Columbia?



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Today we have Greg Stockman of Stockman Pest Control with us to discuss the role of his business within the home buying process. 

A lot of people believe that termite inspections are the only thing that pest control companies will do, but this is not true. Greg and his team look for other kinds of wood-destroying organisms, not just termites. They even check for moisture, which can also lead to problems with wood. 


Problems with wood can come from a number of things. It could be mold, or it could be the central heating and air blowing moisture under your home, causing the wood to rot. 

If you need a termite inspection or if you're having problems with pests of any kind, please don't hesitate to contact Greg.

As always, refer to us as your #1 resource for real estate in Columbia!