Advantage Inspection Service, was on HGTV’s “My First Place”. A young couple was moving to Phoenix, Arizona and purchasing their first home. Watch David Swartz from Advantage Inspection Service give this young couple the run down on their first home.

David Swartz from Advantage Inspection Service in Phoenix, AZ was called upon by these first time home buyers on HGTV’s show, My First Place.

By Becky Harris

Warmer temperatures in the month of April signals the beginning of spring and perhaps more people entering the moving market, but it also marks the official kick off of National Home Inspection Month.

The American Society of Home Inspectors says a rigorous examination of a house is a crucial aspect for people just moving into a new home, but it’s really something that every homeowner ought to have done every three to five years. However, homeowners should be choosy about who they select to inspect their property.

“All home inspectors are not alike,” said Kurt Salomon, president of the ASHI. “It is important to inspect the inspector.”

Read the rest of this article at Upack.com.

Author: Grant Eckert

There are many things that you are going to want to ask before you have a home inspection. When it is time for you to begin preparations for your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are flying around in your mind. Therefore, you want to take a moment and compose yourself, and get ready to make the most out of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you want to buy it, there are things that you are going to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling it, there are also things that you are going to want to be sure that you ask. Therefore, you should make a careful list.

First of all, if you are having a home inspection because you want to buy your home, remember that this is your one chance to make sure that you are buying a good home that is exactly what you are looking for. Therefore, make sure that you ask your home inspector about all of the things that he or she might find.

1.Make sure that you mention that you would like them to look carefully at the foundation, because this is one of the most important things. This is the first question that you are going to want to ask your home inspector. You want to be sure that the foundation is solid and is not cracked in any way. This will make the basis of the rest of your life, so be sure that it is solid.

2.Make sure that you are asking your home inspector about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water going in and out of your house, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to be sure that all of this is included so that you can make the most out of your home inspection.

3.The heating and cooling systems are also very important. This is because if your furnace or central air breaks after you have purchased the house, you will find that you have much more to worry about and it is going to cost you a lot of money. Therefore, you will want to know if there is something wrong with any of the central air or furnace components so that you can either get it fixed or replaced before you buy the house.

4.Another thing that it is very important for you to ask before you home inspection is for the inspector to look for termites of for other bug problems. Even though these might seem simple, they can actually be a huge problem for you. So, if you believe that you are going to have to deal with these things, you can figure out how to fix them before you buy the house.

5.The roof is another place where lots of problems happen. Therefore before your home inspection you want to be sure that you are asking about the roof. You want to be absolutely certain that there are no cracks, and the home inspector can help you find this out before you spend your first rainy night there.

6.The property itself is another thing that you are going to want your home inspection to focus on, so be sure to look at that. Be sure to ask about the driveway and other aspects of the property so that you can get a good deal on these things.

7.Other buildings should be included in the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You want to be sure that if you are purchasing these things they are being used for the right reason and you are paying the right amount. Therefore, be sure that you are putting your best into these.

8.Remember to ask your home inspector to look at the fire proofing and the electrical wiring systems in your home. You want to be sure that these are functioning and that you know you are your family are safe in the home. The wiring should be done correctly and should not cause any problems for you.

9.Also, remember that you want to take a look at the windows and doors. Your home inspector should look at the various ways that these work and whether or not they are in good shape. Remember that if you need to replace them it will cost a lot of money, so you want to be sure that you are either getting that taken off the price or that you don’t have to worry about it.

10.Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the history of the home. There is a lot that the home inspector can discover, just by looking around, so you should ask about is so that you know what the home has been through.There are many things that you are going to want to ask before you have a home inspection. When it is time for you to begin preparations for your home inspection, there are probably all kinds of things that are flying around in your mind. Therefore, you want to take a moment and compose yourself, and get ready to make the most out of your home inspection.

If you are inspecting a home because you want to buy it, there are things that you are going to want to know. Likewise, if you are having your home inspected because you are selling it, there are also things that you are going to want to be sure that you ask. Therefore, you should make a careful list.

First of all, if you are having a home inspection because you want to buy your home, remember that this is your one chance to make sure that you are buying a good home that is exactly what you are looking for. Therefore, make sure that you ask your home inspector about all of the things that he or she might find.

1.Make sure that you mention that you would like them to look carefully at the foundation, because this is one of the most important things. This is the first question that you are going to want to ask your home inspector. You want to be sure that the foundation is solid and is not cracked in any way. This will make the basis of the rest of your life, so be sure that it is solid.

2.Make sure that you are asking your home inspector about the various plumbing systems. This should include the water going in and out of your house, the pipes, the toilets and the sinks. You want to be sure that all of this is included so that you can make the most out of your home inspection.

3.The heating and cooling systems are also very important. This is because if your furnace or central air breaks after you have purchased the house, you will find that you have much more to worry about and it is going to cost you a lot of money. Therefore, you will want to know if there is something wrong with any of the central air or furnace components so that you can either get it fixed or replaced before you buy the house.

4.Another thing that it is very important for you to ask before you home inspection is for the inspector to look for termites of for other bug problems. Even though these might seem simple, they can actually be a huge problem for you. So, if you believe that you are going to have to deal with these things, you can figure out how to fix them before you buy the house.

5.The roof is another place where lots of problems happen. Therefore before your home inspection you want to be sure that you are asking about the roof. You want to be absolutely certain that there are no cracks, and the home inspector can help you find this out before you spend your first rainy night there.

6.The property itself is another thing that you are going to want your home inspection to focus on, so be sure to look at that. Be sure to ask about the driveway and other aspects of the property so that you can get a good deal on these things.

7.Other buildings should be included in the home inspection. This would mean even garages and sheds. You want to be sure that if you are purchasing these things they are being used for the right reason and you are paying the right amount. Therefore, be sure that you are putting your best into these.

8.Remember to ask your home inspector to look at the fire proofing and the electrical wiring systems in your home. You want to be sure that these are functioning and that you know you are your family are safe in the home. The wiring should be done correctly and should not cause any problems for you.

9.Also, remember that you want to take a look at the windows and doors. Your home inspector should look at the various ways that these work and whether or not they are in good shape. Remember that if you need to replace them it will cost a lot of money, so you want to be sure that you are either getting that taken off the price or that you don’t have to worry about it.

10.Lastly, you want to ask your home inspector about the history of the home. There is a lot that the home inspector can discover, just by looking around, so you should ask about is so that you know what the home has been through.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/top-ten-questions-to-ask-before-a-home-inspection-299463.html

About the Author

Grant Eckert is a freelance writer who writes about topics involving insurance including Home Warranties | Best Home Warranty

When our real estate market “cycles” through a downturn, the result is often an increase in foreclosure rates among homeowners. Clearly, a foreclosure is a very sad and distressing event for the homeowner. Lenders also feel the pain and build up a portfolio of REO properties (real estate owned). Properties are often sold at auction as a result of foreclosure. Sophisticated real estate investors, however, view foreclosures in another entirely different light — as an opportunity.

A thorough inspection is critical on foreclosed properties for several reasons. It is possible that the homeowner did not properly maintain the property as finances became strained. In some cases, an angered homeowner may cause both obvious and hidden damage to the property. It is not uncommon to see missing or damaged fixtures, appliances and components at a foreclosure property.

Lenders and the eventual homebuyers have an incentive to get a comprehensive home inspection. Some lenders may opt for a very simple pre-assessment that only serves to give them information about how to make the property “presentable” for a sale. This is not a full home inspection and cannot be relied upon for determining the actual property condition. In an auction setting, the buyer may only get the opportunity to hire a home inspector to give a limited assessment just before the auction. In this case, a follow-up comprehensive inspection is needed after the home is obtained.

It is often a challenge to get the utilities turned on before the inspection. Persistence is needed in dealing with the banks as you arrange for the inspection. Don’t give up and by all means have the home inspected. Who knows how many thousands of dollars it could take to repair an undiscovered defect.