House Or Home Inspection Using Magnifying Glass. Tax And Insurance
Hiring a home inspector in Jacksonville, FL is an important part of your home buying process; in fact, it may be the most important decision you make. Low inventory of both resale and new homes puts homebuyers at a disadvantage. It’s a sellers’ market. Competition is fierce and many homes are sold with multiple offers. Sellers’ are reluctant to make repairs and that makes it even more important that buyers’ understand the condition of the home.
A Jacksonville home inspector will alert you to problems you may not be aware of and which may be expensive to remedy. Chances are, in today's market, you may need to accept some level of obsolescence such as aged windows, paint, and appliances, and generally, you can plan and budget to make these upgrades. Some items, however, may require immediate replacement such as aged roofs, HVAC systems, water heaters, plumbing repairs, or electrical upgrades; these items may not be insurable under current insurance guidelines. If you have a mortgage, you can't close without a homeowners insurance policy.
Jacksonville homebuyers can waste time and money on homes that may not be insurable without repairs. Typically, upon receipt of an acceptance offer, homebuyers order a home inspection along with insurance reports and a WDO inspection. At this point, the buyer may not know if the home meets insurance underwriting guidelines. The buyer may end up spending several hundred dollars only to discover the home is not insurable and the seller may not be willing or able to make the required upgrades. In this scenario, the buyer may elect to pursue a HUD 203K loan (which takes longer and may not be acceptable to the seller), possibly negotiate the price and fund the repairs themselves or walk away. None of these alternatives would excite most homebuyers.
Before you make an offer on a resale home, obtain the following information:
If renovations or upgrades have been performed, ask for copies of the building permits. Roof replacements without a building permit simply do not count in the insurance world. Buyers can search for building permits in most jurisdictions online at the property appraiser or building department websites. You can also order a permit history report with Property360 by contacting us through our website. A permit history report is just $39. These reports will also identify if the permits were given final approval; you would be surprised how many were not.
You may also order a telephone consultation with a Certified Master Inspector to discuss the home. We will look up the building permits and discuss the primary components you are aware of. Buyers should take photos of the primary components listed above along with any other relevant photos you may share with the inspector. The fee for a 30 minute consultation is just $95 and it includes the permit history report which will be emailed to you. This is not a substitute for a thorough home inspection, but it may save buyers time and money if they are concerned with the general age or condition of the home. If the buyer decides to pursue the home purchase, we will credit $25 of the fee paid if Property360 is selected for the home inspection. Call (904) 503-9808 for any questions or to request an inspection today.
Let’s face it – AC systems are expensive to repair and replace but they are…
Buying or building a home in Baker County, Florida can be challenging. There is not…
Spring has arrived and Jacksonville homeowners should start preparing their homes for the summer storm…
The team at Property360 has come up with a list of our favorite tips and…
There are benefits to having your air ducts cleaned, although it depends on several underlying…
There are two primary reasons your insurance carrier may deny your claim: You declined the…