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Winter Maintenance & things to look for

11/27/2018

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Upcoming Free (& non-promotional) Home Buyer Classes:


Saturday, December 1st, from 9am-12pm (ish)

      Marshall Community Center, conference room
      1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)



Saturday, December 8th, from 12pm-3pm (ish)
        Vancouver YMCA, conference room
        11324 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver WA (corner of SR500 & Gher Road/112th Ave)



Monday, December 10th , from 5pm-8pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)



If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know.  We understand that you have lives, and families, and work.  We will work something out that works better with your schedule.  Just let us know....   Due to the Christmas holiday, our next classes will be starting January 2019.                                                                               
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
                  
Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner!  :-D
~~~~~~~~~

Happy Christmas Season!

  It's my favorite time of year!  Yay!!!  Ok, now that my excitement for the holidaze is out of the way, I want to say, "Thank you" to everyone for coming to the Client Appreciation Movie Event on the 17th.  I thought that Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald was a great movie, and I loved all the Harry Potter tie-ins.  I do want to know when Albus Dumbledore decided that a smart 3-piece suit was no longer appropriate attire, and why he decided to switch to the sparkly robes and hats we see him in throughout the Harry Potter movies...did anyone else wonder this? I do hope that everyone enjoys their wands as well.  Chris Berg (Pinnacle Mortgage, 503-320-0925, cbeg@pcmloan.com) and I always enjoy hosting the movies, and seeing everyone.  We do have some movies we have already decided on for next year, and a couple we are ....well, we are trying to decide between...  There are SO many good movies coming out next year that it's really tough.   We definitely want to do the Marvels Avengers:  Infinity War 2, and of course, the new Star Wars in December.  We are waffling between Toy Story 4 in June, and Frozen 2 in November.  There's also the new Lion King movie next summer as well, and Captain Marvel in March, and a new How to Train your Dragon too, I think... ugh... decisions, decisions....  What is YOUR opinion?  We are happy to have feedback.....


  So, we are smack dab in winter now where it's daylight until 2pm, and then BAM! it's darlk.  Then there is the rain too... I actually don't mind the rain so much, or winter.  For home buyers it is the best time to be looking for homes.  Yards may not look the prettiest right now, but winter is when home inspections shine.  If you are a home buyer, and you need help with closing costs, NOW is the time to be out looking at homes.  Right now is the time of year that we see the least amount of multiple offer bidding wars, and the time of  year that we see sellers most inclined to help buyers with those pesky closing costs. Yes, moving during the winter, the holidays, and the rain suck...but closing costs, not having to compete with 4 other offers, and being able to see how a home actually lives during the wet weather... that is golden. 

  What should a home owner , and /or potential home buyer be looking at right now?  Well, water is the big one.  I showed a home last weekend, during the rain, where you could see a 6 inch puddle of water sitting around the foundation of the entire West and southwest sides of the home.  I'm not kidding.... it was 6 inches deep, and pouring in the foundation vents.  Part of the repairs for this would be to move the gutter downspouts away from foundation, and to re-grade the dirt away from the foundation so it all wasn't just puddling there with no where else to go but under the home.  My client did take a look under the home in the crawlspace, and yes, there was water in the crawlspace, but was it all from the water around the foundation, or from a high water table under the home?  Having a home inspection during this time of year also means when the inspector is looking in the atticspace she/he will actually be able to see if the roof is leaking.  He/she can also be checking for moisture in siding or in/around windows and window trim.  In our area, it rains.... and usually much more frequently than it has been.  Take advantage of the time of year. 

 Luckily I haven't melted in the rain....yet... and while I don't like to take chances that someday it could melt me there are certain things that I am looking at with clients at this time of year. I am looking at how the water sits around the foundation, if there are window wells around the foundation vents, and while looking at those foundation vents, I am looking to see if there are holes in the vent screens. It's getting colder, and small animals are looking for warmth.  You know what is warm? Under your home.  If there is a torn foundation vent screen, these animals will go under your home.  What do they do there?  Well, like you would, they set up house.  They have an area of the visquean (or all of it) for their potty area, they will pull down insulation for a nice warm bed, and if  the home has forced air with duct work under the home?  Good grief...that's like winning the small animal lottery!  I've seen (ok, the inspectors have seen and should me pictures) of small animals that have actually torn INTO the ducts under the home and made a nice, cozy nest for themselves....complete with blowing warm air....nice... well, nice for them, but not nice for the homeowner.  
   We are looking at the furnace to see if it has been serviced within the last year.  Have the wall heaters been vacuumed out? Years, and years ago....1997, to be exact,my husband and I rented an older home in Vancouver.  It was a cold, wet winter, and we left to go do something... I don't remember what, but I do remember coming home after dark to see a fire truck in front of our home....lights shining.  We pretty much freaked out.  My younger brother was staying with us and fell asleep on the couch.  He woke up to go to his room, opened the door, and the wall was on FIRE!  He ran to the kitchen, called 911 (no cell phones back then folks), and filled pans with water to try to put it out.  Long story short, his room had cedar walls which helped slow down how fast the fire could have gone, and throwing water on the wall helped, and the fire station was very close.  That room was shot with smoke damage, but it could have been much worse.  The culprit of the fire?  Dust, and dander build up in the (very old) wall heater.  All heating sources have a danger, part of being a homeowner is maintaining your heating sources. 
 other things that need to be done... new batteries in the smoke detectors because well, christmas trees, making sure that the electrical panels aren't recalled, making sure the home has carbon monoxide detectors (one on every level, and no higher than your knee), checking out the water heater for earthquake straps & overflow pipe, and we'll be looking at the roof for any missing shingles too.

If you are a homeowner, and thinking about selling your home, now is a great time to go over your home with your favorite Realtor, or have an inspector come through your home.  If you need an inspector name/number, give me a holler...  I can give you a couple that are very good.  
If you are thinking about buying a home, now is the time to be out there looking for the best home for your family, and to be able to have that inspection during a time of year that you maybe hadn't thought about.  
Start the new year with your very own home adventure.  I am always happy, and excited, to help!  Now, if you don't mind... Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is on and I have to sing along.....  
  


Information is power,  and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there....  If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.  
If you have any questions, or comments please get a hold of me anytime.  You can call, text, email, or even facebook me.  Please remember that while I mean these emails/blogs to be helpful, and educational, I am still hoping that you will call, or email me as I would be honored to help you with your home buying, or home selling adventure.





    As always....this is just a quick overview.... again...and I can't say this enough...please remember that your agent is NOT a salesperson, and should not be acting like one.  Real Estate is not really about houses, it is about relationships.  Your agent, and your lender work for YOU.  You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals.  Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure.  The goal is to be informative and non-promotional.  :-)  We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.  
 
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!!  ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers. 
 
 ....disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings... 
 
 
Upcoming Topics:
Delayed Possession... What is this & what does it mean to you
Interest Rates (information from Chris Berg, Pinnacle Mortgage)
What do I need to buy a home,
Hiring a Realtor...questions to ask,


What if I don't have a Down Payment? .....  &....
What does an Agent do for me? 
Debt to Income Ratios....What is this?



Last Week:  What happens AFTER the Home Inspections?



Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,   
;-D   
Tracie DeMars   

Real Estate broker    
Re/Max - Van Mall   
360/ 903-3504 cell   
360/ 882-3600 fax   

www.traciedemars.com   
traciedemars@aol.com   
    

“Interested in free and non promotional home education classes?  Go to www.freehomebuyerclasses.com for local upcoming home buyer and home SELLER classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.”

"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."    
   - Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).



0 Comments

What happens AFTER the home inspection?

11/5/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Upcoming Free (& non-promotional) Home Buyer Classes:
Saturday, November 3rd, from 9am-12pm (ish)
      Marshall Community Center, conference room
      1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)

Saturday, November 10th, from 12pm-3pm (ish)
        Vancouver YMCA, conference room
        11324 NE 51st Circle, Vancouver WA (corner of SR500 & Gher Road/112th Ave)


Tuesday, November 13th , from 5pm-8pm (ish)
       Marshall Community Center, conference room
       1009 E. McLoughlin Blvd, Vancouver WA (kitty corner from Clark College)



If these class dates and/or times don't work for you, please let us know.  We understand that you have lives, and families, and work.  We will work something out that works better with your schedule.  Just let us know....                                                                                  
....we also have home seller classes available too...link on left on website
                  

Remember...with reservation...we will throw in lunch, or dinner!  :-D
~~~~~~~~~
Happy ...Monday?  

  I think it is Monday anyhow...  my timeline is still a bit out of whack...  jumping time zones, and then the daylight savings time ending, I am not even sure what day, or time it is.  I love, love, LOVE November & December!  The last 3 months of the year are my favorite.  I love the argument between Pumpkin Spice or Apple Cider (Apple Cider is the best by the way followed closely by all things peppermint). I love the colors, the smells, the holi-daze, the weather, and the coziness of it all.  I have a body made for winter clothes. :-D  It would be nice if my 8 year old would stop handing me catalogues with items she thinks Santa is going to bring her for Christmas though...  



  We do have an exciting event coming up though....  Winter Client Appreciation!  
Saturday, November 17th, from 3pm-6pm, Chris Berg & I are thrilled to be hosting the NEW, 'Fantastic Beasts & Where to Find Them' movie!!  You know the drill...  let me, or Chris Berg (cberg@pcmloan.com) know how many adults & kids tickets you need....  and yes, there are some 21+ tickets available as well.  Limit of 6 tickets please unless you have talked to me or Chris Berg about it first. We are excited to see you soon!!  :-) ...and Thank YOU.. Thank you for your referrals!  Thank you for recommending us, or the classes to those you know (and on Facebook too), and THANK YOU for letting us to be part of your home adventures. We appreciate you so much


So last time I talked about Inspections and Repairs, but what happens after that?  This is the part that gets kind of 'hairy & scary'.....  
As part of your inspection response (the 35r), your Realtor will want to make sure that 'all repairs are subject to re-inspection'.  What this means is that after the repairs are done, you have the right to have them re-inspected to make they are completed, and completed correctly. When the repair request comes in from a buyer, the sellers agent and the sellers go over the requested repairs together and the seller chooses how to respond to those requests. If both parties can not come to an agreement on repairs then the deal dies, but let's assume for the sake of this email, that both parties have agreed to some repairs.  At this time it is the sellers responsibility to have those items repaired. Some seller agents will leave it up to the sellers and not follow up.  I do not agree with this method, but again...that is just my opinion. Some seller agents will set up all the repairs to be done for the sellers, and some will help the sellers with names/numbers of contractors (if requested) for the sellers to contact so they can 'shop' around.  Honestly, this part depends on the Realtor in question, and the sellers themselves.  When working as a sellers agent, I ask my clients if they would like me to schedule the repairs, of if they would like me to help with names and numbers for them to contact.  Either way, it is the sellers agents job to follow up on those agreed upon repairs to make certain they were completed.  At this time, the sellers agent will let them buyers agent know that the repairs are completed so the buyers lender can order the appraisal and/or so the buyers can have the opportunity to do the re-inspection.

A re-inspection with the inspector does cost money. The inspector will come back out to verify the requested (agreed upon) repairs were actually completed.  We'd like to think that the sellers will do the repairs, but too many times I have seen it where they have not.  Once the deal is closed, and the buyers are the new owners it is very difficult (almost impossible) to get anything from the previous owners. It's always better to be safe than sorry, right? So yes, the re-inspection is another non-refundable fee of approximately $150 (ish), but if the repairs were not done....or done correctly... it gives you, the buyer, the opportunity to halt the transaction until it is done.  

If any of the work was done by licensed contractors (and that will need to be clarified as part of the home inspection requests), please make certain you receive the receipts. This gives you the opportunity and ability to go back to the contractor who did the repairs if something should happen, or go wrong.  If you lose a receipt, ask your Realtor....  I always keep copies of those.  :-)  Unfortunately, sometimes, no matter what we do to protect you in your home purchase, sometimes...things still do go wrong.  Remember what I said last time... you are purchasing a used home, and you really never know what is going to happen until you start living in it.  Everyone lives in their homes differently and each home reacts differently to each home owner.  Weird, but true... it's a lot like a car.  A home warranty, in a lot of cases, is your best friend.  Always get a home warranty... and there are 3 ways to get one... you can pay for it, the sellers can pay for it, or your Realtor can pay for it.  I always ask the sellers to pay for the home warranty, but if they don't then I will pay for the first year.....because things do happen and go wrong, and that is the last thing you need to be worried about.  A home warranty does NOT cover roofing, windows, walls, floors, or siding, but it does cover electrical, plumbing, heating, water heaters, built in appliances. There is a small co-pay, but if something happens you give the home warranty a call and they'll come out to repair, or replace it.  Home warranties are a very good thing. It's peace of mind...  

As I mentioned...things can go wrong no matter what we do to try to protect you.  I have a client who purchased a home this summer. This was a very difficult transaction, but we made it happen.  My clients were amazing and persevered through it all.  The home itself had been a rental for a number of years, and we could tell there had been some 'deferred maintenance'.  After they closed there were a couple of leakage issues that we had home warranty to come in to cover...irritating, but not the end of the world. Then there was 'the call'... they had sewage backing up in their master shower.  What?!?!?!  We had a septic report showing the septic had been inspected and pumped so what the heck was this?  They had a plumber come out who inspected the line and there was a break in the line. Oh crap....literally..... The plumber said that this was not a new break...this had been there for awhile.  Remember how I said that this had been a rental? The question becomes...did the sellers know about it?  One would assume that the renters told the previous owners about it, but we know what they say about 'assume', right?  Did the septic person check the sewage line as part of their inspection?  None of this was mentioned on the sellers disclosures.   So, where does that leave my clients?  I contacted the sellers agent requesting the sellers information as my clients were requesting to talk to them about it.  They just wanted to ask some questions and talk to them.  The sellers agent would not give me that information and told me that, "the transaction is closed, and it's not appropriate for us to be involved anymore".  Is he incorrect?  No...and unfortunately, yes.  

Real estate is not about houses....or not just about houses...  Real estate is about relationships.  A Realtors relationship with their clients should go beyond just getting keys.  I feel that my clients are more than 'clients'....they're friends.  I am always there to help in any way I can.  In this particular instance, my clients have a major issue that there is a darn good chance the sellers were aware of and did not disclose. They had questions and wanted to talk with the sellers.  I did what I could to help them find that information so they could ask questions and talk to the previous owners. Because they couldn't talk to the sellers, they have now gone to the courts.  It's sadly true.  My clients have spoken to an attorney about claims as there is some evidence the previous renters told the previous homeowners about the break in the line.  That is the key to liability...  the question really is IF the sellers knew about the line and did not disclose it, or repair it.  So what about the yes?  Legally, once the transaction is closed, technically we (as Realtors) are no longer involved with anything to do with it.  
Another client recently had their chimney inspected (we had requested that as part of the inspection process, but the sellers countered back on agreeing to do about 5 items, but not 3 of the requested items.  The chimney inspection was one of the items that the sellers were not doing. A chimney inspection is about $150 so my clients were ok doing it themselves after closing).  The chimney inspector noted that the brand new mantel that the sellers had put in was nailed through the flue.  This isn't good as the mantel has to be pulled out, and the flue replaced. There is an insert (which is amazing), but no metal chimney pipe going up through the chimney that will need to be put in.  The sellers would honestly have had no clue about the insert and the lack of the chimney piping as that was done before their ownership.  The previous owners also purchased the home as a bank foreclosure so they had purchased it 'as-is'. The mantel though...it was pretty, and yes, the seller did it himself.  However, nailing it through the flue?  He probably had no idea that he had done that as nope...not a contractor. I had contacted the sellers agent asking who installed the mantle (praying that there was a contractor that we could talk to), and the sellers agent contacted me back that the seller had just done some cosmetics to it...that was it.  Not necessarily true... the old pictures are still online.  The brick chimney was taken out and the mantle put in.  That's a bit more than cosmetics in my opinion. However, where does this one leave my clients?  Excellent question and one I am not sure of myself honestly.  I don't have an answer here.... the photos of the home when last listed (from when the sellers purchased the home) shows something entirely different with that chimney.  The seller did the work himself, and it was a bit more than cosmetic, but did he KNOW that he damaged the flue when he did that? Remember... knowledge. It really comes down to whether or not he knew about it and did not disclose or repair it.  We KNOW he changed it, but I think it would be very difficult to prove that the seller KNEW that damage had been done and that he knowingly didn't disclose it to my clients.  Most likely he made those changes (that 'could' be termed cosmetic), but the likelihood that he knew that he damaged the flue doing it is pretty unlikely.  Ugh...  real estate.. luckily for ALL of us, instances like these two are pretty rare.  

So what happens AFTER the inspection? A lot.  Any agreed upon repairs need to be completed, followed up on, and receipts gathered up.  The appraisal needs to be ordered, and final paperwork for your lender needs to be turned in.  




The inspection is one of the most important parts of your home buying (and selling) adventure. No one deal is the same and every transaction has its own path to completion.  Most cases things go pretty smoothly and everyone does what they are supposed to do, and follows directions.  However, sometimes, sometimes, sometimes....things get a bit 'hairy and scary'....  




Information is power,  and as always...May the odds be ever in your favor out there....  If you are looking for a real estate agent, I would love to be able to help you.  
If you have any questions, or comments please get a hold of me anytime.  You can call, text, email, or even facebook me.  Please remember that while I mean these emails/blogs to be helpful, and educational, I am still hoping that you will call, or email me as I would be honored to help you with your home buying, or home selling adventure.

    As always....this is just a quick overview.... again...and I can't say this enough...please remember that your agent is NOT a salesperson, and should not be acting like one.  Real Estate is not really about houses, it is about relationships.  Your agent, and your lender work for YOU.  You drive the bus...we are merely GPS to help you get to your goals.  Like the classes, this weekly blog email is to help you with your home adventure.  The goal is to be informative and non-promotional.  :-)  We are, however, hoping you will call and want us to help with your adventure.  
 
Thank you again for your business and your referrals!!  ...and thank you for referring these classes to your friends, family, and co-workers. 
 
 ....disclaimer...if you have already purchased a home, or would no longer like to receive these emails, please let me know and I will be happy to remove you from any further mailings... 
 
 
Upcoming Topics:
Delayed Possession... What is this & what does it mean to you
Interest Rates (information from Chris Berg, Pinnacle Mortgage)
What do I need to buy a home,
Hiring a Realtor...questions to ask,


What if I don't have a Down Payment? .....  &....
What does an Agent do for me? 
Debt to Income Ratios....What is this?



Last Week:  Home Inspections & seller disclosure


Have a great day, and I will talk to you soon,   
;-D   
Tracie DeMars   

Real Estate broker    
Re/Max - Van Mall   
360/ 903-3504 cell   
360/ 882-3600 fax   

www.traciedemars.com   
traciedemars@aol.com   
    

“Interested in free and non promotional home education classes?  Go to www.freehomebuyerclasses.com for local upcoming home buyer and home SELLER classes, or facebook: Tracie DeMars Real Estate for my home buyer education blog.”


"Listen to the mustn'ts, child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the shouldn'ts, the impossibles, the won'ts. Listen to the never haves, then listen close to me... Anything can happen, child. Anything can be."    
   - Shel Silverstein, American poet, cartoonist and composer, (1930 - 1999).


0 Comments

    Tracie DeMars
    real estate broker with Re/Max

    I have been in real estate for about 15 years now, and I have seen the market up, down, and now going up again.  I teach the Clark County Free Community Classes for Home Buyers & Home Sellers to help buyers learn about the loan, and home buying process; and sellers to learn about the paperwork and process of selling a home.  We are volunteers, and have no affiliations so we are able to tell it like it is...with no sugarcoating.  The pros, the cons, we tell it all in a fun, engaging, direct manner that encourages class attendee interaction and involvement.  Classes are free and non-promotional and held at community locations.  Walk -ins are welcome and all are invited.  
    ​Whether you're buying or selling a home, Education should always be your first step! 
    **we now offer Home SELLER classes too, by reservation.  It is a sellers market out there, and the classes are designed to go over all the paperwork, the 'right' questions to ask, how to make sure your agent is really working for you, what a CMA (comparable market analysis) is, and what is considered a comparable home....and going over the settlement statement.  What are the fees?  What are you going to net???

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