Home Inspection Tips From an Expert

As you know, when you buy a house, it’s a great idea to get a home inspection. Today I’m here with Brent Modderman from Integrity Inspection Services to go over a few things you need to know about the home inspection process. 

What do you look for in a home inspection? 

We are going to look at the overall condition of the home, inside and out. We start with the roof and work our way down to the basement. We’ll look at the heating and cooling system, electrical, and plumbing to make sure that things are done correctly. We’ll also make sure the foundation is set. 

We make sure the home is safe and in good condition for you.

Basically, we are looking to make sure that the overall condition of the home is up to par and that the property is safe. We also want to make sure that you know exactly what you are getting into with this property. 

How much does a home inspection cost? 

The home inspection runs about $350. If you want to know what the radon levels are in the property, the radon test will cost $125. Termite inspections cost $75. If you are buying an older home and want to test for lead paint, that will cost you $50. 

How long do home inspections take? 

Home inspections last about two hours on average. If you do the radon test, we do have to leave the test kit in the property for 48 hours. 

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen on an inspection? 

The weirdest thing was that I had various drug paraphernalia fall out of the ceiling on me. Of course, there are always some people who don’t quite pick up after themselves, even though they know their home is going to be inspected. 

If you have any questions for Brent, give him a call at (616) 581-8575, email him at IntegrityInspectionServices@gmail.com, or check out his website. As always, if you have any real estate questions, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

Helping First-Time Buyers in Grand Rapids

I started working in real estate in 1992, and I have always enjoyed working with first-time home buyers. Right now, it is very important to do a strategy session before you go and look at homes. 

During the strategy session, I’ll ask you how much you want to spend each month on a home, and we’ll figure out what kind of loan program works for you. Some buyers use FHA loans, which requires a 3.5% down payment. I also work with a lot of veterans who can use VA loans, which requires no money down.

During the strategy session, we’ll make a plan to find your dream home.

Other buyers may need an RD loan program to buy a property out in the country. If you have 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20% down, you can get a conventional loan. No matter what you need, the strategy session helps us set you up for success. 

Finally, we’ll go over what you’re looking for in a property: how many bedrooms do you want, how many bathrooms, and where do you want to be? Once we figure out what your dream home is, the real work begins. 

If you have any questions for me, give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!

What Does Our Inventory Tell Us About the Market?

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Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about our housing inventory and what it means. I wanted to talk to you about why the number of homes that are on the market is so important.

Housing inventory is a measure of the number of homes currently on the market. A good level of inventory is at least six months' worth of homes on the market at one time. The number of homes on the market does have a significant impact on your home’s value.

"With such a small supply, we have buyers stacking up."

With such a small supply, we have buyers stacking up who are all waiting for homes to be listed on the market. When we have a situation like this, it often can lead to multiple offers and offers above asking price.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.