Roby Pagong asked:




You may have already heard about home inspection but have not fully understood what it is all about. This process is required in most home purchasing transactions. However, there are still homebuyers who neglect having the property inspected before they purchase it. They do not recognize how important it is to know the real condition of the property before agreeing to buy it. Bear in mind that it is not just any simple purchase, once you buy it; you are going to live in it.

A home inspection is a process of checking the property without being invasive. A trained home inspector who is experienced to provide objective and honest assessment does this. He monitors the various areas of the house using devices intended for evaluating the property. The inspector will indicate his assessments in a report. However, it will be limited to the current conditions of the property and will not make any claims about how the future condition of the property is going to be.

The inspection will include several areas in the property. Some of these areas are the heating system, the plumbing, the roof, the electrical system, air-conditioning system as well as the overall state of the structure. Although the inspectors will inspect the several areas of the property, there are still defects in the house that they might not detect. The inspection has limitations as well. Among the things it is not able to check are the easements or the right of way and the zoning violations. The inspector will not also measure the boundaries. The title companies usually handle these issues.

Having the property inspected before purchasing it is very important because purchasing a house is an important investment. Although there are properties that have to be purchased as is, most require to be inspected. This is a way of letting the buyers know what they are investing in. It is only right that you inspect the merchandise very carefully to ensure you get your money’s worth, right?

There are many reasons why you should undergo home inspection before purchasing the property. First, you will be able to know the real state of the property you are buying. You can use the report of the inspector to renegotiate its value especially if you feel that it is overpriced. If the seller refuses to sell the property at a lower value, you can ask him to repair its defects. If you still cannot agree on it, you can cancel your purchase.

This can also be beneficial for the sellers. They can have the property inspected before they put it up on sale. This way, they will know the necessary repairs that will improve the property’s value. They can also make it more saleable.

It is very important to have the property you wish to purchase inspected. This will give you a perception of what you are purchasing. This will also give you the chance to renegotiate the value of the property sold. Finally, you have the opportunity to cancel the purchase if you think it is not worthy of your money.

Sarah Sheridan asked:




Too big, too little. Too fancy, too plain. With myriad options for house plans available today, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Consider the following issues and ask yourself some telling questions. The answers will help you decide on a design that’s just right for your family as well as your budget and lot.

Square one

The real estate agent’s mantra “location, location, location” rings true even when you’re building from scratch. From privacy to orientation, your lot is likely to influence which plan you choose.

“Theoretically, it’s best to start by finding a lot because then you’ll have a clear idea of what square footage will and will not fit on the property,” says Robert Martin, Architecture Editor at Southern Living. “It’s a dangerous proposition to try to gooseneck a house into a lot that’s really not ideal for that plan.”

The property owner can seek a variance to exceed the “building envelope,” the allowable area that a home can occupy on a lot. However, the process is often lengthy and there’s no guarantee that permission will be granted.

Local zoning boards and community organizations often require a house be set back a certain distance from the street. Before purchasing a corner lot, find out if front-yard setback regulations apply to the lot’s front and side-street boundaries. This could substantially reduce the area available for a home’s footprint. Easements as well as natural features, like rock outcroppings and mature trees, may also influence where the house can be located.

“Some communities promote close neighbors, and some communities promote more breathing space,” Martin says. “It’s not wise to use up every square foot of building space because you’ll have less of a yard.”

If the lot is located in a suburban neighborhood, consider the placement of windows – take care that they will not align exactly with neighbors’ views. Driveways should also be taken into account to make sure that there’s plenty of room for parking and turning around.

Streets and topography may be the main determinates of a house’s orientation, but it’s also a good idea to consider sun exposures when possible. A homeowner might reorganize a floor plan to take advantage of morning and afternoon light. Martin says that covered porches that face a southern exposure can help block out heat and sunlight.

Remember that plans are not necessarily “as is.” Builders can use a reverse set of plans (sometimes called a mirror image) to better site a house. It’s also possible to hire an architect or modification service to personalize a plan. Ask if reproducible prints or electronic CADD files are available for the selected plan. Either will make the alteration process quicker and easier.

Complimenting your lifestyle

Before delving into the thousands of plans available today, evaluate your current living situation. Look around and ask what works and what doesn’t.

Consider which features matter most to you and which floor plan best accommodates your family’s lifestyle. “Does the floor plan live the way you live?” Martin asks. Are you an empty nester who’s ready to downsize? A single-level ranch home might be your answer. Is this a house where you expect to raise a family? Check out plans that feature great communal spaces as well as a private master suite. Would you live outside 12 months a year if you could? Pick an airy floor plan with plenty of porches and more windows than wall space.

When you decide on a house plan, you’re also choosing a way of life. Do you host dinner parties often, or do you only step inside the dining room on holidays? Today, many families forego a dedicated formal dining room. Instead, a casual eating nook connected to the kitchen accommodates week-night meals, Little League pizza parties and all their entertaining needs. If you work from home or have school-aged children, an office or study may be a necessity. Think about the rooms and how you and your family will use them.

Marrying the old and the new

Magazines and TV shows often tempt us to start decorating from a blank slate, but few people have the luxury to fill a house with new furniture. Keep your existing furniture and aesthetics in mind. It takes a special talent to make a mid-century modern couch work in a Colonial manor house.

The main thing to keep in mind is how the arrangement of furniture will influence the overall feel, flow and function of a room. How will your prized possessions work and look arranged in the new space? Scale is key. A soaring, two-story ceiling can easily dwarf low, horizontal furniture. To avert the Alice-in-Wonderland effect, make sure the plan has strong, vertical architectural elements like a chimney and tall windows. Similarly, an overstuffed couch, two armchairs and a media cabinet might make a small living room look cluttered.

Tip: To help visualize your current furniture in a new space, make a scale model of each item – simple rectangles, squares and circles cut out of construction paper will do. Slide the stand-ins around the floor plan to see which configurations will work. Make sure there will be enough room to walk and adequate clearance for doors to open.

Know what you’re getting

Be aware of what is and isn’t included in the blueprints before you purchase a plan. Most blueprints suggest electrical plans designed to meet national standards. However, varying interpretations and the fact that codes are subject to change mean that the placement of switches, outlets and light fixtures is ultimately subject to local building codes. Heating and plumbing plans are usually not included, so you will need to consult with subcontractors. A local builder or engineer should review the plan to ensure that it complies with all building codes and subdivision restrictions.

Due to concerns over energy costs, safety and other factors, some cities and states require a licensed architect or engineer to review and seal, or officially approve, a blueprint prior to construction. Do your homework. Contact to a local building official to see if such a review is necessary in your area.

Taking the plan from blueprint to dream house

A builder may provide a ballpark estimate of construction costs from a study plan, but he or she should consult the working drawings to give a more accurate figure. Many variables can affect the bottom line, including the choice and availability of materials, labor costs, choice of finishes and degree of detail. Ask several contractors for competing bids.

If you’ve got the vision but not the bankroll (at least at this time), it may be wise to choose a plan with bonus space that can be built out as finances allow.

Be sure to allot a portion of your budget to landscaping and finish details. Architects and interior designers recommend that you don’t skimp on the seemingly small stuff. Higher-quality trim and building materials may trump extra square footage. “Good, insulated windows may be costly initially,” Martin says, “but over the long run, they’re going to save you money on your power bill.” Crown moulding and custom cabinetry can make a stock plan feel like it was designed specifically for your family. After all, it’s the personal touches that make a house feel like a home.

By Sarah Sheridan