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Convert Your Single Family Home Into A Legal Multi Family Home
Will it really be legal?
It can't be done legally! I've heard it literally hundreds of times, yet in my concrete cutting business, one that is crucial in the conversion process, I have seen it done hundreds of times. How you may ask? It's...
Customer Service – the Real Estate Revolution
Traditionally, real estate has been viewed as a sales industry. But perceptions are changing. Agents around the country are coming to believe that the key to real estate success is service – not sales. Competition and technology now give...
Home Sellers: A Warning About Attachments
Before you list you home for sale, determine what you don't want to leave behind.
Our friends sold their home for full price and moved out a few days before closing.
The next day they received an angry call from the selling agent telling them...
Is The Hot Real Estate Market Cooling Down?
We’ve been living in the high flying world of a hot residential real estate market for the last three years. Is it slowing down? What does it mean for buyers and sellers if it is? Do buyers and sellers need to change their strategy?
Is the Market...
Where Are The Really Good Real Estate Investment Deals?
In writing my last article about the neighborhoods where I find the most profitable rehab real estate investment deals, something occurred to me.
In that article I described investing from what I've found is typical in doing this business. I...
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Inspecting Your New Home - 17 Areas You Must Inspect Before Taking Possession
Congratulations! You've made your decision; you've chosen your new home and your builder. So what needs to happen next? Once you have a firm contract and you have selected the features that will go into your new home, it is time for the builder to turn your dream into reality.
You will undoubtedly want to visit the building site from time to time during construction to check the progress of your home. Professional builders welcome your participation and enthusiasm; however, for safety reasons you should not enter the actual construction site unless by special appointment-an unauthorized site visit may also contravene the local labour code with respect to construction safety and the builder's liability.
Questions or concerns arising from a site visit or a drive-by should be addressed directly to the builder. The tradespeople on the site each have their own area of expertise and will not be able to discuss your home's progress with you. Nor are they able to make changes without the approval of the builder.
Before you take possession of your new home, the builder will invite you to "walk through" the house to conduct a pre-occupancy inspection. Three to five days before closing is best-when construction is substantially complete but there is still time for the builder to remedy any minor imperfections. Anything that is not to your satisfaction should be noted for a pre-delivery inspection report. Minor items such as scratches and incomplete paint work will be rectified before your move-in day. Other items will be corrected after you are settled.
The following checklist will help you to inspect your new home.
Exterior
- Grading-should be sloping gently away from the house.
- Sod-was it rolled when laid?
- Wood, vinyl or aluminum siding-should be even and nailed securely to the walls.
- Brick-should be evenly laid and clean, with weep holes intact.
- Caulking-check around windows, doors, garage
door, electrical outlets and fixtures.
- Paint and stains-inspect for even coverage and proper colour.
- Trim, shutters, fascia and soffit-must be proper colour, of good quality and securely fastened.
- Shingles-are they clean, of proper colour and with no lifting corners?
- Garage-should feature non-combustible materials on the wall adjoining the house (for instance, gypsum board with sealed joints); the garage door should open and close properly.
Interior
- Basement-should be clean; no cracks in the walls; a floor drain in the lowest part; "healthy" looking wooden joists (a minimum of splitting); instructions and warranty cards for equipment (furnace, heater, HRV, etc.)
- Doors-must be well-fitted and well-hung; secure locks for outside doors and door stops.
- Windows-must open smoothly; lockable.
- Walls-should be smooth and even; no cracks, visible seams or nail-pops; right colour; even paint coverage; no gaps at electrical switches and plugs.
- Floors-minimum of squeaks and "spring"; smooth seams on carpet and other floor covering; even grouting between ceramic tiles.
- Plumbing fixtures-no chips or scratches; faucets operating properly; caulking around counter tops and fixtures.
- Upgrades and options-correct materials and quality; proper installation; right colours.
- General state of cleanliness-no construction debris; clean heating ducts; etc.
You might want to hire a private building inspector or engineer to conduct the inspection for you. Look in the phone book under Building Inspection Services.
About the Author
Visit EquityGazette.com - The Equity Gazette weekly edition of articles about real estate investment and investment property for those interested in real estate investing or even just buying a home.
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