Home Inspectors Save Stress and Lower Prices from your local Huntington County Realtor, Andy Eckert

HOME INSPECTORS ACTUALLY SAVE STRESS, EVEN LOWER PRICES

For buyers and sellers, having a professional house inspection can ensure a happy sale.

For the buyer, the inspection is an obvious contingency. Buyers don't want expensive surprises after sale. A home inspection reveals the systemic condition of the home, not just whether the paint is new.

Inspectors take a close look at the home's inner health in 10 areas: interior and exterior, structure, roofing, plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning, and ventilation, and fireplaces. Theses evaluations are detailed. For example, in the case of roofs, inspectors will study shingles, flashings, roof drainage, skylights and chimneys.

Of course, even a house with some problems can sell, but the price will reflect needed repairs. That's where the seller's inspection comes in.

A seller is just as motivated as the buyer to know what is wrong with a house because necessary, but unfinished, repairs mean a lower price at sale, or even a deal that falls through. A home inspection gives sellers the chance to fix things before the house goes on the market and it is an important part of the clean-up, fix-up process.

You might not want to put on a new roof, but repairing the flashings and roof gutters, puts your house in a solid light. Buyers might not expect a new roof, but they don't want to find leaks. There are a variety of specific things that a home inspection can look for, depending on an individual's concerns. For example, a radon inspection checks a home for levels of radioactive gas and takes between two and seven days to complete. A termite inspection looks for damage to the wood structures of a home. With homes that have a well for water, well water testing is another option; for homes with a septic or oil tank, examination of those structures may be part of an inspection as well.

A general inspection should consider the condition of the roof, the water pressure and plumbing, electrical outlets and switches, and the crawl space and attic.

Finally, if you have a home inspection, find a place to sit down and relax. Don't follow the inspector around. After all, the inspector is working for you and the report will be for you only.

A Happy Anniversary Letter to my wife of 25 years, from your local realtor Andy Eckert

Stephanie D. Eckert, formally known as Ness, my wife, my friend and my children’s best gift.

             I met Steph in High School Chemistry class, which at the time, we  didn’t have any Chemistry. I followed her gymnastics   accomplishments because she was successful early on, as was I, on with my Wrestling. I always felt she was stuck up because she   wasn’t outspoken, but quiet. I later found out that she was just shy and insecure, which surprised me after watching her be so successful with her many accomplishments.

Steph and I started dating for a short time when she was a Senior in High School. Of course the relationship was more about me, than us, so I screwed that up. At the time I personally had no idea what I wanted out of life, and girls and golf, were a past time. A few years had passed after our Graduation and I began dating different women, but soon became tired of that life style. Then for some unknown reason I was pulled to go downtown for a drink late one night. I walked in and there she was. All the bad feelings either of us had towards each other washed away, and a new life for us began at that moment. I told her that night that she was stuck with me and we never looked back.

We have Loved hard, fought often, and forgave daily over the past 25 years. I couldn’t image my life without her or our  children. Over the years we’ve grown to deal with each other’s quirks. I kid her on a daily basis, which she has gotten used to, and now she tries to give some of that back once in awhile. I feel we complement each other with my take action personality and her no job is impossible attitude.  Our home isn’t the most organized or clean but it’s always open for friends, family and strangers to visit. We love people and spending time with our family which is small on Steph’s side, but large on mine. We have learned to support each other even when we don’t agree and we both want the same things for our children; Happiness, Success and a desire to keep family close and God closer.

I am blessed to have her and my children, I love my life.

I always have time for you or your referrals.