There Are Defects In Every Home

We'd all like to buy the perfect home. Unfortunately, it doesn't exist. Even new homes have defects. That's why it's important to have any home you buy inspected by qualified professionals-even if it's brand new. You'll undoubtedly discover defects during your inspections. In fact, you should hope that any significant defects are uncovered before you remove your inspection contingency from the purchase contract. It's far worse to be surprised after closing by unanticipated repair expenses. 

Armed with a complete assessment of the current condition of the property, you can make an informed decision about whether to purchase the property in its present condition. Or, you may want to renegotiate the terms of your contract with the seller. If defects are incurable, you may want to withdraw from the contract altogether. Your purchase contract should set guidelines for how inspection defects are to be handled. For example, the seller may have had a "termite" inspection completed before marketing the property. If so, the contract might specify which party-buyer or seller-will pay for the required corrective work. Not all inspection contingencies are the same. Some specify that the buyers have the unilateral right to approve or disapprove inspections. In this case, if the buyers disapprove the inspections, the contract may be cancelable at the buyer's option. 

House Hunting Tip: Even if your contract allows you to withdraw due to inspections, carefully consider before electing this option. You will already have spent considerable time, effort and money finding and inspecting the property. If the defects are correctable, it's usually worthwhile to try negotiating an agreement with the sellers rather than starting the process over again. Some inspection contingencies provide for buyers to give the sellers the opportunity to correct defects, rather than just walk away from the deal. In this case, the terms of the contract often become subject to further negotiation. Before asking a seller for inspection-related concessions, make a list of the significant defects that you discovered during your inspections. Then find out how much it will cost to repair these defects. When you make your request, put it in writing and include a copy of your cost accounting list along with the reports and estimates on which you're basing your request. 

You may find that the seller is not willing to negotiating over items that were disclosed to you before you made an offer to purchase the property. It still may be worthwhile to point out that the cost of the previously disclosed items in addition to the newly discovered defects alter the amount you can reasonably pay for the property. Sellers are wise to consider any reasonable proposal from a well-qualified buyer. If the inspection- related defects are significant, they are likely to be a concern to other buyers. Depending on the law in your state regarding seller disclosures, you may have to provide copies of the buyer's reports to future buyers who are interested in the property. There are several ways in which sellers can participate in buyers' repair requests. They can have the work done by closing, if time permits. Often contractors will accept payment at closing. Or they can credit money to buyers as long as the credit is called a credit for buyers' nonrecurring closing costs. Lenders usually limit the amount of such a credit to 3 percent of the purchase price or equal to the actual amount of the nonrecurring closing costs, whichever is less. 

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Using Your Computer to Help Make Going Back to School Fun

The arrival of the new school year brings an organizational challenge - a dash of carpool rides here and a couple of unmade lunches there. This year, have some fun while wrangling it all in with these back to school projects. They'll spice things up, make you look good, and hopefully get everyone to school on time. All you need is a computer, a printer and a little imagination.

Stay organized with a homemade calendar that includes seasonal photos of your little ones. Most word processing programs offer a calendar template. Simply add your digitized photos and some colorful clipart and you're good to go. Believe it or not, you can run paper lunch bags through some inkjet printers. Simply create a document based on the dimensions of the bag then add your little student's name and some funky clipart. You can also print colorful little notes that you place in their lunch bags to give your child a boost while you're apart during the day.

Some word processing and most desktop publishing programs come with bookmark templates. Create your bookmark and print it on card stock or glossy photo paper to make it more durable. Your local computer store will likely have a selection of laser and inkjet labels. Simply follow the instructions on the package and turn them into book labels, cheery stickers, nametags and more.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.

Getting Into the 'Back to School' Routine

All right it's back to school time again. Does the thought of having to get everyone organized and out of the door make you want to send for boarding school brochures? Here are a few tips to help get through the back to school routine.

The biggest cause of whining and tantrums in the morning is a sleepy child trying to make a decision. Eliminate the choices along with the grumpiness. Make sure their clothes are laid out the night before. This simple action can prevent wasting time looking for a missing shoe or favorite pants that are still in the dryer. Pack a lunch or put out lunch money the night before. If family members share a bathroom in the morning, work out a schedule and have them stick to it. A good night's sleep is essential to reducing some of the morning moodiness. Keep a regular bedtime for both the parents and children.

New situations can make children anxious and uncomfortable. Knowing what to expect the first day can ease some of the anxiety. If the child is going to a new school, attend the orientation session or arrange for a tour of the school. Navigating around a new place can be scary for a child. Suggest to the youngster to call friends to find out if they share any classes. What a comfort to have a friend to sit next in class or in the cafeteria. Buy only 1 - 2 new outfits before school starts. Usually it is still warm when school starts so children can wear last spring's clothes, plus this gives the child time to see what is "in" this year before buying.

Organization is key to keeping track of what's happening and when. Create a special spot for homework. Setting one location for studying can help with concentration as well as minimizes the chance of a book being misplaced. Have a system for the student to keep track of all assignments and upcoming tests. This system can be as simple as a small notebook where homework for all classes is written down. Start a family calendar to keep track of PTA meetings, school parties, extracurricular activities, etc. A daily family ritual can give the child (and parents) something to look forward to. Ideas are a card game after dinner, a walk in the park, or a crafts project.

I pull out all the stops to sell your home.
Lonnie Snyder
REALTOR ®
Keller Williams Realty Southeast Sound
Phone: 206-406-2710

Lonnie Snyder is a full time real estate agent and REALTOR® with Keller Williams Realty specializing in Residential Real Estate for buyers and sellers in Washington's Kent, Renton, Newcastle and South Bellevue.