Philip's Advantage Inspection Blog

Plaster Ceiling Cracks Could Signify Danger

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:22:20 -0500

Most homeowners, many home inspectors and quite a few plaster repair contractors do not realize the signifigance of certain cracks in their plaster ceiling.

Straight line ceiling cracks in plaster ceilings could signify a potential danger of sudden collapse. Fortunatly, these ceilings can be made safe, and the great thing is that homeowner's insurance may pay for the repair.

To find out more go to estateplaster.com and see if you have a ceiling that could suddenly collapse without warning.

Home Inspections and NC Standards of Practice - Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High-Point, Chapel Hill, Burlington

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Fri, 30 May 2008 10:07:07 -0500

A recent pre-listing inspection I performed for a homeowner this week reinforced just how little homeowners know about inspections in general and how much we inspectors have to do to educate them.

Before I tell this story, I want to relate what my aunt told me regarding what she wanted in an inspection. Her gripe was along the lines of this:

'I don't want to know about the broken lock or the door that sticks, I can see those myself. I want to know if the furnace is working.'

All very well and good. Just the big issues I can't see for myself. But let's look at this typical expectation, and why it needs to be addressed:

First, many homeowners don't notice these small things when they are being shown the house, and when they do notice them later upon buying and moving in, who do you think they will beangry at when they do discover them on their own ? (The inspector, homeowner, Realtor ? All three ? yes ! )
Second, the inspection report provides legal documentation that can be used, and often is, to negotiate a lower price at the closing table. Without full documentation, leverage is absent. Furthermore, even though everyone may have been aware that the lock was not working, the new homeowner ( in a Buyer's inspection) may claim ignorance when his home is broken into later and sue for non-disclosure.
Third, some states, like NC, have Standards and Practices that govern exactly what an inspector is supposed to report on. It doesn't matter if the homeowner may or may not notice these things him/herself, or if the homeowner thinks these things are significant or not.

So, at the end of the pre-listing inspection, I went over some of the items with the homeowner in person. Several times I informed him that a majority of the items we found might seem insignificant to him and were easily repaired by an average homeowner with little cost or skill. These items, however small, fell within the scope of the Standards of Practice that NC Home Inspectors are required to operate under.

I also emphasised that these same things would show up on a buyer's inspector's report and how smart it was to address these things in advance so there would be less to haggle over at closing.

He nodded and seemed to understand..........

Later however, in a conversation with the listing agent, I found out that the homeowner complained about how some of the findings seemed insignificant to him, as if they should not have been included on the report.

( Just think how frustrated he would have been had he been presented with this list of repairs 10 days before closing, when his only option was to either fix them in a short period of time, or discount 2-3x what it would have actually cost him to repair them ahead of time! Or lose the sale ! It happens ! )

The agent had not fully read the report yet, so she was only sharing what the homeowner had said.

At this point I assured her (and I hope she assured him) that we had conducted the inspection in accordance with the NC Home Inspector Standards of Practice, and that even if the item seemed minor, if it fell within the parameters of the Standards, we were required to report it. The section that I referred to speaks to broken items or those not functioning as intended. Here is the section below with the pertinent sections in bold/Italics:

SECTION .1100 - NC HOME INSPECTOR STANDARDS OF PRACTICE AND CODE OF ETHICS

.1103 PURPOSE AND SCOPE

(a) Home inspections performed according to this Section shall provide the client with a better understanding of the property conditions, as inspected at the time of the home inspection.

(b) Home inspectors shall:

(1) Provide a written contract, signed by the client, before the home inspection is performed that shall:

(A) State that the home inspection is in accordance with the Standards of Practice of the North Carolina Home Inspector Licensure Board;

(B) Describe what services shall be provided and their cost; and

(C) State, when an inspection is for only one or a limited number of systems or components, that the inspection is limited to only those systems or components.

(2) Inspect readily visible and readily accessible installed systems and components listed in this Section; and

(3) Submit a written report to the client that shall:

(A) Describe those systems and components required to be described in Rules .1106 through .1115 of this Section;

(B) State which systems and components designated for inspection in this Section have been inspected, and state any systems or components designated for inspection that were not inspected, and the reason for not inspecting;

(C) State any systems or components so inspected that do not function as intended, allowing for normal wear and tear, or adversely affect the habitability of the dwelling;

(D) State whether the condition reported requires repair or subsequent observation, or warrants further investigation by a specialist; and

(E) State the name, license number, and signature of the person supervising the inspection and the name,

So, even if the item is as simple as a bent window screen, if it is not functioning as intended ( ie. to keep small insects or birds out of the house when the window is open) it is documented.

Perhaps a hinge is loose, causing the door to rub on one side and gap on the other, making the weatherseal ineffective. Obvious and easy to fix. But it is not funtioning as intended, ie: the hinge is not adequately supporting the door, causing it to rub and outside air to come inside.

Or a window painted shut. Or a nail backing up on the deck. ( adversly affecting habitability, ie: a trip hazard, safety issue and an item not functioning as intended, ie: to hold the decking board down. )

In the end, items that are broken (requires repair or subsequent observation or do not function as intended, or adversley affect the habitability of the dwelling will appear on NC inspector's summary pages.

It doesn't matter how obvious or insignificant these items may seem to the homeowner or the realtor.

This is just another great reason to do pre-listing inspections. Get these things fixed and a buyer's inspector won't find them and you won't have to deal with them at closing.......

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View 336-327-5523 Greensboro, NC

Serving the Greater Piedmont Triad

Home of the Exclusive Listing Advantage Program for marketing real estate and making transactions easier !

Pre-Inspection Testimonial - Realtor Market Sluggishness - Greensboro, High Point, Winston Salem, Chapel Hill

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:23:04 -0500

Subject: Pre-Inspections Work!!!

(The following is an actual testimonial from a Keller Williams agent in the Greenville, SC area utilizing Advantage Inspection and their Listing Advantage program. )

From "Matthew Thrift" To: Sonya Skidmore

Hello All, I just had to tell you !..........19 Birkhall Circle - Received a ratified/accepted contract 20 days after listing! This is incredible. Here is my testimonial...you have free will to use as much or as little as you would like:

After being in Real Estate for just over 15 months, I wanted to take my business to the next level. As most businesses or self-employed people do I looked for anything that I could find that would set me apart from the other 2000 plus REALTORS in the Greenville market area. I am happy to say that it did not take me long to find exactly what I was looking for.

With every listing I take I automatically order an Advantage Home Inspection. These inspections are free to my clients and it has proven to be one of the best listing tools I have seen to sell a house.

For example: I listed a house on December 28, 2007 and between the 28^th of December and the 22^nd of January, I had 11 showings and no offers.

On Tuesday, January 22^nd, I had the house inspected by Advantage Home Inspection and Common Cents Pest Control, and I asked the sellers if they would purchase an Advantage Home Warranty for a buyer, which of course they agreed.

I am happy to say that between Wednesday, January 23^rd and Sunday, January 27^th I had eight more showings and I received an offer TWO days after inspection and had it accepted FOUR days after inspections. And yes there is more:

On January 18^th, 2008 I listed a home in Bonnie Brae Subdivision where the average days on market are currently 83 days. On Tuesday, January 29^th, I had the house inspected by Advantage Home Inspection and Common Cents Pest Control, and I asked the sellers if they would purchase and Advantage home Warranty for a buyer, which of course they agreed. I am happy to report that on February 7^th, 2008 ( 19 days after listing and 9 days after inspections, I was able to inform my sellers that their home is under ratified contract.

Doing Real Estate a different way than everyone else has proven to be a key strategy. In both examples above, I asked the buyer's agent why buyers chose my listing over others and their answers were inevitably the same..." Because everything was already done."

One agent even stated to me, "You took the hassle and frustration out of the transaction !"

Pre-Inspections JUST MAKE SENSE!

Thank you Advantage Inspection

Thank you Advantage Home Warranty

Thank you Common Cents Pest Control

Sincerely, Matthew Thrift

Do you want the results that Matthew has had ? Then do as Matthew does ! Call about our Listing Advantage today !

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

7B Corporate Center Ct.

Greensboro, NC 27408

336-327-5523 336-369-2173

* All client's who order inspections with Advantage Inspection receive a 10% discount for a one-time purchase at Lowe's Home Improvement, worth up to $500 !

Selling Property in Sluggish Market - Greensboro, High Point, Chapel Hill, Winston Salem

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:15:40 -0500

PRESS RELEASE

Release date: 5/28/08

A PRE-LISTING INSPECTION / WARRANTY COMBINATION OFFERS POWERFUL BENEFITS FOR SELLER; A HIGHER LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR BUYER

There is a lot of frustration associated with selling a home in today's real estate market: the 'mortgage crunch', competitive pricing and a flooded market are all factors putting the seller at a disadvantage. Home buyers are definitely in the 'driver's seat'. In order to get their house sold, sellers have to think outside the box and find ways to differentiate their home from the crowd. Would-be sellers should'nt overlook the power of a pre-listing inspection / warranty combination.

"People don't realize that they can get their house sold quicker, with fewer problems and for more money if they get an inspection on the home before they list it for sale," said Philip LaMachio of Advantage Inspection Clear View. "It's much better for the home seller to understand the issues with the house and deal with them before the buyers arrive."

In fact, according to statistics gathered by Advantage Inspection, one of the largest inspection companies in the Southeast, the benefits of a pre-listing/warranty combination are so powerful that it reduces the time required to sell by fifteen percent, increases average selling price by two percent and actually increases the odds of the house selling at all by twenty nine percent.

"Potential home buyers want a home that is in excellent shape, no matter the age of the home," LaMachio said. "Buyers make their home purchasing decisions based on emotion, but it is equally true that a home buyer can fall out of love with a home just as quickly as they fell in love with it." This often happens when the homebuyer must justify their emotional decision with logic, usually assisted by information from the home inspection.

Without a pre-inspection, the seller allows a buyer's inspector to develop a laundry list of issues with the home which can potentially jeopardize the sale of the property. With a pre-inspection, backed up by a solid warranty, the seller is in the driver's seat, not at the mercy of a buyer's inspector's findings.

A Pre-listing Home Inspection and Warranty Combination can:

•1. Put the seller in control. They then choose to sell the house either ‘as is' and price accordingly, or fix the problems and get top dollar. (No need to re-negotiate at the closing table)

•2. Give the seller time to obtain multiple bids and select the best contractors at the best price.

•3. Make the home more marketable and in better condition for viewing, thus helping the seller attain the maximum selling price.

•4. Add value and certainty that the new owner will be compensated if any warranted items or components break.

"We want to find the problems that will affect people's decision to purchase," Philip LaMachio said. If the sellers wait for the buyer's inspector to find them they can potentially lose a sale.

A home inspection done by a licensed professional home inspector is a thorough, in-depth visual examination of the structure and operating components of the home.

It includes such components as landscaping effects on the foundation, structural components, roofing, chimneys, gutters and downspouts, siding and trim, attics, plumbing, electrical, heating, interior rooms, and the condition of the basement or crawl space.

"I understand that a seller doesn't want to hear any bad news," LaMachio said. "But if you wait for the buyer's inspector to find out your home isn't perfect, you are in a weak bargaining position. And no home is perfect. As soon as sellers accept that, they are on the way to making their home more marketable, which should be their number one goal."

Advantage Inspection Clear View has an office located in Greensboro, North Carolina and can be reached at 336-369-2173. The company offers Home Inspections, Radon and Septic System Inspections, Water Quality sampling, and is the only source for the ‘No Claim's Denied' Home Warranty for single and multiple family residences and commercial buildings. They serve home buyers and sellers up to a 60 mile radius from Greensboro.

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

7 B Corporate Center Ct.

Greensboro, N.C. 27408

Office: 336-369-2173

Fax: 336-282-3797

Cell: 336-327-5523

Cheap Inspection Costs Burlinton Realtor $30,000 ( High Point, Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem )

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:59:50 -0500

From Advantage Inspection in Greensboro, NC, here's a cautionary tale from the trenches for all you price shoppers out there.

AN AGENT'S TALE OF WOE

My fellow inspector, Brian Haire, at Advantage Inspection Clearview, relayed a story from an agent in Burlington, NC. who told him that she had to change inspectors because as Brian relayed:

' the last one (an inspector she had used exclusively and swore by) ended up costing her $30,000.00 in repairs for having missed a rotted girder. In talking to her it was not conceivable that the inspector actually accessed the whole crawl space from her description of the damage. The only response she got was "we sometimes miss some things".'

I have to chuckle because at the most recent continuing education session in Feb. 2008 Charlotte NC, where about 700 inspectors were in attendance, both Brian and I saw a large number of overweight and some elderly gents who were 'active' inspectors. Sure, they probably have a storehouse of knowledge, but we honestly could not imagine most of those inspectors actually crawling 40-60 yards on their stomachs on hard dirt and mud crawlspaces.

And the crawlspace almost always yeilds some interesting and often very costly finds. Even on new construction. A short list of the most common and often costly problems:

Rotten woodand floor rot under tubs, sinks and toilets
joists sawn through for plumbing
unconnected plumbing or hvac ducts
excessive moisture content and the presence of wood destroying organisms

Rotted Girder Cut floor Joist Disconnected HVAC Flooded crawlspace

RULE OF THUMB

A rule of thumb for average time required for a thorough inspection on a house in good condition, with crawlspace and accessable attic is about 1.25 to 1.5 hrs per 1000 sqft of heated space.

The more that needs documenting ( the worse the gen. condition of the house) the longer it takes.

At Advantge Inspection Clear View, we actually access and observe the whole crawl space (unless ductwork or other obstacles prevent acess) , the whole attic and if possible the whole roof by walking it.

We also do not settle for inspecting the "representative number" of outlets, windows, and doors as required by the minimum standards in the Standards of Practice by the State of North Carolina, but observe and inspect all accessable outlets, windows and doors.

Red Flag !

The costly lesson here is obvious. When an inspector gives you the lowest cost inspection it is a red flag.

You need to know what he will actually be doing. Sometimes crawlspaces are not accessable, but if the cheap inspector you use almost always claims the crawlspace was inaccessable, then that should be a serious red flag, and a warning that you too may be stuck with a $30,000 bill.

This is what price shopping can get you !

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

Greensboro, NC ( Servicing clients from Chapel Hill to Salisbury)

336-327-5523

Home Inspection Checklist - Greensboro, High Point, Winston-Salem, Chapel Hill, Triad

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:56:30 -0500

ADVANTAGE INSPECTION'S SELLER'S CHECKLIST

Sellers' Checklist for a Smooth Home Inspection:

We at Advantage Inspection Clear View understand that many times the inspection process is time sensitive and essential for an expedient closing. That is why we have prepared this pre-inspection checklist so that we can do our job efficiently. First, we would like to answer some of the commonly asked questions about our service:

What is a home inspection?

We are a real estate support service that evaluates the overall structural, mechanical and electrical condition of the home. We examine nearly all-visible construction components and evaluate whether these items are still serviceable. We make notations of items that may need attention to help preserve their long-term integrity.

We also give our client helpful advice on general home maintenance.

Is this a code compliance inspection?

No. Many homes were built before codes were ever established. When codes were established, many counties adopted (enforced) their own version of these building codes. It would be impossible to verify the governing code for every time period in every county and make a compliance-type inspection. We only make code comparisons to current installation standards, and any safety-related items. (Examples: picket spacing too far apart on a balcony handrail or the absence of a smoke detector)

PRE-INSPECTION CHECK LIST:

Confirm that all utilities are on and pilot flames are ignited.
Please provide keys for all doors & gates.
Please make sure that all domestic animals are secured.
Change or clean dirty A/C filters.
Clean range exhaust filter if there is a greasy build up. (fire hazard)
Check batteries in smoke detector.
Free windows that have been painted shut.
Replace torn weather stripping around exterior doors.
Replace any missing switch or receptacle covers.
Clean gutters and down spouts.
Trim back any tree limbs that may be touching the roof of the house.
Keep foundation vents open. (except in frigid weather)
Have your HVAC system serviced if it has been over a year since the last service.

Call Advantage Inspection Clear View ( 336-327-5523) if you have any questions about how to prepare your house for inspection.

Brian Haire, Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

Seller's Checklist for a Smooth Home Inspection

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:52:29 -0500

ADVANTAGE SELLER'S CHECKLIST

Sellers' Checklist for a Smooth Home Inspection:

We at Advantage Inspection understand that many times the inspection process is time sensitive and essential for an expedient closing. That is why we have prepared this pre-inspection checklist so that we can do our job efficiently. First, we would like to answer some of the commonly asked questions about our service:

What is a home inspection?

We also give our client helpful advice on general home maintenance.

Is this a code compliance inspection?

PRE-INSPECTION CHECK LIST:

Confirm that all utilities are on and pilot flames are ignited.
Please provide keys for all doors & gates.
Please make sure that all domestic animals are secured.
Change or clean dirty A/C filters.
Clean range exhaust filter if there is a greasy build up. (fire hazard)
Check batteries in smoke detector.
Free windows that have been painted shut.
Replace torn weather stripping around exterior doors.
Replace any missing switch or receptacle covers.
Clean gutters and down spouts.
Trim back any tree limbs that may be touching the roof of the house.
Keep foundation vents open. (except in frigid weather)
Have your HVAC system serviced if it has been over a year since the last service.

Call Advantage Inspection Clear View ( 336-327-5523) if you have any questions about how to prepare your house for inspection.

Brian Haire, Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

Buyer Ready Program - Solving Seller's Objections

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Tue, 06 May 2008 19:53:23 -0500

This is Philip LaMachio of Advantage Inspection Clear View here in Greensboro.

We are your pre-listing inspection associates, chosen by Jodi Tate to assist and serve Coldwell Banker Triad with the pre-listing aspect of the Buyer Ready Program.

I am excited to announce that just a few days after we presented to Greensboro and Burlington Coldwell Banker Associates, we have had two requests for pre-listing inspections.

In fact we will do the first one tomorrow, ( May 7, 2008 ) for the Greensboro office.

One of the biggest objections you will find from your sellers is the thought of paying for an inspection.

Sellers need to look at this is a necessary marketing expense, not someone else's responsibility.

If the issue is to get your house sold, then you have to do something different that the competition to make it stand out from the crowd.

The extra confidence that a pre-listing inspection with full disclosure and a warranty is a powerful combination that has been proven effective in getting offers.

Our research has shown that homes with pre-listing inspections tend to sell 15% faster, for 2.2% more and the odds of closing at all is increased by 29 %.

Even these figures are conservative, when we look at the success of Matthew Thrift, who has gone from an average of 120 days on the market to 30 with the pre-listing and warranty combo. ( Feel free to call Matthew about what Advantage Inspection has done for him) .

However, no matter what the advantages are to the seller, some will just not commit on principle or due to financial stress.

The way top producer Matthew dealt this this reluctance was to offer to pay for the inspection, if the seller would pay for the warranty at closing. This method has taken him from a ranking around 100 up to one of the top ten producers in his agency, and he listed and closed 12 homes in 2.5 months at the beginning of this year !

In some cases, Advantage Inspection Clear View will work with our Coldwell Banker associates regarding reluctant sellers who just don't want to pay for an inspection. We will allow your first Home Buyer Ready client to let the inspection payment go to closing. This will give you a track record to boast about to the next client.

Get in touch with us for details.

If we can help you in any way, let us know !

Have a wonderful 2008 ! CB is on the right track !

Philip LaMachio

Advantage Inspection Clear View, 7 B Corporate Center Ct,, Greensboro, N.C. 27408

336-327-5523

Home Warranty Insider Secrets from a Home Inspector - Winston Salem

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:00:27 -0500

Home buyers beware ! Upon purchasing a home, your agent may suggest you buy a home warranty as well.
Educate yourself before you blindly trust that your Realtor:

1. Has your best interests in mind
2. Is not recommending an unreputable company
3. Is not taking kickbacks

Don't make a choice that could lead to having a denied claim costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Read my insider info on the home warranty industry at:

http://www.squidoo.com/homewarrantysecretsexposed

See the Home Warranty Checklist for MUST ASK questions that will come back to bite you if ignored.

Find resources online that expose the dark underbelly of this questionable industry and lastly...

Discover the one company that is changing it all.....

Philip LaMachio
Advantage Inspection Clear View Advantage Home Warranty

Home Warranty Insider Secrets - Triangle- Raleigh/Chapel Hill/Durham

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Thu, 01 May 2008 22:22:55 -0500

Advantage Home Warranty

Successful FSBO's: Listing Advantage - Seller's Home Inspection/Home Warranty ) - Greensboro NC

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 23:04:56 -0500

I am a Home Inspector now, but when I took a real estate course in Greensboro NC, the instructor made his feelings about FSBO's quite clear. His disdain was palpable. Though many sellers are tempted to try to market their homes themselves in order to avoid paying a Realtor's commission, eventually they would be driven by sheer desperation to acknowledge the futility of their mission, and call a Realtor.

The Lonely FSBO

Since then I have watched many a FSBO linger on the market way too long, especially at this time, only to eventually capitulate and call in the calvary.

And there are many good reasons to do so. Not the least of which is that if you get a good Realtor they are going to make sure your house gets seen, priced correctly and point out a number of things that are obvious to everyone except the homeowner, like gee, you should clean up the three feet of garbage in your living room, etc.

No doubt, a good Realtor can get a house seen and sold, if the buyer listens to their wisdom.

But whether a homeowner chooses to avail themselves of the services of a Realtor or not, one thing remains true about selling a house....

AVERAGE HOUSES DON'T SELL QUICKLY ! (especially in a buyer's market !)

A house that sells faster than its competition must STAND OUT (in a positive way) from its competition.

And a homeowner can make his/her home STAND OUT any number of ways, with or without a Realtor.

CURB APPEAL is an obvious one. First impressions are often the only impression one gets to make. So if your house looks bad from the street, it will be hard to overcome that initial bad impression.

CHEAP PRICE: Can attract, but can also make people suspicious. What are they not disclosing ?

UPDATED KITCHEN AND BATH: Likely one of the best places to upgrade. Get a second opinion though regarding design. Pink fixtures in the bathroom won't appeal to everyone.

All these things, and more, are basic, common sense things that should be considered when making your home stand out.

FACTORS OUT OF YOUR CONTROL : BUYER'S APPREHENSION..... (actually, you can do something about this one, read on....)

One thing that is hardly EVER considered is the apprehension that all buyers carry with them when they consider purchasing a house they may be paying on for the next 30 years, and all the unknown costs an older house (well really, any house) can bring.

ENTER THE BUYER'S INSPECTOR (gosh, I hope he doesn't find anything. I'd hate to lose this contract !)

Most buyers are going to hire a professional home inspector to verify the soundness of any home before they commit.

And what will the buyer's inspector find ? It could be major, but it also could be a long list of minor things, like a lock that needs to be replaced, some nails backing out of the shingles, a loose brick on the porch, lights that don't work, etc........you know, the things you no longer even notice.

Even if all the inspector finds are minor things, things that could have easily been fixed ahead of time if the seller had been aware of them, the cumulative effect of numerous small items may be disproportionate to their actual seriousness. In other words, it often looks worse than it really is. But the perception that this may be a money pit is planted in the mind of the buyer.

SWEATING BEADS....

Here is where the seller begins to sweat. The buyer wants all these little things fixed before closing. Now the seller must find someone, anyone, on short notice to come and take care of all this piddly stuff, or take a week off work and do it himself, if he/she is handy. The other alternative is to adjust the price. Either way, the cost ends up being much greater than if the homeowner had taken this check-list and done it all at his leisure BEFORE he ever had a contract in his/her hands. ( No time now to shop contractors..just pay what they are asking !)

OK, WHAT'S THE ALTERNATIVE ?

Homeowners who choose to list a property can avoid all this hassle, whether they are a FSBO or listing with a Realtor. There is a much saner way to go about this, and save money in the long run, perhaps thousands.

This is where the LISTING ADVANTAGE* comes in.

The Listing Advantage is a PRE-LISTING INSPECTION in combination with a 'NO DENIED CLAIM'S' home warranty.

"But wait", you say, " It's the buyer's responsibility to pay for an inspection ! "

Ok, we just went over what happens in that scenario. What part of the concept of SELF-SABOTAGE don't you understand ?

ANOTHER PERSPECTIVE...

Let's look at it from the buyer's point of view, even pretend we were the buyer. The buyer thinks:

"Ok, there are two equally attractive houses in a particular neighborhood that meet my needs. One, I will have to shell out cash to find out if it has problems. Maybe the AC will break in the middle of Summer, perhaps it has termites or Radon, or a rotten floor under the toilet.....Who knows ?

" Now, on the other hand, this house has a sign that clearly states that it has been Inspected AND Warranted. And I can see the report and all the items that were found and fixed ( or I can see they have acknowledged these problems and adjusted the price accordingly. Hmmm. Which one do I choose ? Which house feels like a better bet, with less potential surprises ?"

OK, YEAH....I GET IT. I'M GETTING A PRE-LISTING INSPECTION WITH A 'NO DENIED CLAIMS' WARRANTY

Now back the the homeowner. Wise sellers will understand the benefits of hiring their OWN inspector BEFORE putting the house on the market.

With the laundry list of items in hand from a pre-listing inspection, the homeowner may choose to fix these items (if they are minor ) or to adjust the price upfront ( if they are major) and avoid last minute surprises, repairs, re-negotiations, and or completely losing the sale.

WISDOM FROM THE FAR EAST - ( Well, California is really faaaaaar East )

The wisdom of pre-listing inspections is already common knowledge in California. And, like many trends, will get to the East Coast eventually.

YOU NEED EVERY ADVANTAGE...

FSBO's need every distinctive advantage they can get. The Listing Advantage from Advantage Inspection can give them that something extra, and it may even help them to sell their home WITHOUT paying a Realtor's commission.

But even if you have your home listed with an agency, you still need every bit of help to make your home the one that STANDS OUT in a Buyer's market.

Every day not sold is costing you and your Realtor $$$.

If your Realtor doesn't understand the importance or power of a pre-listing inspection, don't let them discourage you from it.

DOING STUFF THE SAME OLD WAY, BUT HOPING THINGS GET BETTER....( you know the story)

Some close friends of mine here in Greensboro mentioned this to their Realtor ( one used to doing business the same old way)and she said they did'nt need to do it. As of today, April 30th,2008, their house has sat on the market for over 4 months without one offer. I'd say that Realtor needs to bring it on if she has any better ideas.

In fact, they may wait the month and 1/2 till the listing period is up and then utilize the power of the Listing Advantage and keep the commission.

We have tracked this program and found that on average, homes sell 15% faster, for 2.2% more and the odds of selling AT ALL increase by 29% !

ROOKIE REALTOR GOES FROM #120 TO TOP 5 IN HIS OFFICE ( That's right. He's using the Listing Advantge)

In fact, one Keller Williams Agent from Greenville SC ( Matthew Thrift), has LISTED AND SOLD 12 homes in the first 2.5 months of 2008 ! And he was a Rookie of only 15 months with no prior sales before he found our program. Read his testimony here.

Call Advantage Inspection Clear View today and ask us how we can help sell your FSBO or listed home.

( You don't even have to pay for the 'No Denied Claim's' home warranty until closing ! Hooray !)

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View 336-327-5523 Member: NACHI, NCLHIA

EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTS AND COUPONS FROM OUR VENDOR PARTNERS FOR OUR CUSTOMERS:

10% Discount for Lowes Home Improvement ( Fix up that home with this one ! )

$200 Credit for ADT Home Security Installation !

Up to 20% discount on Homeowners Insurance from Nationwide Insurance ( upon passing safety checklist at inspection)

Discounts for Allied and North American Van Lines ( More details to come.)

Pre-Listing Inspections Benefit Sellers/Buyers AND Realtors

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:06:30 -0500

Pre-Listing Inspections are the wave of the future. Realtors, you cannot afford to be left behind. This will help sell that home!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cEJ-N6t0yJA

Now that you know you should do a pre-listing inspection, have it done by the experts !

Advantage Inspection Clear View are experts in residential pre-listing inspections. Put the power of our Listing Advantage Program to work for you !

And each client who gets an inspection from us qualifies for the only 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty available on the market-place!

We provide signage and will help advertise your property for you !

Give us a call today to put the benefits of Advantage Inspection's Listing Program to work for you!

Brian Haire/Philip LaMachio

7B Corporate Center Ct.

Greensboro, NC. 27408

336-327-5523

Home Warranty Insider Secrets

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 00:02:53 -0500

When you purchase a home, you may be encouraged by your Real Estate agent to buy a home warranty as well, if the seller does not offer one.

Educate yourself before you blindly trust that your Realtor:

1. has your best interests in mind
2. is not recommending an unreputable company
3. is not taking kickbacks

Don't make a choice that could lead to having a denied claim costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Read my insider info on the home warranty industry at:

http://www.squidoo.com/homewarrantysecretsexposed

See the Home Warranty Checklist for MUST ASK questions that will come back to bite you if ignored.

Find resources online that expose the dark underbelly of this questionable industry and lastly...

Discover the one company that is changing it all.....

Philip LaMachio
Advantage Inspection Clear View

Realtors - Move your Listings with Pre-listing Inspections

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:43:21 -0500

Pre-Listing Inspections are the wave of the future. Realtors, you cannot afford to be left behind. This will help sell that home!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cEJ-N6t0yJA

Now that you know you should do a pre-listing inspection, have it done by the experts !

Advantage Inspection Clear View are experts in residential pre-listing inspections. Put the power of our Listing Advantage Program to work for you !

And each client who gets an inspection from us qualifies for the only 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty available on the market-place!

We provide signage and will help advertise your property for you !

Give us a call today to put the benefits of Advantage Inspection's Listing Program to work for you!

Brian Haire/Philip LaMachio

7B Corporate Center Ct.

Greensboro, NC. 27408

336-327-5523

Learn about Pre Listing Inspections - Advantage Inspection Clear View - Greensboro/High Point/ Winston-Salem

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 23:12:47 -0500

Pre-Listing Inspections are the wave of the future. Sellers, you cannot afford to be uninformed. Realtors, you cannot afford to be left behind. This will help sell your home!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cEJ-N6t0yJA

Now that you know you should do a pre-listing inspection, you should know who to have do it !

Advantage Inspection Clear View are experts in residential pre-listing inspections.

And each client who gets an inspection from us qualifies for the only 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty available on the market-place!

We provide signage for you and will help advertise your property for you !

Give us a call today to put the benefits of Advantage Inspection's Listing Program to work for you!

Brian Haire/Philip LaMachio

7B Corporate Center Ct.

Greensboro, NC. 27408

336-327-5523

Coldwell Banker's Home Buyer Ready Program, Pre-Listing Inspections and Advantage Inspection - Greater Piedmont Triad - Greensboro/High Point/ Chapel Hill/ Burlington

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:58:44 -0500

Advantage Inspection Clear View in Greensboro NC is excited to announce that Coldwell Banker Triad Realtors has chosen our company to help them roll out their new Home Buyer Ready Program. ( See this description from the Highland/Cashiers area).

Advantage Inspection (Corporate) has been promoting the use of Pre-Listing Inspections for almost 10 years.

Consequently, we at Advantage Inspection Clear View, your local AI franchise with Brian Haire and Philip LaMachio, are the Triad's source for information on everything about pre-listing inspections.

Because of our familiarity with this radically effective tool in real estate marketing, our exclusive affiliate partnerships and the extra value they give our customers, Coldwell Banker has chosen us as their preferred pre-listing inspectors for the Triad's Eastern area from Kernersville to Chapel Hill.

Call us (or Coldwell Banker: see below !) today for more information on why this is going to be the NEXT BIG THING in real estate marketing, and let us and Coldwell Banker get your house SOLD faster and for MORE MONEY !

Philip LaMachio

Advantage Inspection Clear View 7 B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro NC 27408

336-327-5523

Office:	Address:	Phone:
Coldwell Banker Triad New Homes Division	View on Map	2212 Eastchester Drive	(336) 906-1756
Burlington/Alamance	View on Map	154 Huffman Mill Rd	(336) 584-0376
Coldwell Banker Commercial Triad	View on Map	1605 Westbrook Plaza Dr, Suite 302	(336) 659-3259
Corporate	View on Map	1605 Westbrook Plaza Drive	(336) 760-0300


Greensboro	View on Map	1505 Westover Terrace	(336) 282-4414
High Point	View on Map	2212 Eastchester Drive	(336) 889-5300

Home Inspectors with Fringe Benefits for Realtors/Sellers/Buyers - Discounts for Lowes/Nationwide Ins. /Allied and North American Van Lines, ADT

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 21:23:46 -0500

Home inspection clients and Realtors in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point and the Greater Triad get more value with Advantage Inspection!

We are excited to announce some brand new affiliations that will enable us to offer incredible discounts for services our clients will need.

Many of you already know that we are preferred Vendor Partners with Lowes Home Improvement, and as such our inspection customers receive a 10% coupon worth up to $500 for purchases at Lowes.

Now we have even more:

$200 coupon for installation of an ADT home security system
Discount for using Allied or North American Van Lines

And perhaps the most exciting:

Up to 20% discount for Homeowner's insurance from Nationwide Insurance, renewable each year the homeowner lives in that home. A potential savings of up to $10,000 !

Advantage Inspection works harder to give their clients more. More value, more security, more peace of mind !

Dont forget, we offer the ONLY 'No Denied Claims' home warranty on the market, underwritten by our top quality inspections, covering more items for less.

Don't settle for less. Enjoy the fringe benefits of Advantage Inspection !

Philip LaMachio

Advantage Inspection Clear View 7B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro, NC 27408

336-327-5523

Member of NACHI

Home Warranty Secrets - The Insider Scoop

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 11:24:56 -0500

Greensboro and NC Realtors; Find out the truth about the home warranty you are selling your clients, and offer them the best warranty in the market.

Rather than try to do here what I have already done elsewhere, go to my article at Home Warranty Secrets to educate yourself about the nature of the home warranty industry and find out why you have an alternative here in the greater Greensboro area and most of N.C.

Then, click on the link below if you are within 60 miles of Greensboro, and I will call you to let you know how you can offer the best and only 'No Denied Claims' home warranty in the market !

Have me call you !

http://www.inspectornow.com/callme.php?id=13789

Philip LaMachio

Advantage Inspection Clear View 7 B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro, NC. 27408

336-327-5523

Preferred Vending partner of LowesMoving.com

Home Warranty Secrets! What the Home Warranty Industry Doesn't Want You To Know !

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 22:59:12 -0500

Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High-Point homeowners have an alternative to bad service and denied claims. Find Out How to Avoid Being Ripped Off !

A TARNISHED REPUTATION

A lot of Realtors offer home warranties to their clients, But many may not know that the credibilty of the home warranty industry is tarnished in the eye of the public. And for GOOD REASON. The whole business model is intentionally flawed in their favor. But first, do a little research......

DO A BACKGROUND CHECK

I challenge anyone to Google any home warranty company's name and the word `complaints', rip-off or `fraud'. Find out how many people believe they got burned, turned down wrongfully or got rotten service..... here's one site that should keep you busy: http://www.my3cents.com/. THERE ARE MANY OTHERS.....

CREDIBILITY GAP

There is a HUGE problem in the home warranty industry, and the public is becoming savvy to it. But the days of an ignorant public being preyed upon by an industry lacking integrity is nearing an end. Information is just a click away.

WHY SO MANY UNFAIR DENIALS ?

The problem is INHERENT TO THE MODEL on which MOST home warranties operate. Here's why:

THE NO-DOC HOME WARRANTY and the PRE-EXISTING CONDITIONS clause

If you (as a homeowner) call up a home warranty company, and ask them how they can warranty a house they have never seen, they glibly tell you they take your word for it.

But here's the sad truth : They do not want documentation ! That would eliminate the loopholes !

How many health insurance companies will insure you without a physical exam ?

The fact is, most home warranty companies do not ask for or even accept documentation as to the serviceability of anyone's home, which creates a HUGE LOOPHOLE allowing the warranty company the option of rejecting the claim based on the convenient ' PRE-EXISTING CONDITONS' clause.

The naive homeowner tells them his house and all its systems are in good operating condition. The homeowner is told his/her word is all that is required, but when it is time to file a claim will find it is his word against the home warranty's service technician.

The homeowner will ALWAYS lose if the technician finds a 'pre-existing conditon' or other unexpected situation, because the warranty company always goes with the word of their technician!

KEEPING IT CONVENIENTLY VAGUE

Some home warranty companies even boast that an inspection is not required ! But that is exactly what should be required to establish the condition of the home and its systems and to eliminate the excuse of the 'pre-existing conditions clause.

Documentation would show that there were no pre-existing conditions, there were no improperly installed or sized systems. But the warranty companies don't want documentation. That would eliminate the opportunity to take your money and later deny your claim !

WHO GETS HURT IN THE LONG RUN ?

Obviously the homeowner is the victim. However, Realtors who sell them the rotten warranty product will loose a future referral. To be fair however, there has not been an alternative home warranty product available until now.

THE WAY IT SHOULD BE DONE. Advantage Home Warranty's Approach.

There is one home warranty company that does buisness differently. One that

requires an inspection first.
has no 'Pre-Existing Clause'.
that you will not find any complaints about
will pay on all warranteeable items
Realtors can trust with their reputation

That company is Advantage Home Warranty and their product is the 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty.

Want to see how Advantage ranks against other warranty brands ? Home Warranty Reviews

Because we require an inspection by our qualified inspectors FIRST, you get the documentation required to establish the existence or non-existence of a 'pre-existing condition'.

If any item does not pass inspection, you have the option to have it repaired and be covered by the warranty, or to not repair it and exclude it from the warranty.

It's that simple. No loopholes, no hassle, No Denied Claims !

And its the way this business SHOULD be done !

Any questions ?

For customers in Greensboro and the Greater Piedmont Triad area, contact me to find out how you can get the only 'No Denied Claim's' Home Warranty on the market, covering more items for a comparable price than any of our competitors !

For customers in the Southeast, within our present service area, contact Advantage Home Warranty

Philip LaMachio, Advantage Inspection Clear View, Corporate Center Ct. , Greensboro, NC. 27403

Cell (336) 327-5523 Office (336) 369-2173

Member of NACHI

Proud Vendor Partner of Lowes Home Improvement

Here is an example of an agent getting burned by the home warranty industry !

Home Warranties - A Rip Off Or Is It Just Home Security of America? By Bob Mitchell

Home Inspections and Chuck-In-A-Truck. How The Re/Max Model is Influencing the Home Inspection Industry

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 08:16:19 -0500

Once, not too long ago, when the real estate industry was young, the way business was conducted, (commission-split set up and no effective support/training for new agents) led to an office of unsupported, poorly trained low producing and low commissioned agents and high turn-over. But Re/Max ( read history) changed that.

By changing the paradigm and offering maximum compensation, superior agent support and traditional Real Estate franchise services, Dave and Gail Liniger of Re/Max transformed the way business was done and changed an industry forever.

The home inspection business is on the cusp of a similar transformation and is past ready for it.

Presently, it is comprised of Mom and Pop organizations that because of their natural limitations, offer little more than the talents of one individual and whatever extra resources and benefits he can offer. No matter how good he is, there's only so much one individual can do.

The days of Chuck-In-A-Truck are numbered.

Advantage Inspection looked closely at the Re/Max model and since 1998 has been leveraging that model to offer unparallelled support and products for the use of their franchise owners and associate inspectors.

Advantage Inspection has focused on benefits to all participants of he real-estate transaction, creating WIN-WIN-WIN solutions for the homeowner, inspector and Realtor,

Advantage Inspection has created programs and products, like :

the Listing Advantage . Removing the traditional roadbumps caused by the typical order in which the real estate process is conducted.
Super Affiliates; like the Lowes Home Improvement Preferred Vendor Partnership. Offering homeowners a 10% discount on one time purchases, a potential value of up to $500, more than the cost of a typical home inspection.
The Home Physical. An inspection conducted for home owners not party to a real estate transaction, for the purpose of being aware of the maintenance and safety issues that may have developed over the years of living in that home.
Multi - Inspector Offices, with Corporate and franchise affiliate support. Not only are Advantage Inspection Franchises required to have a physical office other than their own spare bedroom, they are true multi-inspector firms which allow benefits to inspection associates as well as meet the demands for on-time reporting by having more associates to meet customer need. Also, the vetting process for new associates insures quality individuals who will be supported by additional in-house training above and beyond the yearly requirements for education that are State mandated.
Most advanced and exclusive report writing software, so good that Lowe's chose us rather than any other to be affiliated with !

Advantage Inspection International also saw the problems rife with the Home Warranty industry and created

the first 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty, a popular product homeowners. (Which makes them happy with their Realtors who referred them.)

This is a quick overview of the direction Advantage Inspection International is taking the home inspection industry. And though our territory is presently limited to the Southeastern United States, we are ready to expand nationwide and eventually world-wide.

More benefits to all parties will soon be available. Keep posted to Philip LaMachio's Advantage Inspection Blog for the latest.

Member of Nachi

Home Inspectors Wanted in the Piedmont Triad Area ! Times They Are A-Changin'...

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 07:40:43 -0500

Inspectors Unite ! ~~Change is~~ ~~coming to the home inspection industry~~ ! Change is HERE ! We are actively seeking inspector affiliates who can join our team as we revolutionize the inspection industry. Advantage Inspection is poised to expand nationwide !

Doing buisness the same old way won't answer the needs of tomorrow. Mom and Pop operations, working out of a truck and a spare bedroom cannot offer your clients all that the combined efforts of the Advantage Inspection team can !

Established and Newbie Inspectors all over the Southeast are joining Advantage Inspection because of the powerful benefits both to themselves ( marketing support, reporting software, training ), and to their customers ( affiliation branding, exclusive products and services ).

By becoming an Advantage Home Inspector YOU can :

Use the easiest-to-read/use 'ONLINE AND ON-TIME ' home inspection report available
Use professional marketing tools (print publications, Realtor postcards, etc) and have the support of the whole Advantage Inspection family, from the corporate team in Greenville SC, to the extended Advantage Inspection family of franchisees and associates throughout the Southeast !
Become part of a team of inspectors, working together to maximize market share
Be a Lowes Home Improvement preferred vendor partner, offering an exclusive 10% discount coupon to both buyers and sellers.
Offer the only 'No Denied Claim's" Home Warranty on the market, the only home warranty that requires a home inspection before it is offered.
Offer 'Value-Added' affiliate discounts to your customers with nationally recognized companies whose services your customers will need.
Become part of the fastest growing home inspection company in the country dedicated to the success and financial growth of each of it's team members.

Contact Brian Haire or Philip LaMachio at our local Greensboro, NC. office serving the Peidmont Triad area and the Counties of Guilford, Alamace, Forsyth, Rockingham, Orange, Chatham, Stokes, Surry, Caswell, Iredell, Montgomery and Randolph counties.

For your local Advantage Inspection office, call Philip @ 336-327-5523

Advantage Inspection Clear Veiw

For opportunities throughout the Southeast, call: 864-298-0405. ( Tell them Philip sent you ! Thanks ! )

Advantage Inspection International

Member of Nachi

Home Inspectors, Realtors, Have You Seen This ? This is not a Cosmetic Issue. The Danger's of Plaster

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 22:05:49 -0500

I am a home inspector living in Greensboro NC, working in the Peidmont Triad area since '92, doing remodeling and plaster restoration.

When I first came back home (here) from Chicago and began my own restoration buisness, I kept seeing a peculiar crack in the ceilings of homes of certain vintage.

Usually the crack would occur in the living room, but would occasionally be found in others.

The crack would be straight down the middle of the ceiling, going the length of the room. The homes would have plaster as an interior finish and were usually built between 1946 - 1965 +/-.

Many times it was evident that someone in the past had tried to repair these cracks, but to no avail. It always came back.

One day I had a call from a customer who had a major problem. When I got there, the ceiling was split down the middle and thousands of pounds of plaster and plaster lathe were hanging precariously, dipping about 8-12" from the ceiling, a gapeing black crack with insulation pouring from it the length of the room.

Fortunately the man had moved his mother out of the bedroom.

What we found was the following: The plaster lathe, a gypsum board type product which formed the base for the hand troweled plaster scratch and top coats, had originally been attached by a clip system, which connected at the edges of the base and were nailed to the joists.

The metal clips had given way under the enormous weight of the plaster and lathe and the gypsum base came apart at the seams which was directly across the middle of the room.

We removed the whole ceiling and replaced it with drywall.

Later we found out that the house next to that one had been built at the same time (late 40's ?), but within weeks of completion, the ceilings fell out completely. Hopefully no one was injured.

Since then we have found numerous 'transitional' systems*, some using metal wires or hangers, others using grids of wood and nails on which the gypsum lathe and plaster were hung. All of these were systems that were in the process of failure, and though we re-secured most of them, a few made me fear for my life during the process.

So the next time you see a long, straight crack in a plaster ceiling going staight down the middle of the largest room in a vintage house, don't think it is something cosmetic. It is a progressive failure of a ceiling system, signifying a loss of structural integrity and a potential safety hazard until it is properly addressed.

Philip LaMachio NC Home Inspector # 2631

Advantage Inspection Clear View Preferred Vendor Provider of Lowe's Home Improvement Inc.

Estate Plaster and Restoration, Inc.

336-327-5523

* I refer to them as transitional systems because the previous method of using narrow red oak strips set 1/4" apart or minor variations of it, with plaster adherered to and pushed through to form 'keys' had been used for hundreds of years, up until the mid. teens of the early 20th Cent. The first real change was the use of wire and sometimes smaller sections of gypsum lathe (various sizes) starting in the 20's and through the early 40's, though in various places, the earlier wood lathe system may have found continued use. The conclusion of this transition of experimentation with gypsum lathes has left us with no actual plaster on the lathe at all, only where the joints meet, which is today our drywall system. Simply a Plaster system minus the plaster.

Sell Your Home in Greensboro, NC TODAY ! Seller's Inspection and Home Warranty

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 08:41:02 -0500

Though Spring is almost upon us, let's not take any chances that you will be the one still sitting on your property when late Summer arrives. Be proactive and differentiate yourself from the market !

All of these options require some monetary investment up front ( except the Home Warranty and the Realtor), but will pay handsomely in the end, by helping your house to sell more quickly, for top dollar.

Here are a few ideas and some costs/benefits to each.

Hire the services of a Home Stager

Cost: $500+
Benefits: Making your home show its best will create that valuable first impression.

2. List your home with a competent Realtor

Cost: 6% of the sale's price ( On a 200K home, 12K)
Benefits: A good Realtor can help make your house 'Visible' on the market-place by lisiting on the MlS and weekend showings. They are also an invaluable resource for guidance in the home selling process.

3. Offer a Home Warranty

Cost: Averaging about $480 +/- depending on coverage
Benefits: A perception of security. This can really sweeten the deal, unless your buyer has had a bad experience with that particular home warranty company. The misuse of the 'pre-existing condition's' clause has damaged the credibility of the home warranty industry in the eyes of the public. Be sure to Google the name brand and add the keywords 'scam, fraud and rip-off'.

4. Have your home Pre-Inspected by a licensed Home Inspector

Cost: Averaging about $350 +/- depending on size, age, etc. of house.
Benefits: Enormous. Think about how impressive it would be to hand out a recent home inspection report along with a list of repairs that were made based upon that report. Or don't fix the items and adust the price accordingly. ( Hey, the buyer's inspector is going to find all the problems anyway. Why not show good faith and fully disclose with an inspection ?)

Of these options, I want to speak to the last two.

SELLER'S OBJECTIONS to PRE-LISTING INSPECTIONS

Sellers often object to the idea of paying for an inspection because this is typically paid for by the buyer. This is a shortsighted approach however.

One of the best ways to create confidence in the buyer is to show you have diligently addressed all the outstanding functional issues to put the house in good repair. No one wants surprises, especially the seller, which is what will happen if they wait until the buyer's inspector reports his findings just before closing, which is what typically happens. And that potentially leads to major bumpsin the road, requiring expensive last minute repairs or a drastic allowance ( usually 3x the cost of the repair) to sell the house.

A QUALITY HOME WARRANTY

Until 10 years ago, there was no real choice in home warranties. They all operated on the same faulty model, leading too many times to the same disastrous result : a claim denied, a homeowner burned.

1n 1998 however, Advantage Home Warranty was launched to rave reviews. Different because it required a home inspection to underwrite the warranty, this is the first and only 'No Denied Claim's' warranty on the marketplace. Go ahead and Google Advantage Home Warranty and the keywords 'fraud, scam, ripoff' and you won't find any complaints. That is because we have not denied any warrantable claims in our 10 years of operation.

PRE-LISTING ADVANTAGE - COMBINING THE PRE-LISTING INSPECTION WITH THE 'NO DENIED CLAIM'S' HOME WARRANTY---A PROVEN WINNER

Advantage Inspection Clear View and all the Advantage Inspection offices throughout the Southeast US offer a proven program for selling your house faster and for more $$$, combining the benefits of a pre-listing inspection with the only 'No Denied Claim's' Home warranty on the market.

But don't take our word for it. See what it did for Michael Thrift, rookie Realtor out of Greenville, SC. Michael had been in the business for 15 months without much success, but his hunger drove him to find a way to differentiate his listings in the market. He found the Listing Advantage and LISTED AND SOLD 8 HOUSES IN 2.5 MONTHS.

Michael understood the sellers objection to paying for a pre-listing inspection and so offered to pay for it out if his own pocket. The seller would then agree to pay for the 'No Denied Claim's' Home Warranty at closing ( no $$$ out of pocket for seller).

But let Michael's words speak for themselves:

---Original Message------

Subject: Pre-Inspections Work!!!

From "Matthew Thrift" To: Sonya Skidmore

For example: I listed a house on December 28, 2007 and between the 28^th of December and the 22^nd of January, I had 11 showings and no offers.

One agent even stated to me, "You took the hassle and frustration out of the transaction !"

Pre-Inspections JUST MAKE SENSE!

Thank you Advantage Inspection

Thank you Advantage Home Warranty

Thank you Common Cents Pest Control

Sincerely, Matthew Thrift

Do you want the results that Matthew has had ? Then do as Matthew does ! Call about our Listing Advantge today !

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

7B Corporate Center Ct.

Greensboro, NC 27408

336-327-5523 336-369-2173

* All client's who order inspections with Advantage Inspection receive a 10% discount for a one-time purchase at Lowe's Home Improvement, worth up to $500 !

What a Home Inspection Is......What It Is Not. ( Inspectors Get the Blame)

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:24:58 -0500

Many homeowners I speak to about home inspections are disgruntled with their last inspector because they feel he did do a thorough enough job.

When I ask them more specific questions they might say, ' Well, the inspector put down that the door lock was broken and I already knew that'

They might be upset because some of the things the inspector noted were obvious to them as well, and they expected the inspector to not waste their time with the obvious things.

The problem is, what may be obvious to one homeowner, is completely overlooked by another. Furthermore, we are required by NC State standards to note all broken items, or those that don't function as they were intended, as well as items that adversely affect the habitability of the house.

Now, some of that may seem silly to the homeowner, because they are obvious, like for instance, there is a broken window in the bedroom.

But if we don't mention it, and the buyer finds it later, we are likely going to be liable. So we document everything, even if it seems trivial, according to state standards.

Now, on the other end of the spectrum, some home-buyers and even real estate agents are upset because we didn't go far enough.

Perhaps we did not find the rot that was in the walls that did not become visible until someone chose to remodel later. ( We aren't supposed to take the house apart people ). Or, they are upset that we did not take the HVAC system apart.

When a home inspector feels there are reasons to indicate that such a system or component bears further investigation and evaluation by a specialist, ( liscenced HVAC technician, electrician, plumber, structural engineer, etc), they feel that the home inspector did not go far enough.

In NC, our state standards define a home inspection as a visual, non-technical, non-invasive inspection. We are generalists and unless we actually hold a licence in the particular category requiring professional evaluation, we are limited in what we can say.

There is something good about knowing your limits.

I hope I helped someone to understand a bit better what ours are.

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View Preferred Provider of Lowe's Home Improvement Inc.

7B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro, NC 27408

336-327-5523 336-369-2173

Advantage Inspection is the Preferred Vending Partner of Lowe's Home Improvement Inc.

Philip Lamachio (Advantage Inspection Clear View) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 16:25:26 -0500

Advantage Inspection is only home inspection company chosen to be a Preferred Vendor Partner of Lowe's Home Improvement, Inc. which means all of our customers ordering a home inspection recieve a 10% coupon for Lowes Home Improvement Inc.

This is important because people buying or selling a home spend anywhere from $3000-$5000 renovating a home for sale, or updating it to move in.

This amounts to a potential savings of up to $500 for the home inspection customer, EQUALLING OR WORTH MORE THAN THE INITIAL COST OF THE HOME INSPECTION.

CAN ANYONE SAY ' FREE HOME INSPECTION' ?

And better than that, if a buyer has the inspection, both the buyer and the seller get the coupon. If the seller gets the inspection, both the buyer and seller get the coupon.

I am so excited to be a part of this company !

I hope to bring you more news in the next few weeks about new things Advantage Inspection is doing to add value to our products and help our clients.

Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View

336-327-5523