Lipstick On A Pig-Checking Out Whether Those Beautiful Updates Were Done Correctly
It takes a lot more than fresh carpet and paint to truly renovate an older home or foreclosure that has been poorly maintained, or worse yet, abused. Don't be so wowed by the kitchen counters that you miss larger problems that could cost you a fortune in the long run. Take your time in touring a home, and if you are interested in purchasing, insist on a home inspection contingency.
You've walked in the front door and you are blown away. On the surface everything about the home you are exploring looks perfect. Granite counters, stainless steel appliances, updated bathrooms and hardwood floors. What's not to love?
Before you run back to the office to write an offer you may want to do a little double checking. In the case of this wonderful little house in Fairfax County VA the first place we went was to the county website to check to see if any building permits were pulled. What we found were a slew of permits with work marked incomplete by the county inspector. None of the permits pulled showed any work had passed inspections.It's an issue buyers in Northern Virginia face everyday when they look to purchase a flip or home with recent updates. Some contractors never pull a single permit and you can just about guarantee "Joe" homeowner didn't pull any permits when they did the work themselves. I have a contractor currently working on a property I own in Parkfairfax in Alexandria VA and I doubled checked to make sure all of the permits were pulled before the work started.
If you are thinking about buying a home that was obviously remodeled take a few minutes and check for building permits and inspections.
If you have questions most of the city and county government agencies are more than happy to answer them for you. If you decide to go ahead and buy the home make sure you have a home inspection with a licensed home inspector.
If aren't working with a Realtor® and are thinking about buying a new home in Northern Virginia your give me a call at 703-346-2213. Let me help you navigate the murky waters of our current market. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about whether now is the right time to buy a new home.
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If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213. No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about the local real estate market from a no nonsense point of view.
Check out www.varealestatetalk.com and www.cjrealtygroup.com for more information.
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