The email began, "I know you recommended I get the house inspected, but I think I'm going to save the money. After all, the house is new. Why do I need it?" We had been negotiating on a new construction in Nassau County on Long Island and the offer was finally accepted.
This is a common mistake buyers make. They assume, because they're buying new construction, that everything is just perfect. I can tell you on a personal level, they're wrong. When I bought my own home new years ago, before I became a real estate broker on Long Island, it never occurred to me to get an inspection done.
A few days before closing I went into the house with a friend to do the final walk-through. It was early March and the air outside was cold. It wasn't all that much warmer inside as I made my way through the house, trying to look like I knew what I was doing, checking faucets and looking around. It was only when my friend said she had to use the bathroom that I got my first glimpse of the things that can go wrong with a brand new home.
The first words out of her mouth as she exited the bathroom were, "I think it's very nice, in the cold weather to have your toilet flush with hot water, but I suspect it could get very costly." I was shocked and in disbelief. Had she not had to use the facilities, I would never have picked that up. They mistakenly reversed the hot and cold water lines, necessitating cutting through the recently painted wall that backed the bathroom to correct the problem. I was not a happy camper. As it turned out, that was only one of a number of annoying things that were problematic from the start.
Typically, people pay a premium for new construction on Long Island. You want to be sure you're getting a home without unnecessary issues. Do yourself a favor and have an engineer or a home inspection company look at the property before you sign on the dotted line. Hopefully you'll live in that house for a long time and you certainly don't want to start off on the wrong foot.
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About the author: Geri Sonkin is a Licensed Broker Associate/Stager/Decorator serving Long Island sellers and buyers for over 24 years. Areas of expertise include Nassau County, Suffolk County, Queens and Brooklyn. Specializing in resales, new construction, co-ops/condos, waterfront homes, estates, short sales, rentals and staging your home to sell for the most money the market will bear. For more information: www.LongIslandsBestHomes.com For new construction: http://2274Woodbine.GreatCustomHome.com516-425-6098 Search all MLS listings and access up to date market statistics at AtHomeOnLongIsland.com All text and graphics contained herein Copyright © 2010 Geri Sonkin & its licensors, unless otherwise stated. All rights reserved.
If you're considering buying, selling or staging a home on Long Island, I'm here to help. Just give me a call or send me an email.
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Geri Sonkin Home Stager, Decorator |
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