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You can put lipstick on a pig.....

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams Realty

lipstick on a pig

but guess what.. at the end of the day, it's still a pig!

Everyone knows that it is a GREAT time to buy; historically low interest rates on top of all-time low home prices on top of an incredible inventory = IT DOESN'T GET BETTER THAN THIS! 

BUT, with this being said, I think it's now, more than ever, so incredibly important to advise our clients to get that home inspection.  Yes, it is an upfront cost but trust me, it's better to spend $500 on a home you don't purchase than to spend 10's if not 100's of thousands of dollars in repairs. 

When you're looking at a home you're planning to renovate on your own, that's one thing.  But when you're looking at a home that's been renovated, there are certain things you need to take into consideration - homes are being sold at a discount, foreclosures and short sales are popping up left and right, and builders are running out of money, which means sellers are cutting corners and saving money!  You have no idea to what degree or at what level a home has been renovated. 

You may find a home with your dream kitchen:

dream kitchen

But, for all you know, the sellers could have done the renovations themselves without updating the electrical, properly sealing the gas line, correctly moving the plumbing, etc. etc. etc., and this may be what's really going on behind the walls:

home inspection nightmares - electrical duct tape on a pipe

Trust me, a little sheetrock, paint, new fixtures and appliances can go a long way in making a home appear "renovated."  The cosmetic fixes can be attractive but that's the easy, quick-fix stuff; your main concern when buying a home is what you can't see.

Just something to think about when you go to purchase your next home.. is this a true beauty or is it simply lipstick on a pig??

 

Posted by

Britney Elizondo

Buyer Specialist, REALTOR® | Vicki White Homes | a team within Keller Williams Dallas City Center | www.vickiwhitehomes.com

Kimberly A Norgard
Devlin McNiff Halstead Real Estate - East Hampton, NY

It's a must to get a good home inspection.  (Like the picture)

Jan 19, 2011 08:50 AM
Mike Mitchell
Kee Realty - Saint Clair Shores, MI
REALTOR (R)

Ha! Love the picture, too funny! Great post Britney, no matter how good the house looks - get a home inspection.

Jan 19, 2011 09:13 AM