What You Need to Know About Home Inspections

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Today, I'm going to talk to you about one of the most important parts of the real estate transaction: the home inspection.

In California, you have 17 days to complete all your buyer investigations unless you negotiate otherwise. In those first few days, we hire a home inspector. Home inspectors aren't licensed in California, but there are some certification agencies, and we have some great referral partners for you as well.

A home inspector is a generalist. They will crawl over every inch of the house and check the roof, the plumbing, the basement, and everything else. The home inspector looks for any indication that bigger problems might arise in the future. That way, you can prevent those problems, and you know whether you need to hire a specialist, like a plumber or electrician.

We recommend attending the home inspection for at least the last half hour in order to walk through the home with the inspector. Then, he can point out everything he's found, which can help you better understand the home inspector's report.

As a buyer, you have the right to request repairs from the sellers. The seller is not required to make these repairs, but there are a few health and safety ones that you can negotiate on.

Once you have the seller's response, you can decide whether or not to move forward with the transaction. Even if you don't get everything you ask for, the home inspection has at least opened your eyes to any issues you need to take care of in the future. It's best to know exactly what you're getting into when buying a new home.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!

10 Tips for Throwing a Great Tailgate or Labor Day Party!

Looking to sell your San Diego home? Get a free home value report 
Looking to buy a San Diego home? Click here for full MLS access. 

Today, we're going to do something a little different. With football season just around the corner, we thought we'd share a video that I found on HGTV featuring 10 tips for throwing a great tailgate party!

1.    Be literal. If you or your friend has a truck, use a tailgate as the serving station.

2.    For lighting, use paper lanterns in team colors. It's easiest to hang them with zip ties. They are better than balloons, and they're reusable!

3.    Paint a plain cooler with your team colors. For best results, be sure to use spray paint designed for plastic.

4.    Use a silverware caddy. Use an easy-to-transport toolbox caddy for silverware and sauces.

5.    Make chip bag tacos. You want to have a simple menu, and walking tacos are delicious and easy to handle.

6.    Or, try chili and cornbread mason jars. These are a great alternative to the chip bag tacos!

7.    Don't forget the drinks! Bourbon-spiked hot chocolate is perfect for a cool fall day. Make sure you bring along unbreakable mugs.

8.    Serve a unique dessert. We recommend pennant cookies. Simply cut cookie bars into pennants.

9.    Create a hand washing station. Bring paper towels, soap, and water.

10.  Pre-game activities. Create a DIY ball toss using a drop cloth.

Even using just a few of these will make for a memorable tailgate party! We hope you found some of these ideas helpful. As always, if you have any questions about real estate, give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you!