Home Inspection day is EXCITING!  Often, the home buyers attend the inspection and get the chance to look in every room, closet, and nook of their new home.  Overall, home inspections are quite thorough.  The inspector will get a pretty good idea of the condition of the property, and will advise you on which health/safety concerns you should ask for repairs on (or ask for a credit from the seller).  However, there are a handful of items that home inspectors usually do not check.  Some may be outside of the inspector's area of expertise, and some may be inaccessible without special equipment.  Here are the items that are normally NOT included in a general home inspection:  

 

Roof Inspection 

In some cases, the inspector may be able…

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We all know San Diego is a craft beer mecca.  The city has over 100 craft breweries, with new ones opening all the time.  What does it take to stand out amongst the crowd?  First, the beer must be stellar.  San Diego beer lovers aren't receptive to non flavorful, run-of-the-mill (see what I did there?) beer.  The tasting room should be imaginative, inspiring and welcoming.  Finally, the overall experience should leave fans wanting more so guests will come back again and again.  Here are 3 brewery standouts that I love.  

 

Alesmith is one of the oldest breweries in San Diego.  It was started in 1995, so has had many years to gain momentum and followers.  Last year was a huge year for Alesmith, as it opened its brand new monstrous…

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Set Your Budget 

You may have a pretty good idea of how much monthly payment you can afford.  Say, for example, you've thought about your income and your debt/bills, and you believe you can afford a $3,000 payment per month.  That's great!  However, the lender may analyze your credit score, debt to income ratio, etc, and approve you for a purchase price in line with a $2,700 monthly payment.  This is so critical to know before you go out and start looking at homes.  It is absolutely heartbreaking to fall in love with a house, apply for the loan, and hear you are not qualified to purchase in that price range.  On the other hand, the lender may approve you for more than you thought you'd get approved for.  When this happens, you can spend some time…

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Hi everyone!  Christie here--one of the team leads of The Honest Agent Team.  I'm going to be honest....I am SUPER excited to by typing up this blog post today.  When I became a first time homebuyer, I would have killed for an article about the true ins and outs of the process.    I've really been looking forward to sharing my experience in blog format.  I thought it would be a great idea to create an "insider's guide" into the scary, and not so scary, parts of buying a home.  

PARTS OF THE PROCESS THAT WERE KIND OF SCARY 

Loan Application:  I had never applied for a loan before, beyond buying my car (which was quick and painless).  I spoke with my mortgage lender and applied for the loan over the phone while driving.  It took about 30 minutes,…

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How to Get the Most Money When You Sell 

Professional Marketing 

Excellent marketing is a huge key to selling a home successfully.  Some agents will show up at your home after you list with them, whip out their iPhone, and start snapping the listing photos.  YIKES!  We hire a professional photography company to shoot the photos of our listings.  Their photos come out beautifully.  Once your home is picture-ready, I will schedule a time for the photographer to come out and take photos.  We also have a large social media presence and tremendous reach within San Diego and beyond to get as many eyes as possible on your home. 

Smartly Priced 

The price is a huge part of the home's marketing strategy.  We love to price homes just…

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Swimming Pools

Pools do not add much, if any, value to a home in San Diego.  Pools require a lot of maintenance and upkeep, and it can be a burden to keep them safe for kids and dogs.  Many buyers do not want a pool, and will not even come look at your home if you have one.  That being said, if a pool is something that you or your family will love and enjoy, then you can certainly consider adding one for your own use.

 

Expensive Landscaping 

Great curb appeal is a huge plus when it comes time to sell a home.  Landscaping should look pretty and clean.  However, expensive landscaping that was custom designed for your home with high end plants and flowers will not yield a good return on the investment.

 

Custom Upgrades 

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