PAM DENT

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Broadband and Internet Access in Virginia

People love to purchase country homes or rural properties in Virginia…. often as an alternative to their previous homes in cities or suburbs. We get it. The sheer beauty of our state, the horse farms, the privacy of large acreage, all combine for very good reasons to purchase country properties. So, in the enthusiasm of choosing possible properties, there is a detail that can be overlooked. Most people want or need internet access in their new homes.

The last thing you want to discover in your new home… is that nobody in your new area has access to the internet.

Below are tools for you to use, to research the various broadband connections for your next Virginia property.

You can look up specific addresses to know in advance what is available before you even look at potential property listings.

  STATE OF VIRGINIA BROADBAND:
The state sponsors an online tool called Commonwealth Connection. Here is INSTRUCTION TO GET AND USE COMMONWEALTH CONNECTION.

After you’ve gotten some search tips, you can look for details of Virginia broadband by looking up specific addresses at THIS SITE TO SEARCH FOR INTERNET ACCESS BY ADDRESS.

  NATIONAL BROADBAND & INTERNET ACCESS:
Nationally, the FCC sponsors a site where you can look up the broadband access anywhere in the country. It will tell you if there’s wireless, DSL, cable, fiber, satellite, or other methods to access broadband at a particular address. You can CLICK HERE FOR AN FCC MAP TO FIND BROADBAND ACCESS ACROSS THE U.S..

In addition, your realtor may provide more details of internet access for each listing as well as advice on local broadband options for properties.


Filed Under: Area Features, Blog, Information for buyers, information for home owners Tagged With: country homes, information for buyers, Tips for Buyers, Virginia Info

Adjustable Rate Comparison

An Adjustable Rate Mortgage (ARM) is not as common as a Fixed Rate (i.e, 15 or 30 Year Mortgage), but an ARM may be a better choice for a homeowner who knows they are going to stay in the home for less time than the break even point.

An ARM might easily be 1/2% less than a fixed-rate during the first period of the loan, which can reduce the monthly cost of housing compared to a fixed rate.

The actual rate of an ARM can go up or down during the life of the loan, depending on an independent financial index. If the index rate is higher on the anniversary of your mortgage, the rate of your ARM could go up. But if you believe that rates are going to trend down during the time you own the home, then an adjustable rate could be to your advantage.

A mortgage financial advisor can provide you with a comparison of an Adjustable Rate vs a Fixed Rate to estimate when a Fixed Rate would have been a lower way to finance. There is a breakeven point in terms of months and years.

The ARM may be a better choice for the homeowner who knows they are going to stay in the home less time than the breakeven point. But if you plan for this to be your Forever Home, a Fixed Rate will likely be the better choice. If you’d like a recommendation, please let me know.

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Filed Under: Blog, Information for buyers, information for home owners, Mortgages Tagged With: information for buyers, Mortgages, Tips for Buyers

When a Home Appraisal is Low

Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist for the Virginia Association of Realtors, has recently given us an overview of various market conditions affected by low home appraisals.  Can a low appraisal derail home buyers?

A home appraisal is an evaluation of a home’s market value based on comparable recent sales and sometimes recent listings in the neighborhood. Appraisals are required by a lender to protect both the lender and the buyer and to help to ensure that the buyer is not borrowing more than the home is worth. In hot housing markets, like the one we have been in for nearly a year, it can be challenging to accurately appraise the value of a home. Different appraisal values and below-offer appraisals can be confusing for home buyers and sellers and can sometimes prevent a successful transaction.

Different Methods, Different Values

An appraisal is typically conducted by a licensed real estate appraiser at the request of a lender or borrower. Appraisers generally use data on the prices of comparable homes sold in the last three or six months, or sometimes over a longer period. However, in fast-paced markets, where prices are rising rapidly, looking back at past home prices might not be a good indication of current values. It is important in this busy housing market that appraisers are not only using data on closed sales, but are also using data on pending sales and listings. Automated valuation models, or AVMs, have been a popular way for consumers to get an immediate assessment of their home’s value. These AVM values can also sometimes be used in refinance applications. AVMs collect data from multiple listings services, along with data from public records, to compare recent sales and list prices and generate a value for a particular home. There are differences in the methodologies in these AVMs, including the types of data used, how frequently the data are updated, and the number of comparables used in the estimate. These differences in data and methods can result in different home value estimates. (I plugged my home address into five different AVMs, and the difference in estimates was more than $100,000.) Because the housing market is so fast-moving, it is important that the data they use are updated very frequently. These public-facing AVMs are popular with consumers, but they can also provide misleading information and result in disappointed (or pleasantly surprised) homeowners when a licensed appraisal is produced.

Appraisals Below Offer

In this frenzied housing market, bidding wars and offers over list are common. When the home appraises at the contract price, the deal can go off without a hitch. However, appraisals below offer can throw up a roadblock to the purchase. While there are stories about buyers losing out due to a low appraisal, the data suggests that it is very uncommon for low appraisals to completely derail a transaction. According to Fannie Mae, an estimated 8% of appraisals came in below offer price in 2017. Zillow estimated that 10% of deals that fell through in 2018 did so because of a low appraisal. More recently, the National Association of REALTORS® reported in August 2020 that appraisal issues accounted for less than 1% of real estate transaction issues. Despite the fact that appraisal issues seem to be relatively uncommon, homebuyers that are worried about a home not appraising have increasingly been waiving appraisal contingencies in their offers. Nationally, Redfin estimated that about 20% of winning home offers last summer had waived the appraisal contingency. According to a survey of Virginia REALTORS®, in March 2021, 37% of REALTORS® said that it was very common for buyers to waive the appraisal contingency to make their offers more competitive. For some buyers, waiving the appraisal could be problematic down the road. For others, including those using an FHA or VA loan, an appraisal contingency is not an option.

Helping Buyers and Sellers When Appraisals Come in Low

There are several steps REALTORS® can recommend to buyers and sellers if an appraisal comes in lower than expected: REALTORS® should remind clients that AVMs are not meant to serve as a formal appraisal and that for most transactions, a lender will require an appraisal from a licensed real estate appraiser.
Appraisals should include data not only on recent sales, but should also take into account homes that have recently gone under contract and homes currently listed for sale. The fast-paced market means that home prices six or even three months ago are not necessarily a good indicator of current home values. Buyers, sellers, and lenders can request a review of the appraisal to see if there were any inaccuracies in the analysis. If the appraisal comes in below an offer, buyers could have the option to increase the down payment to make up the difference or take some of the money set aside for a down payment to close the appraisal gap. It is also possible that a low appraisal is a sign that the offer price really is above the home’s true value and that the smartest thing for the buyer to do is to step away from the deal and move on to the next home. Having a REALTOR® who can provide sound advice on market conditions will be a tremendous value to buyers in this situation. *Information as of 07/21/21

Filed Under: Blog, Information for buyers, information for home owners, Information for homeowners, Information for sellers, Mortgages, Uncategorized Tagged With: Mortgages

Sad Real Estate Story That Keeps Repeating

Ask any real estate agent and they will tell you a similar sad story. The seller, whose home just hit the market, received an offer which was less than the list price, but felt secure that their home would sell quickly … so the seller countered for more. For whatever reason, the buyer did not continue to negotiate and moved on. After a week or two and no other offers, the seller instructed the listing agent to contact the buyer’s agent and say that the seller had reconsidered and would now accept their original offer.

However, the initial enthusiasm the buyer had was gone and they were looking elsewhere. This is a story that frequently happens across America, in all price ranges. The lesson to be learned is that sometimes the first offer is the best.

Consider the rationale, a home is fresh on the market,, and buyers (especially the ones who have lost bids on other homes) act quickly to hopefully avoid some of the competition. When an offer is not accepted, it voids the original offer and, in this case, the seller might make the buyer a counteroffer. The buyer can accept it, make a counteroffer, or walk away. Even if afterwards, the seller reconsiders and says that he will accept the terms of the original offer, the buyer is under no obligation to accept it. Alternatively, if the seller accepts the buyer’s original offer, a contract has been agreed upon based on the terms within. The house is sold and closed once any contingencies such as financing and/or inspections have been satisfied.

Think of an example where a seller countered for an additional $5,000. If he had accepted the original offer, the home would have been sold. In essence, he bought the home back from himself in hopes of making an extra $5,000. To put it in perspective, on a $350,000 home, the additional $5,000 would have been 1.4% of the value. As an investor, the risk involved in having to continue to own the property may not be justified by such a low rate of return. Having the property sold may actually provide peace of mind and convenience that far exceeds the $5,000.

When a seller receives an offer, they are faced with three options.

  • (1)They can accept the offer and the house is sold considering the contingencies can be met.
  • (2)The seller can reject the buyer’s offer outright and wait for an acceptable offer.
  • (3)The seller can counteroffer the buyer with terms that are agreeable to the seller.

Many agents feel that if the offer is not acceptable, the counteroffer alternative presents a greater likelihood of negotiating to an acceptable agreement between the parties. Every situation is unique, but compromise has brought buyers and sellers to agreement in many situations. One of the valuable advantages sellers have is their agent’s experience and lack of emotional connection to the property. Your agent can provide objectivity and alternatives for you to consider in making your decisions.

Recent trends in home prices suggest that this past year has, indeed, been extraordinary. While price growth will remain strong throughout 2021 and into 2022, it is likely that the pace of home price appreciation will slow as demand softens, mortgage rates tick up, and inventory expands.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Home selling tips, Information for buyers, information for home owners, Information for sellers Tagged With: Home Selling Tips, information for sellers

Home Price Update For Virginia

Home prices in Virginia have been up by double-digit rates—or close to it—for ten consecutive months.   According to Lisa Sturtevant, Chief Economist of the Virginia Association of Realtors, in May, the median home sales price in Virginia was $367,000 which was up 16.6% compared to the median sales price a year ago. The pace of sales growth this year has been much faster than in recent years, fueled by strong demand, favorable mortgage rates, and low inventory.

Strong Prices Across All Regions

There has been phenomenal price growth in all regions across Virginia. So far, for sales in 2021, the median statewide home price is 13.2% higher than it was during the same period in 2020. The strongest price growth in 2021 has been in some of the state’s smaller markets. For example, the year-to-date median price in the Eastern region is up 25.7%. In the Southside region, prices are 24.2% higher in 2021 compared to 2020.

There has been double-digit price growth in all areas of the commonwealth, including the state’s largest and highest-cost markets. The median price in Northern Virginia climbed 11.9% in the first five months of 2021. Prices are up 15.0% in the Central Virginia region and are 11.1% higher in the Hampton Roads region.

Prices Growing More than Twice as Fast as in Recent Years

In most markets, home prices are growing more than twice as fast as they have in more typical years. Between 2016 and 2021, for example, the median sales price statewide increased by 6.2% on an annual basis. Over the past eight years, since 2013, annual price growth averaged just 4.6% in Virginia.

Price Growth Will Likely Slow

Recent trends in home prices suggest that this past year has, indeed, been extraordinary. While price growth will remain strong throughout 2021 and into 2022, it is likely that the pace of home price appreciation will slow as demand softens, mortgage rates tick up, and inventory expands.

Virginia REALTORS® will release its economic and housing market forecasts later this year, at the 2021 Annual Convention. Several national organizations are forecasting above-average home price growth through 2021, although there is evidence of a slow down in appreciation in 2022. Only the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is predicting a price drop in 2022. The vast majority of economists, however, expect prices to continue to rise.

 

 

 

Filed Under: Blog, Central Virginia Real Estate Properties, Charlottesville VA Homes, Information for buyers, information for home owners, Information for sellers, Market Reports Tagged With: information for buyers, information for sellers, new construction

VAR Realtor Survey – Spring 2021


Our Virginia Association of Realtors has recently published the results of a survey conducted among their Realtor members. Below are the shared nuances of the Spring 2021 real estate market in Virginia.

Making An Offer

• Nearly every REALTOR® responding to this survey said that buyers are making offers over list price or including an escalation clause in their offer. Nearly 90% said offers over list price were “very common” and another 8.5% said they were “somewhat common.”

• Buyers in this market are facing stiff competition, and almost all are offering some type of concession in an attempt to make a successful offer.

• About 87% of Virginia REALTORS® said it was “very common” or “somewhat common” for buyers to waive the home inspection. Some REALTORS® commented that buyers were having an inspection done for information purposes only, but not making the offer contingent on the home inspection results.

• Nearly 70% of Virginia REALTORS® said that waiving appraisals has become “very common” or “somewhat common.” Many REALTORS® note that buyers are including a provision that they will pay a certain amount over any appraised value. Other REALTORS® have pointed out that this trend in waiving appraisals has put VA buyers at a disadvantage because they cannot opt out of an appraisal.

• The following tradeoffs are also “very common” or “somewhat common” in today’s market: increasing the earnest money deposit (79.2%), waiving the home sale contingency (66.2%), and offering a shorter loan contingency timeline (68.6%).

Buying A Home

• The fast-paced market and historically low inventory has forced buyers to re-evaluate their housing and neighborhood preferences, widen their search, and make tradeoffs on amenities. Nearly nine out of 10 Virginia REALTORS® members (87.7%) said that it is “very common” or “somewhat common” for home buyers to look outside of their preferred neighborhoods as they realize how few homes are available.

• Buyers in this market seem less likely to make tradeoffs on the size or style of the home they are looking for, but they are willing to consider homes that need major upgrades or updating.

• Only 34.2% of Virginia REALTORS® said that it was “very common” or “somewhat common” for buyers to settle for a townhome or condo instead of a single-family home.

• A little more than half (51.0%) said that it was “very common” or “somewhat common” for buyers to compromise on space or number of bedrooms.

• More than three quarters of Virginia REALTORS® (75.2%) said that buyers were willing to consider homes that need major upgrades or updating.

• As the inventory of existing homes shrinks, some buyers have turned their sights to new construction. About 56% of Virginia REALTORS® said that building a new home, rather than purchasing an existing home, had become “very common” or “somewhat common” among buyers.

• Finally, the tight market has discouraged many buyers. In fact, more than 70% of Virginia REALTORS® said that it is “very common” or “somewhat common” for buyers to decide to put off buying a home altogether in this market.

Contact your realtor to learn how these findings apply in your particular area and price range.

 
   

Filed Under: Blog, Home selling tips, Information for buyers, information for home owners, Information for sellers, Market Reports, Real Estate Tagged With: home inspections, information for buyers, information for sellers

Pre Listing Inspections for Sellers

A prelisting inspection can provide an advantage to Sellers. The process of selling a home can come with unwelcome surprises, and a prelisting home inspection can eliminate one of the most common Seller stresses.

The buyer contracts for the home with a provision for a professional home inspection. Their inspection could unearth things that the buyer didn’t expect or even anticipate. If it doesn’t trigger an action to terminate the contract, the buyer will inevitably ask the seller to make all or most of the repairs.

When presented with the buyer’s request, the seller may take the opposite position of not wanting to do any of the repairs. The buyer then must accept the property in its “as is” condition or negotiate a reduced price or credit with the seller in lieu of the repairs.

Any experienced agent can tell you that sometimes a mutually agreed negotiation is reached and other times, an impasse is met that cannot be resolved. Then the buyer elects to terminate the contract, and the house has to go back on the market. But this time the property may be stigmatized in the eyes of buyers. Importantly, deficiencies may be uncovered that require a disclosure that has to be made to all parties looking at the home and that may deter future showings and offers.

Taking a pro-active approach, by obtaining a pre-listing inspection, sellers can find out about things that will probably show up in a buyer’s inspection. The sellers can get the deficiencies repaired before the home is shown and it will help the buyer feel more confident with the home. Another option would be to disclose them as not working and make a price adjustment. Either way, the seller is in control and is taking a position of transparency with potential buyers.

In some cases, the pre-listing inspection may show things in working order that the buyer’s inspection indicates as needing repair. No two inspectors will find everything or see everything the same way. However, home inspectors are required to be licensed by the state and inspect accordingly. With two disinterested parties having opposing professional opinions, there is the basis for negotiations which will have a more likely chance for a mutual agreement.

Disclosing things that are not in working order can reduce liability in the future. The pre-listing inspection by a professional, combined with the seller disclosing major deficiencies properly, can reduce potential liability.

For the small investment in the pre-listing inspection, the benefits to the seller are well worth the expense. You and potential buyers will have a better idea of the condition of your property and know what to expect. You can present the property in a transparent way that will build confidence with the buyer. You’ll avoid unpleasant surprises as well as possible delays. Pre-listing inspections can lead to faster sales and satisfaction for everyone involved.

If you want to know more details about what happens with a home inspection, CLICK HERE.

 

Filed Under: Blog, Home selling tips, information for home owners, Information for homeowners, Information for sellers Tagged With: home inspection, home inspections

Home Buying Steps

WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF BUYING A CHARLOTTESVILLE VIRGINIA HOME?

It’s not just first time buyers who can become overwhelmed with the process of buying a home. If you haven’t purchased a home recently, this might give you a refresher of exactly what steps will be necessary to purchase a Charlottesville Virginia home, and in what order they are likely to occur. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Blog, Information for buyers, information for home owners, Information for homeowners, Information for sellers Tagged With: information for buyers, Tips for Buyers

Charlottesville Home Inspections

Like Charlottesville Virginia, each state and each region has its own customs and laws regarding property home inspections for potential buyers. It sounds like a simple topic.   It’s not.

Importance of Home Inspection in Written Contract

In Virginia the flow and the mechanics of conducting a property inspection or a home inspection in the Charlottesville area are governed by the written language in the Inspection Addendum of the Contract to Purchase.  For any contract to be enforceable in the state of Virginia, it must be in writing.  That Inspection addendum is signed by all parties as part of ratifying (our term for ‘completing’) the agreement to purchase.  The Inspection becomes a contingency of the contract, meaning that the completion of the contract is dependent upon completing the performance and terms specified in the inspection addendum as well.  If this is becoming technical or confusing, we apologize…. this is always best explained by an attorney in Virginia who specializes is real estate, but we’ll do our best to make it understandable.

There are many types of home and property inspections so we’ll deal with two of the main ones in our Charlottesville VA area which are (1) Residential Home/property Inspections and (2) Study Period Inspections (typically for large acreage farm or estate properties). If the buyer is purchasing a large estate or a farm with acreage, that’s when we recommend a Study Period for their inspections, and we’ll talk about that after we finish the standard Home Inspection section of this page.

Residential Home Inspections

Both buyer and seller can negotiate to agree on the terms of any inspection. Some sellers will not permit any inspections (not always to hide defects… sometimes the owner is quite ill or there are other reasons why an inspection would be a hardship). Some sellers specify that inspections may be conducted only for ‘informational purposes’, in which case the contract will also clarify whether the buyer must proceed to a closing regardless of the results, or whether the buyer has the right to end the process for a purchase based on the inspection findings.

What Does “As Is” Mean?

Many listings are offered “AS IS” and either of the above scenarios could apply to those terms. When a home is offered ‘AS IS”, it does not necessarily mean that there is anything wrong that an inspection would find.  Instead it might mean that the seller expects the buyer to conduct inspections but the seller has no intention of negotiating to correct any deficiencies that might have been discovered as a result of the buyer’s inspection process.

Buyer Beware in Virginia Home Purchase

During the inspection it’s also the time to sort out the marketing from the truth.  Virginia real estate law is a version of ‘buyer beware’ and it’s the responsibility of a buyer to verify any claims made by the seller in a listing or otherwise.  Marketing exaggerations should be tested.  Years ago I discovered the following discrepancy regarding what a Florida listing actually claimed: a “ski-able lake” is not a 30-foot pond with an alligator in it.  really.

In case you’re wondering,  in the event that we are representing a buyer of Charlottesville real estate, we recommend that our buyers hire professional certified inspectors to conduct the home inspection, even if their Cousin Louie knows a lot about construction and has offered to do it for the buyer for free. Professional inspectors provide photographic evidence of the details of their inspection, they provide summaries of anything they consider to be sub-standard, they offer remedies to correct the issues, and they provide a full report of their findings. Depending upon several factors, a home inspector may or may not be able to provide cost estimates to correct any problems.

Tell Me What To Expect With a Home Inspection

When a home inspection is scheduled, sellers in our area typically have agreed to leave the home so that the inspector and the buyers can have time together to critique the property findings and to discuss any issues freely away from the sellers.  Depending upon how large or how complicated a home may be, an inspection can last anywhere from a couple of hours to four or five hours or more. We strongly recommend that, if possible, the buyers should attend their own home inspection.  There are several reasons we recommend it.

Should You Attend Your Home Inspection?

First of all, when a buyer is present during the home inspection, he/she has the right to ask questions about the inspection procedure.  In the process of reviewing each inspected area of the home, a buyer is able to get additional advice about each system in the home as well.  Think of it as a “How To Use Your New Home” class. It is immensely informative for most buyers to see how the inspection is conducted.  Following is a typical scenario (the process varies from inspector to inspector):

Describe What The Home Inspector Does

An inspector might begin with one area of the home such as the electrical breaker box.  It will be checked (usually with a flashlight) to assure that the connections are properly installed and that the materials (wires etc) are in good condition and that they meet the current building codes in that area. Some older homes do not come up to modern code standards but as long as their installations match the optimum standard for the date when they were installed and the materials are in good condition, they are usually passable.  Any defects will be photographed and noted for the summary report.

As you move around the home with the inspector to the various locations, details that are not obvious will be pointed out to you.  Over the years we’ve seen many of them, but they might be things such as: how to operate the flue of your chimney; when the roof might require new shingles or the flashing is exposed; washer, dryer, and dishwasher may be tested to assure functionality; gutters and eaves checked for drainage; ceilings inspected for any signs of water damage, previous or current; walls and floors inspected for any signs of rodent or insect infestation; railing and stairs tested for sturdiness or damage; and windows and doors are examined for air leaks or cracks.

Water in Basement or Crawl Space

Mold At Charlottesville Virginia Home InspectionAnd then there’s the basement or crawl space.  If the home has any space underground, the inspector will pay close attention to the basement or crawl space…. even if the basement is finished and furnished. Any sign of dampness or mold is a cause for notation.  The possible points for drainage problems are also checked around the exterior of the home (even if there is no sign of dampness inside)…. and details such as the slope of adjacent ground or rainwater drainage will be noted.   Drippy exterior faucets are inspected. If any water damage has affected the structural integrity of the exterior steps into the home, they may be suggested for repair. Even sidewalk cracks or irregularities can be noted.


3 Rules of Water

One of the inspectors who worked in our Charlottesville area of Central Virginia for many years had a standard quote that he repeated to each person during an inspection.

He would get to the part about lower level mold or water damage and he’d offer what he called his ** 3 Most Valuable Inspection Lessons **.

  • Lesson Number 1: Keep the water away from the house.
  • Lesson Number 2: Keep the water away from the house.
  • Lesson Number 3: Keep the water away from the house.

As he moved about the property during his inspections, he repeated this mantra so often that it almost became a game. Soon the prospective buyers would chime in too, repeating the phrases in unison with him.


This inspector also routinely corrected people for mentioning the “hot water heater”.   He pointed out that it’s accurately just a “water heater” and there is no other alternative or ‘hot’ description needed.


A Realtor’s Usual Role in your Charlottesville Home Inspection

Let me digress for a moment to discuss your realtor’s role in your home inspection.  For us, because our clients are typically newcomers to the area or are unfamiliar with the inspectors locally, we might provide our buyers with a short list of two or three inspectors whom we know will be appropriate and experienced for their specific type of property.  As said before, we encourage buyers to attend their own inspection if at all possible.  Each realtor handles his/her own role during the inspection differently (often regardless of the realtor’s own particular training or expertise).

Let me explain.  Even if a realtor is also (extreme example) a certified licensed home inspector too, that realtor will likely choose not to participate in any part of the home inspection so that his/her role as a realtor does not become blurred.  Here’s a worst case scenario of how that could happen: your inspector fails to find a major defect somewhere in your new home and you become aware of it shortly after the inspection…. what would you do?  Fire your inspector/realtor (the realtor person who’s legally bound to advocate on your behalf)?  Demand a second opinion? And if the seller has offered to pay for the buyer’s realtor commission as is most common in our area, how would the fee to conduct an inspection be handled with that realtor?  Answer is: it can’t work well.

As a result, some realtors will opt to walk through the inspection along with you but they will remain silent and allow you and your inspector to have exclusive dialogue together.  They won’t offer you any inspection advice during or after the inspection.  We often encourage our clients to take their own notes so that those notes can be compared to results in the inspector’s summary report at the end.  Other realtors may sit on the porch while the inspection is going on, or they might linger nearby in a car to be ready if you should need to talk to them … but they remove themselves from any firsthand knowledge of your discussion with your inspector… so that there can be no misunderstanding that their role is as your realtor and not as any kind of inspector.  Even if they may have knowledge about construction and inspections, your time with a licensed inspector that you’ve hired, is when many realtors choose not to be involved, for the good of both of you.

My Realtor Role At Your Home Inspection

The way I typically attend a home inspection is a bit more hands-on. I do walk around the inspection with the client and inspector or ask the inspector to call me if he discovers something of significance. I want to make sure that I thoroughly understand the inspector’s concerns since I will be the person writing up the deficiency list and will be discussing it with the listing agent. Also I am a second pair of ears for the client and sometimes ask questions requesting further clarification from the inspector if I feel that the client is not “getting it”. Sometimes at the end of the inspection the clients are feeling overwhelmed by all of the little details and I may ask the inspector to outline the areas that he finds to be of most concern. Also often when we have looked at the home initially the buyer and I may have identified areas of concern to us and we will want to make sure to ask the inspector’s opinion on those areas. So I am a more active participant in the process on behalf of my clients than some other realtors may choose to be.

What About Inspecting Outbuildings and Other Structures?

In our Charlottesville area many properties also have outbuildings (they’re also called ‘dependency’ buildings here).  Maybe it’s a carriage house or a garage apartment or a fancy stable. Regardless, there are reasons why buyers may wish to investigate the details of buildings other than the main home.  We specify their right to do this when we draft the inspection contingency agreement that will be made with the seller, so that there are no misunderstandings later on.  It can be in this type of an inspection that much time becomes required to complete all of the inspection details.

So next let’s talk about what’s going on with the buyer and seller at this point in the inspection process.  The inspection is now complete, the inspector has submitted his report of his findings, and the buyers and sellers each will likely have decisions to make.

Buyer Attitude vs. Seller Attitude

Charlottesville Homes For SaleA TYPICAL SELLER:  they may have already reduced their optimum asking price in order to get a contract.  They worked very hard to get the property in good repair for the inspection.  They may or may not be a bit miffed that they won’t be permitted to monitor the buyer’s inspection while it’s being conducted, and they’re usually not in the mood to get bad news.  They are very eager to hear the results of the inspection so that they can get over the hurdle of the inspection and get on with packing for their next home.

Charlottesville Homes For SaleA TYPICAL BUYER:  they just spent hundreds of dollars to find any problems with their new property and they hope there will be no problems at all.  Surprise.  In my years in real estate I have never personally encountered an inspection that did not find some kind of flaws for the final report.  You pay someone to look for it… they’ll find it.  So now the buyer gets back a list of a few… or dozens… of recommended repairs or deficiencies.  And their perfect shining new purchase is looking a little tarnished, not quite the maintenance-free mecca they’d envisioned.  And they are disappointed and they want someone to make it right.   It’s time for the realtors to smooth the edges and make sure everybody allows their heads to rule their emotions.

What Is A Deficiency List?

Negotiations now begin regarding the Deficiency List.  If a deficiency is stated in the inspection report as ‘needing repair’, the buyers may have a right to request that the sellers fix it.  (“as-is” or other terms may change this scenario).  The sellers don’t need to agree to fix anything, but if they agree to repair 100% of the repairs that the buyer requests… everyone is on their way to a closing.  The buyers will be able to schedule a walk-through of the property near the time of closing/settlement to verify that the property is in the condition that everyone agreed.

Home Repairs vs Money at Settlement

But the seller might not be so agreeable to addressing all of the repairs that the buyer requested.  If the buyer asks for 5 repairs and the seller agrees to do only 3 repairs, a new negotiation will begin, in order to arrive at agreement.  The way most local contracts are written, if the buyer and seller cannot agree on repairs to deficiencies, the buyer might have the right to walk away from the purchase.  But that buyer will still have invested some amount of money, time, and effort to conduct a home inspection,  and the seller may have already purchased their next home and may be ready to go… so there is motivation on both sides to come to an agreement.  Sometimes buyer and seller will agree to exchange a monetary amount that will make the inspection repairs a moot issue…. this money exchange is usually conducted as an adjustment of money paid/due at the time of settlement.

Virginia Procedures for Home Inspections May Vary Locally

The entire process that I’ve described above is very typical for homes in Charlottesville Virginia and surrounding areas.  It may not be the case in nearby towns like Richmond or Roanoke, where purchasers might use different Home Inspection Contingency agreements in their contracts.  But the important elements are in all of the contingency forms… and those elements are basically to protect the rights of both buyer and seller during any inspection period.

What’s The Difference Between a Home Inspection and a Study Period?

I promised to speak a bit about another type of property inspection which we refer to as a Study Period in our contracts.  A Study Period becomes pertinent or necessary during the purchase of properties or farms that have large acreage or complicated geographical features… and it can also apply to commercial real estate purchases where feasibility studies may need to be conducted prior to settlement, but for now we’ll just talk about residential real estate here.

What Does Due Diligence Mean?

Charlottesville Home Inspection Due DiligenceBoth the residential Home Inspection and the Study Period are part of the buying process that we refer to as “due diligence”.  Again, it’s important to remember that it’s up to the buyer of real estate in Virginia to verify any claims or statements made by the seller.  Buyer beware.  This is important.  Not all states operate with this legal premise, and often our most experienced real estate purchasers are the ones who’re least able to wrap their minds around this part of our laws.  In other states, a seller may not be able to even put his property on the market without providing a guaranteed clear title, but in Virginia a buyer needs to examine and verify all details of the property without relying on information provided by a seller.  This period of inspection and verification is what we call “due diligence”.  The buyer must perform (often, invest) in research to make sure that the property is able to be sold as it’s claimed, and this may benefit not only the purchaser’s current transaction but also his ability to market this property in the future after his purchase is complete.

How Does A Study Period Work?

So a Study Period allows for extended days or weeks for the buyer to examine the property closely firsthand and to perform the buyer’s Due Diligence prior to completing the purchase settlement.  Each property may require specific areas of inspection.  During the due diligence period is when the buyer might hire a home inspector to conduct the inspections as we described earlier.  But the buyer might also want to conduct other studies to verify that the property is suitable for the buyer’s intended uses.  Often a surveyor is hired to verify the boundaries of the property (is that wonderful oak tree really going to be on your own land?).
Phase One Environmental Study Charlottesville Virginia

What’s a Phase One Environmental Study?

There’s a study standard called a Phase One Environmental study that encompasses a host of examinations of the land components, and we often recommend a Phase One inspector to our purchasers of large acreage.  During that study, water and soil and geographical elements are studied closely.  Is the soil suitable for your own farming purposes?  What did previous owners put into the soil for their own farms?  Is there runoff into water resources?  Are there any underground buried tanks or spills?  Is it permissible to construct a new pond or clear trees?  Are there any zoning restrictions that would prohibit the intended use of the property?  What is the condition of the outbuildings or fencing or pens?  Are there subdivision restrictions or deed restrictions? If the buyer intends to re-route any access paths, the Study Period is when the buyer must confirm that access will be permitted in those locations and permitted to be constructed in the manner that the buyer intends to do.  Is it possible to subdivide the property in the future and if so, when and how?  Sometimes there are extraneous benefits discovered during the Study Period… mineral rights or water rights previously unknown, for example.

Can Study Period Deficiencies Be Negotiated?

If issues are discovered during the Study Period, the Offer to Purchase may have been written in a fashion that allows the buyer to walk away from the purchase of that property if those issues are deemed unsatisfactory.  With large farms and estates there is great incentive for both parties to make the purchase happen, however.  For one thing, there are fewer prospective buyers who are able to consider a purchase for expensive or large estates and farms.  The seller’s pool of prospects is smaller.  But also the buyer’s pool of available properties is smaller too.  Once again, both parties have incentive to make concessions that will facilitate a sale.  Yet in the case of the buyer of large acreage or farms or estates, there are some features that will render it impossible for the buyer to proceed because the property simply cannot support the buyer’s intended use.  One example of that would be something like a vineyard, where very precise elevations and wind and sun angles and drainage features are necessary for growing grapes…. no compromise will work if those details are wrong.

So the Study Period allows a buyer the luxury of examining the details of the property as they pertain to the buyer’s intended uses, and in this way it overlaps with the examination of commercial properties for highest and best use.

Please Contact Me – I’d Love To Assist You

Although I can recommend a good agent for you if you’re considering commercial properties around Charlottesville, my own expertise and experience is in the residential areas of farms, estates, acreage, residential, and historic properties – – so please give me a call with any questions or referrals?  I know that the topic of inspections is full of important details and decisions not even covered here and I’d love to discuss those with you about your own home purchase….  as always, no obligation.

Call Now:    434-960-0161

Filed Under: Blog, information for home owners, Information for homeowners, Information for sellers Tagged With: home buying, home inspections, Home Selling

Beginner’s Guide to Basic Horse Care

Beginner’s Guide to Basic Horse Care

You finally found the horse farm of your dreams among the many Charlottesville horse farms you had to choose from. You’ve got your eyes on the horses you’ll get and the equipment you’ll need. Now that you’re ready to build the home of your dreams, it’s time to stock up on horse care knowledge. It can be overwhelming at first for beginners so here are a few things that will help you ease into basic horse care.

Beginner’s Guide to Basic Horse Care - Charlottesville Horse Farms Tips

Regular exercise

Just like any other living creature, your horses will need regular exercise. Allow them to graze every day. Let them move around freely. Make sure you also have the necessary shade they’ll need during the day in case it gets too hot for them while they’re grazing. Horses have limited movement inside their stalls. Keep them healthy by allowing them to exercise regularly. Also, it is very important to have safe horse appropriate fencing in good repair.

Keeping your surroundings horse-friendly

Charlottesville golf homes are kept in mint condition for the best golfing experience all the time. The same should apply to your horse farm. Survey every corner of your farm especially parts where horses graze, walk around and stay. It is important that you’re confident that there are no hazards to your horses within your property. You want to make sure that the trees surrounding your farm are safe for your horses. Avoid red maple trees because these have toxins that could affect horses’ blood cells. Oak trees are also hazardous because they contain tannins that could cause abdominal pain to your horses.

Manure Management

Manure will definitely pile up in your Charlottesville horse farm if you do not have a good management system. You may find a farmer who will have good use for it such as fertilizer. Devise a system that will allow easy disposal of manure and avoid manure piling up on your property and harboring flies. Many farm owners will purchase a manure spreader and spread the manure on the fields, thus providing a natural fertilizer.

Cleanliness of stable and stalls

Aside from cleaning manure, you need to clean the stable and stalls everyday. This will help keep your horses healthy and happy.

Veterinary care

Nothing beats expert care of course. Make sure that you have a go-to veterinarian in case your horses get sick. Your veterinarian can also help in guiding you with proper horse nutrition, as well as a regular program of vaccinations and worming.

Owning a horse farm in Charlottesville VA, there’s a lot more to learn about caring for horses. You’ll be an expert in no time! To help you feel more confident about caring for your horses, visit www.JumpIntoGreenerPastures.com today for more information.

Call me, Pam Dent today at (434) 960-0161. I can assure you of the best quality service. I have the professional and expert knowledge on Charlottesville real estate, local housing market, horse farms and golf communities that will guide you through the exciting and fulfilling journey of finding your dream home.

Filed Under: Charlottesville, Farms and Estates, information for home owners, Information for homeowners, Real Estate, Uncategorized, Virginia Horse Farms Tagged With: Basic Horse Care, Charlottesville equestrian properties, Charlottesville horse farms, Horse Farm Owners Guide, Virginia horse farms

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Contact Pam

Pam Dent
Phone: (434) 960-0161
Email: [email protected]
Gayle Harvey Real Estate Inc.
198 Spotnap Rd, #C-5,
Charlottesville, VA 22911


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