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Don’t let the big ticket items surprise you
Buying a home in Colorado Springs? Don’t forget about the big ticket items
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Since I work with many first time home-buyers looking at homes in the Colorado Springs area, I really like to help educate them on what components of a house they should look closely at. Of course, real estate is and probably will always be about location, location, location. But once a buyer finds the perfect location and the perfect floor plan, then they should really focus on the condition of the house.
A qualified home inspector (see Appraisals and Inspections, 2 important steps for home buyers article) will help immensely with going through the major components of a house; but I still think it’s a good idea for potential buyers to have a mental check list of things they should be looking at. If a buyer knows up front that there are problems with the house, they can then keep that in mind when submitting their offer to the seller. My mantra………. an educated buyer can make better decisions.
What are the big ticket money items?
Here’s my list of the seven big items I think buyers should focus on:
- Roof - How does it look? Are there shingles missing? What type of roof is it? Is it shake shingle? Is it Woodruff? It is concrete? Are the shingles curling on the edges? Is there one or two layers of shingles, or even 3 layers? Can you see dips in the roof? Do you see any signs of water damage in the ceilings or on the walls? Read the rest of this entry »
Do you want to do some green remodeling?
Thinking about going green in your house?
If so, here’s some of my favorite websites to check out:
(1) GreenandSave.com’s slogan is simple and direct – “Saving your Money and the Planet”. If you have ever wondered whether a certain “green” repair or improvement is worth it, then this is the website to go to.
- The Master ROI page: For a statistic lover like me; this is an amazing page under the green tune-up section. If you are looking at putting in a programmable thermostat, it shows you that the payback time in years is .6, added cost $115 with an annual savings of $180.00. It also compares things like Hot Water Heater Blankets, Dishwashers, Water efficient toilets, and water filters; all in the same chart format.
- This page also has a section on green remodeling which includes major type GREEN improvements and highlights info on furnace replacements, water heater replacement, insulated walls, and windows. According to the site, it shows the cost of a hot water replacement at $150, annual savings of $48, return on investment 32%. You can also click on Read the rest of this entry »
