Future Military Homeowners
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Real estate agent Bob Stanbrough has been through the trenches. Literally.
An agent based in Oklahoma City, Bob understands the unique nature of military life. He’s a former U.S. Army Officer who chose to focus his civilian real estate career on serving military clients. A significant portion of Bob’s buyers are Veterans and active-duty service members who are using VA loan benefits to purchase their first homes.
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Keeping close tabs on your roof is imperative for new homeowners.
It’s easy to scrutinize a home during a careful walk through all the rooms and the yard.
What’s not so easy is determining the condition of the roof based on how it looks. Fixing a roof can be the most expensive house repair an owner may face, with a full replacement ranging from $2,000 to $12,000.
That means an inspection can be well the investment.
Your seller may or may not pay the $200 to $400 inspection fee, but be sure to have one before you purchase the home so you can factor the repairs into the cost.
The purpose of roof inspections is to find any problems as well as gauge the remaining life of a roof. The inspector will look at the roof angle and see how long it takes for water to evaporate. An acceptable rate is around two days but it can vary by location.
Inspectors will walk on the roof and look for weakened areas that indicate rot or leaks. If an area isn’t safe enough to access, the inspector will typically use binoculars. Every inch of the roof should be inspected including individual shingles.
The materials used to build your roof will also be assessed on when it was constructed, the last replacement as well as the materials’ nature of deterioration.
Feel free to ask to see problem spots and potentially vulnerable areas during the inspection. Some of the most common problems include:
It’s recommended a homeowner get three different contractor quotes to compare. Comparisons should be made with the estimates as well as the materials to be used and labor costs. Reviewing consumer ratings or talking to someone who has used the contractor before can help with the expectations of timing, clean up and how well they stuck to the contract.
If your inspection indicates the need for repair, be sure to inspect the chimney before you begin any maintenance. This way you can coordinate your roofing contractor with a mason in order to get repairs that work together rather than become a detriment to the other.
Ensure your new roof’s long life by getting certified inspections every two years. Because so many factors affect the condition of the roof, you may need to flex your inspections to account for weather damage, direction of the sun and insulation issues. You may have one side of your roof be more vulnerable than the other, so prepare your inspections thoughtfully.
Photo courtesy of iwona_kellie
Homebuyers have extra safety considerations for properties with fireplaces, garages and decks.
It’s pretty easy to get caught up in a home’s features when you’re house hunting. Many times, a homebuyer is told to consider the additional costs of utilities and maintenance some features require, but extra safety and inspection concerns are often neglected.
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Even before you finance your dream home with a VA loan, you’re entitled to think about some of the changes you want to make around the house. Not every military homebuyer settles into a home that fulfills expectations down to the last detail.
Whether it’s the landscape you plan to alter or the interior décor, here are some environmentally friendly things to do that also benefit you as a homeowner:
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The to-do list never seems to end.
When you’re settling into a new home, dozens of things need to get done. For first-time military homebuyers, this list can look daunting even when it’s missing some tasks.
There are a few important but easily forgotten tasks to get done as soon as you move into your new home. Make sure you add these to your list.
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Sure, there can be some headache and hassle, but first-time homebuyers are often surprised to find that thrills come in bunches when purchasing a home.
Veterans and service members financing a home with a VA loan experience these thrills, one of which is getting excited to make the home your own with one-of-a-kind renovations.
Even when you find the house you always wanted, it’s likely you’ll want to make a few changes. But here are some suggestions to consider before you dive headfirst into a handful of projects.
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