by Gregory Urroz

Created on: November 08, 2010

While getting a home inspection is imperative much can be learned from your Realtor before you make an offer. A good Realtor can save you hundreds of dollars and a great deal of time and aggravation by identifying warning signs up front.

When a buyer first looks at a home they often look at the basics, curb appeal, kitchen, master bedroom/bathroom, closets and backyard. If the home is a traditional resale home then the current occupants furnishings can also influence the buyers impression. Some buyers actually forget the furnishings will be removed upon the sale of the home and are disappointed when they see the home empty. They begin to see things they had not noticed when the home was furnished. A good Realtor can prevent this by pointing out the negative things during the showing.

Full time Realtors on the other hand see many homes during a week. When a Realtor walks into a home they are looking for specific details, that come from experience and training. Realtors will look past the furnishings that may be present. Most people think Realtors just want to sell homes, collect their commissions and move on to the next buyer. Nothing could be further from the truth. Most Realtors are looking for red flags and problems that could be a deal killer. You see, it is better to have a problem with a property during the initial showing than after the buyer has closed escrow and moved in to the home. So, from a Realtors point of view, what are they looking for?

Assuming the Realtor has listened to the buyers wants and needs the process begins at the entrance to the neighborhood. If there is no Home Owner Association (HOA), how is the neighborhood being kept up? Are there cars sitting in the front yard on jack stands? Will that motor-home be parked on the street indefinitely? Are the homes being maintained adequately? Have homeowners made un-permitted additions to the structure? These are all factors that can effect the future value of your home. HOA's have rules that prevent or should prevent these things from happening. If an HOA is in place, the Realtor will often be observing the neighborhood properties as well to make sure the HOA is enforcing the rules they have in place.

Once the Realtor has arrived at the home they are looking at curb appeal, and the condition of the exterior of the home. Is the paint in good shape? This can be a consideration for certain types of financing. Generally the water shut off valve is located out front or on the side of the property. Is

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