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Home » Buyers » Page 2

The House is New, Can I Skip the Home Inspection?

February 28, 2022 by Karen Baker Leave a Comment

The House is New, Can I Skip the Home Inspection?

Home inspections are often seen as the saving grace to many potential home buyers as it can bring awareness to a plethora of different issues from minor cosmetic damages to large ticket items that may need replacements or maintenance. Completing a home inspection can give you a full picture of exactly what to expect should you move forward with purchasing the home. While skipping the home inspection might cross the mind of some who are hoping to save a few bucks, it is generally a “must” when it comes to buying a home. However, what about new construction homes? Do you still need a home inspection?

Related: Is There Competition When Buying a New Construction Home?

Whether you’re building a custom home or are buying a new construction home in a master-planned community, it is easy to feel as if the home inspection isn’t needed. After all, is there really anything to inspect? Everything is new! The answer is simple, NEVER skip a home inspection even if you’re building or buying a new construction home.

While the components within the home may be new, that doesn’t mean that they are all built, installed, or functioning properly, as mistakes can be made, accidents can happen, and as with all things, faulty mechanisms or wires can cause problems even when using new materials. While in many cases a new construction home does indeed come with some sort of warranty that may help cover the cost of repairs should you find them later down the line, this can lead to a much larger headache than if you had simply had a home inspection and completed/addressed any issues prior to moving in.

The House is New, Can I Skip the Home Inspection?When building a home, saw dust and tools laying around is common, and a huge perk to your home inspection being conducted prior to moving in is that if any problems are found, the repairs are made before you get your keys, which in turn means that any mess or debris is cleaned up fully before your move in date. alternatively, if the problems are found after move in due to not completing an inspection, your brand new home could feel as if it’s back under construction while the repairs are being made.

Related: Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

Whether you are planning on buying a new construction home, an existing home, building your home, etc. completing a home inspection is the best way to help protect your investment, budget for needed repairs and maintenance, and ensure that your home is safe and ready to be lived in.   

If you’re currently searching for a new home, whether a new construction home or an existing home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

More Information for Buyers

  • How to Make an Offer on a Home
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
  • Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
  • Are Home Warranties Worth It?
  • Forgotten Costs When Moving

Filed Under: Buyers

Is There Competition When Buying a New Construction Home?

February 17, 2022 by Karen Baker Leave a Comment

Is There Competition When Buying a New Construction Home?

Buying a home is an exciting journey, however when buying a new construction home, it seems to be even more special as you can watch the bones of your home get built, be the first person to live within the walls, and ultimately, build the home of your dreams. One of the biggest misconceptions when it comes to building a home is that there is no competition with other buyers. Another is simply the time needed for the building to be complete, and unfortunately there isn’t a way to rush, or speed along the process which leaves many buyers practicing patience until they can finally turn the key and become a homeowner.

Is There Competition When Buying a New Construction Home? On average, it can take 5 months to build a new home even when you have the best builders around. There is a lot that goes into a new construction home, from excavation, foundations, framing, mechanical, electrical, insulation, drywall, flooring, and interior finishes to name a few, it’s easy to see why it takes a few months before the home is officially yours. Once you’ve accepted the timeline, the next thing that is needed is an understanding of the new construction market.

Related: Exploring Sea Trail Plantation in Sunset Beach

With new homes sites in the works, many people hoping to call Sunset Beach home are patiently waiting for the new homes at Sea Trail Plantation to be built. With the new additions to the already coveted community, many buyers may feel as if they can wait to secure their lot as many new home sites will be opening. Unfortunately, when it comes to new additions in already desirable neighborhoods, the lots tend to sell quickly. While you may not face a bidding war as with existing homes, when it comes to new construction homes, especially when  being added to an already established community there are generally two different types of buyers.

  1. New buyers hoping to move to the area
  2. Existing members of the community hoping to upgrade

Surprisingly, many homeowners who already call Sea Trail plantation home will end up reserving/buying their next home right next door to upgrade their housing, and then, once secure, list their existing home for sale. While many people prefer older, or existing homes, as technology continues to advance, new construction home are becoming even more sought-after due to a multitude of reasons. Whether it be their energy efficiency, multiple outlets to accommodate your electronics, USB ports, smart appliances and thermostats, etc. new construction homes are easily some of the most sought after in today’s market.

While you may not have to go up against other offers, place counteroffers, or enter a bidding war, time is of the essence when it comes to securing a new construction home as you have competition with both other buyers, as well as residents of the neighborhood. We would love to help you find the perfect lot where your dream home will someday sit!

Related: Things to Know Before Buying a Historic Home

If you’re currently searching for a new home, whether a new construction home or an existing home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

More Information for Buyers

  • How to Make an Offer on a Home
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
  • Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
  • Buying a Vacation Home
  • Forgotten Costs When Moving

Filed Under: Buyers

Should I Buy a House If the Carpet Smells Like Pets?

January 12, 2022 by Karen Baker Leave a Comment

Should I Buy a House If the Carpet Smells Like Pets?

So, you found a home you love, but the carpet smells, and while some smells are unpleasant, one of the most common is unfortunately pet odors such as urine. Unfortunately, this is a roadblock that many buyers face when house hunting, and while in previous years, you could request a credit to help go toward flooring replacement, with the competitive market many buyers are choosing to forego requesting credits in an effort to make their offer look more appealing to the seller. While this may benefit you in having your offer accepted, chances are you’ll still need to replace the floors.

Related: New Year, New Home? Are You Planning on Buying in 2022?

Should I Buy a House If the Carpet Smells Like Pets?First, you must decide if you love the home enough to move forward with the purchase even with the current odors and smells trapped in the floors. While for some, it may seem simple to rip out the old carpet, install new carpet and call it a day, however, when it comes to pet smells, oftentimes more work is required in order to fully deodorize the smells, eliminating them from the home completely. 
When it comes to carpet, pet urine generally penetrates well below the surface of the carpet, soaking, and even crystalizing into the carpet pads, and in extreme cases can even stain and create on odor on the sub flooring below the carpet pads. To help avoid any unexpected costs, you’ll want to budget for a full renovation, including new carpets of the flooring of your choice, carpet pads, and even sub floor to ensure that the odors are removed fully. 

Related: Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

Unfortunately, carpet isn’t the only flooring that can trap unpleasant odors and many other surfaces such as hardwoods and even tile can also lead to pet odor problems. Many hard surfaces, while easier to clean if messes are caught in a timely manner, are porous, and thus, can soak in and trap spills, including pet accidents. While there are companies that specialize in pet odor removal and cleaning, should you choose to purchase a home that has unpleasant pet odors, you’ll generally want to plan to replace all the flooring within the home prior to moving in. 

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina real estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

More Information for Buyers

  • How to Make an Offer on a Home
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
  • Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
  • Buying a Vacation Home
  • Forgotten Costs When Moving
  • Tips to Sell a Pet Friendly Home

Filed Under: Buyers

New Year, New Home? Are You Planning on Buying in 2022?

January 4, 2022 by Karen Baker Leave a Comment

New Year, New Home? Are You Planning on Buying in 2022?

The New Year is here! As people across the globe begin their resolutions, many people are hoping that the year 2022 is the year they’ll be able to buy their first home. Whether you’ve been saving up for a down payment relentlessly over the past few years, or you’re hoping to secure a loan with a low down payment amount, the year 2022 could see a huge rise in first-time homebuyers.

Why?

New Year, New Home? Are You Planning on Buying in 2022?A lot of first-time buyers have been anxiously waiting for the real estate market to crash. While the market has remained healthy and seems to continue to flourish, many homeowner hopefuls were anticipating a crash much like the 2008-2012 housing market. During this anticipated crash, many first-time buyers were hopeful to purchase a home far below the current market value to have minimal mortgage amounts and a thus, live a life of financial freedom while still maintaining a home and becoming homeowners.

Related: Why Condo Living is Becoming Popular

What Changed?

So, what exactly changed? The short answer, the market. It’s been quite a while since COVID first shut down the country, and while in the beginning many experts felt as if the market would crash, the opposite has proven to be true, and the real estate market has flourished with house prices continuing to rise. With home prices seeing near continuous increases, those that were initially waiting to pounce on the market’s potential crash are now re-considering their options. Many first-time buyers are now shifting their gears and hopeful to purchase their first home in 2022 before the market continues to rise, as the current trend isn’t showing proof of slowing or crashing anytime soon.

Related: Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

Another reason that many people are choosing to purchase a home in the New Year is simply due to the drastically low interest rates. While home prices may be more than many homeowner hopefuls had expected, due to the low interest rates, while the purchase price may be high, the amount saved over the life of the loan could end up allowing homeowners to spend less in the long run than if they’d waited for a crash and thus purchased a home that may have had a higher interest rate.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.

More Information for Buyers

  • How to Make an Offer on a Home
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
  • Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
  • Buying a Vacation Home
  • Forgotten Costs When Moving

Filed Under: Buyers

Why Condo Living is Becoming Popular

December 20, 2021 by Karen Baker Leave a Comment

Why Condo Living is Becoming Popular

Condos were once thought of as only a short-term rental, or a steppingstone to owning your own single-family home, however, despite what many people believe to be true, condos, unlike apartments, are owned by the tenant, making them a homeowner.  The only catch to this would be if the homeowner has chosen to use their personal condo as a rental. Many people historically would frown upon condo living as a long-term option for a few reasons, the most popular being that the condo would be rented and not owned, which is fiction vs. fact. The second being that you would lose out on many of the perks that often come along with homeownership, and while some perks may differ, there are plenty of reasons to love condo living just as much as a single-family home.

Related: Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

While you may not own a large lot with a sprawling backyard, there are quite a few perks to choosing to call a condominium home, many of which are starting to sway buyers to consider more than just the traditional single-family home as a buying option.

Affordability

One of the biggest perks is simply affordability. While in some cases, high-rise buildings and luxury condominiums are accompanied by high price tags, there are many buildings that are more geared toward young families, singles, or those wishing to stay within a respectable budget. With more affordable housing, this allows for more people to enjoy the perks of homeownership without breaking the bank or going well above their desired budget.

Why Condo Living is Becoming Popular Amenities

The amenities are easily a main reason to fall in love with condo living. While each building often has a unique range of amenities, you can enjoy perks ranging from swimming pools, door service, gardens, fitness centers, business centers, movie rooms, and so much more, making your home feel like a near vacation with everything only steps from your front door.

Related: Buying a Vacation Home

Location

It’s no secret that condo living often boasts the best locations. Whether the building is perfectly placed downtown, along the beaches, or near major shopping centers, you generally don’t have to travel far from home to enjoy all the city has to offer. While smaller condo building can generally be found in most cities, larger cities such as Myrtle Beach or Holden Beach boast multiple different options ensuring you can find the perfect home, in the perfect location.

The best part of condo living is that it offers a large variety of styles, affordability, amenities, and more, which allows for those with all tastes and budgets to still find a home in their preferred neighborhoods. Whether a high rise condo building boasting near panoramic views of the water, or a smaller building with a cozy fireplace in the lobby, condo living can be for anyone and everyone.

If you’re currently searching for a new home, regardless of the home style, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have further questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time.  

More Information for Buyers

  • How to Make an Offer on a Home
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
  • Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
  • Buying a Vacation Home
  • Forgotten Costs When Moving

Filed Under: Buyers

Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

November 12, 2021 by Karen Baker Leave a Comment

Questions to Ask Your Home Inspector

Your home inspector is there to try and help bring awareness to any major problems that may lie within the home you are hoping to purchase, however oftentimes home buyers don’t understand exactly what a home inspection covers, what their home inspector is looking for, or what questions they should ask post inspection. 

Related: Buying a House in the Fall or Winter? Make Sure to Check These Things

First and foremost, understanding what is covered, or rather, inspected is crucial in generating your own personal questions for your inspector. As a general rule of thumb, your home inspector will be looking at things such as: 

  • Questions to Ask Your Home InspectorRoof & Roofing materials such as gutters or chimneys
  • Home’s Exterior such as siding
  • Structure and frames/foundations
  • Heating/Cooling Systems
  • Plumbing
  • Doors & Windows
  • Interior
  • Fireplace (if applicable)
  • Electrical

While you will get a report of the findings during the inspection, you may still want to ask some questions. Oftentimes understanding a home inspection report feels as if you’re reading another language, and thus, getting clarification is always a good practice. A few common questions you should ask your home inspector could be: 

  • Are there any problems with the foundation?
  • Is mold present anywhere within the home?
  • What items will need immediate repair?
  • What will need replacement in the next 12 months?
  • Is there any corrosion? – This should always be asked for areas that are coastal as salt corrosion can cause a long list of damages.

Related: Things to Know Before Buying a Historic Home

Regardless of how well you know your real estate agent, the seller of the home, or your home inspector, you should always go through your inspection report thoroughly. In addition to the common questions listed above, should you have any questions while going through the report, tag the page, take notes, and formulate a list of your questions to discuss with your agent and/or home inspector. 

With the current market, many buyers are choosing to purchase homes “as is” in an effort for their offer to look more appealing than others. While this may boost your chances of acceptance, you need to be careful when doing so as it could lead you to purchase a home that requires more work or maintenance than you may have expected. If you are planning to purchase a home as is, asking the question, “what items will need immediate repair?” is key in budgeting for both your purchase as well as the repairs needed as soon as escrow closes. 

If you’re currently searching for a new home, are ready to sell your home and need a qualified seller’s agent to assist you, or if you have any questions regarding Carolina Real Estate, please feel free to contact our office at any time. 

 

More Information for Buyers

  • How to Make an Offer on a Home
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part One
  • Should I Buy a Single-Story or a Two-Story Home? Part Two
  • Why Your Offer May Not be Accepted
  • Buying a Vacation Home
  • Forgotten Costs When Moving

Filed Under: Buyers

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What our clients say

Ken and Linda Foltz

“Life will lead you to where you belong. Five years ago life led me to meeting Karen Baker at an...
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty
2015-03-16T20:16:32+00:00
“Life will lead you to where you belong. Five years ago life led me to meeting Karen Baker at an Open House. Our relationship continues as Karen and her husband Frank have been outstanding not only in helping my husband and I find the right retirement relocation home, but we have watched their commitment in helping many others find their homes. She and Frank treat every client as if they are the only ones that exist. They provide thorough research of areas and homes of interest and present you with the options. They are not your typical hard sell, must-buy-now realtors. They are here to help you find your next home?. You won’t go wrong with the Bakers!
https://sunsetbeachandbeyond.com/testimonials/ken-and-linda-foltz/

Steve & Jean DeVito

“The Bakers treated us like family during our whirlwind weekend of looking at houses. Prior to our on-site visit to...
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty
2015-03-16T20:17:46+00:00
“The Bakers treated us like family during our whirlwind weekend of looking at houses. Prior to our on-site visit to Sunset Beach they created a portal and populated it with properties that met our ever-evolving criteria. By time we arrived we had a good feel for what we could afford and what was available that met our criteria. The Bakers, especially Karen, were able to make sense of what we thought we were looking for and eventually matched us with a house that we ended up purchasing — Karen called it the “This is it” house and she was right. We are loving our 2nd home and appreciate how painless Karen and Frank made the process. All the paperwork was done seamlessly and quickly and the closing went off without a hitch. The Bakers do not believe in the hard sell — they gave us the knowledge we needed and the guidance we needed to make our dream a reality.”
https://sunsetbeachandbeyond.com/testimonials/steve-jean-devito/

Matt & Amy Carver

Amy and I have bought and sold four properties in the past twelve years. Both of you are the best...
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty
2015-03-16T20:18:22+00:00
Amy and I have bought and sold four properties in the past twelve years. Both of you are the best realtors we have ever dealt with. Amy and I both felt we could trust you to look out for our interest. The level of service you provided was outstanding, from taking the trash out, helping the buyer with inspecting the irrigation system, dealing with our tenants, always being there if we needed to ask a question, providing constant updates on the market and always keeping us informed on the sale of our house. I think your next venture should be training other realtors, because both of you have mastered the art of providing excellent service. I will be sure to recommend the Frank and Karen team to anybody looking for a trust worthy, knowledgeable and top performing realtor. It was a pleasure working with both of you.”
https://sunsetbeachandbeyond.com/testimonials/matt-amy-carver/

Ernie & Carol G.

“Karen & Frank Baker are the best. They are very knowledgeable with the area & showed us many homes. When...
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty
2015-03-16T20:18:50+00:00
“Karen & Frank Baker are the best. They are very knowledgeable with the area & showed us many homes. When we made up our minds which one we wanted, they got us the best deal on it. We were very satisfided with them. After the purchased was made & we moved in, they were still there to answer any questions or problems that we might of had. Like I said, they are the BEST.”
https://sunsetbeachandbeyond.com/testimonials/ernie-carol-g/

Dave & Rose

“Thanks again for all the time you spent with us, As overwhelming as it was, you two made it fun”
Sunset Beach and Beyond Realty
2015-03-16T20:19:23+00:00
“Thanks again for all the time you spent with us, As overwhelming as it was, you two made it fun”
https://sunsetbeachandbeyond.com/testimonials/dave-rose/
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  • 3 Ways to Research Your New Neighborhood
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  • Easy Ways to Boost Your Curb Appeal and Beat the Competition
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