Appraising property is a guessing game. You don’t know exactly what you’re walking into when you put down stakes and sign the dotted line. That’s why every single step of your new home purchase should be as thorough, research-based and precautionary as possible.
But, let’s face it: Not all buyers have the time or resources to investigate property thoroughly before they buy. And, even those who do may not see the value in spending hours upon hours combing through old property records or drilling experts on their knowledge of certain neighborhoods. Instead, they prefer to rely on their real estate agent to give them an unbiased overview of the neighborhood and current market conditions so that they can make an educated decision about whether or not to invest their hard-earned money there.
What is the difference between a home appraisal and a termite inspection?
A termite inspection is a process that is used to determine if there are any termites present in a house. If there are no termites, the property is safe and can go on the market without worry of being rejected. An appraisal, on the other hand, is when an appraiser evaluates the value of a home. They do this by observing how much work and money it would cost to renovate or repair it versus what it’s worth as an investment at current market conditions.
The main difference between these two processes lies in who conducts them and why they are conducted.
An appraisal is done by an appraiser who determines what the value of the property should be given current market conditions. A termite inspection may not be able to determine the presence of termites in the property, but they will tell you whether or not certain places have visible signs of damage from them (like holes).
If you’re choosing between doing a termite inspection or appraisal for your new home purchase, you should consider both before making your final decision about which one to do. You may find that both give you valuable information that helps you make your decision about whether or not investing in this house is worth it for you.>>END>>
Should you have an appraisal before buying a house?
Appraisers will give you a price range of the property’s value, including the current market conditions and what they think the home is worth now. But, if you do not have an appraisal, you might be taking a risk by investing in this property.
If there are termite issues that need to be repaired or if there are hidden damage such as dry rot, your agent may not even consider showing you that property. And, if they do show it to you, they might start off with a high number on the price tag so that they can lure in potential buyers who don’t know how much the repairs will cost.
How do you find an appraiser for your new home?
In order to find the best appraiser for your home purchase, you can do a bit of research on your own. You’ll need to figure out who the reputable appraisers are in your area and ask around to see what they’re like. Then, you can contact them individually and schedule a consultation with them. They’ll provide an estimate right then and there and that should be enough insight for you to make an educated decision about whether or not they’re worth working with.
If you’d rather have someone else take care of all this for you, there are a few options out there that could help:
1) If your real estate agent is willing to work with an outside appraiser, this is often the easiest option. Your agent will pick one out for you and then coordinate everything from scheduling to payment in addition to taking care of any negotiations that may arise. This is usually more affordable than hiring an independent appraiser directly yourself and it saves you time as well by having the expertise of your agent taken care of for you.
2) Another option would be to hire a professional property manager who specializes in residential property management. These individuals are experts at what they do and can help navigate the process through every step so that you don’t have to worry about anything yourself.
Why does it matter if your new property has termites?
Termites can cause a large amount of damage to a home and its surrounding areas. They can eat away at wood, leaving it vulnerable to damages like floor rot and water damage. Termites can also introduce bacteria into the walls of your property, possibly leading to mold or even an infestation. If you find out that your new property has termites, it’s important for you to know about them so that you can take the appropriate steps to prove whether or not they’ll affect your appraisal.
For example, if you’re buying a single family home with a pool in Los Angeles, California and your real estate agent says that it is termite-free, there’s no reason for you to worry about any problems with the appraisal until after settlement. However, if you were buying a two story house in Los Angeles with hardwood floors and high ceilings right next door to a home with termites, then this would be something worth considering before signing on the dotted line.
Things to look for in an appraisal
Every real estate transaction has a buyer and a seller. But, when it comes to property appraisals, the buyer usually gets the final say. The buyer is the one who signs off on the appraisal and decides whether or not they will pay their hard-earned money to buy a home. That’s why it’s important to know what things you should be looking for in an appraisal before you make your decision.
First, look at the timeframe of the appraisal. If it was conducted years ago, that could suggest that something might have changed since then and that some sort of termite damage could have occurred.
Second, look for any evidence of termites in the report. This includes information about the number of rooms with exposed wood and rotten supports, damaged drywall, buildings with covered cracks or missing insulation from walls or ceilings and damaged floors from termite infestation (in conjunction with all other factors).
Third, find out if there are any municipal records related to prior infestations and whether or not there were any subsequent repairs made as a result of those infestations.
Conclusion
If you have a new property that you’re considering purchasing, you’ll want to have a termite inspection done before you buy it.
Termites can damage a house, which means that the cost of the home will go up. Additionally, the fact that termites are found on your property may lead to complications during the inspection process. And even if you don’t find any damage or termites, there’s still a chance that termites will be present in the walls, ceiling or floor of your future home. It’s important to know about this possibility before buying into a property that’s had termites in it.
