Considering Buying a Fixer Upper? Read this..

Buying and selling fixer-uppers can be a very profitable or costly business in San Francisco and Bay Area.

It’s important to follow some of the basic guidelines when considering “flipping” properties or buying a “fixer-upper”.

Your number one guideline is the location. Choosing the right location is very important, especially in San Francisco and Bay Area. Neighborhoods are evolving and extensive research on the evolution of the “desirable” neighborhoods could be a key to your success.

Bob the “Naked Inspector”

Many inspectors in Bay Area and San Francisco can be considered as “naked inspectors”. Naked inspector – someone who has no background in construction field, no proper certifications, no general liability insurance, no bond and most importantly no active General Contractors License.

It’s very important to have someone who is adequately certified and licensed perform your home inspection since buying a property is probably one of the biggest investments you are going to make in your life.

Foundation Repair Costs

How much does it cost to fix a failing foundation? In this example we are not estimating a major foundation repair.

In San Francisco Bay Area as well as other areas with similar climate, it is very difficult to provide an average cost for a minor foundation repair simply because there are so many variables. On average, costs have been reported as low as $250 for a very minor repair and as high as $48,000 for a piering repair system.

San Francisco Home Inspection

Many homeowners come to us asking about finding a San Francisco home inspection service they can trust. A San Francisco home inspection doesn’t have to be an uncertain or stressful process. Home buyers have an equally strong interest in having a home inspected to ensure they don’t buy a house that has damage or faults that make it’s actual value less than the price at time of sale. Whether you’re a homeowner or in the market to purchase a house, make sure you contact our team of professionals to ensure your home inspection gets done the right way. Here are few thing you should know from the perspective of a home buyer or seller.

Home Inspection Checklist

When it comes to judging the value and condition of a home, it is essential to thoroughly investigate the house by using a home inspection checklist. With the use of a home inspection checklist, you can identify major areas in need of attention and improvement to make sure the home provides the best value possible. It’s important to note that home inspections normally do not include certain hazards that require a specific license to investigate and identify, including asbestos, radon gas, lead paint, toxic mold and pest control. To help you better understand the home inspection process, we’ve provided an overview of what components are common in such a procedure. Remember that it’s always best to contact professionals like us to get your home inspection done the right way, so you don’t miss any major flaws that could cost you gravely later on in the future.

Why Recurring Preventative Maintenance Inspections are Important

Many homeowners are reluctant to perform recurring preventative maintenance inspections, but don’t realize that they can go a long way towards bolstering the value of the home. Recurring preventative maintenance inspections are essential for retaining and growing the worth of your home, and can help you prevent more costly repairs from occurring in the future. For example, if you perform regular preventative maintenance inspections on your roofing, you may be able to identify problems like mold in small regions of the roof before they get out of control and require replacing the entire roof. Many professionals in the industry recommend spending between one to three percent of your home’s value on maintenance and repairs, so having inspections ensures that the money you spend is put to good use.