Advertisement

cbs4denver.com: Consumer

Search
 

Consumer

 >



Inspect Your Home Before You Buy

Most homebuyers pay for a professional home inspector to thoroughly scrutinize the home they want to buy.

If you don't accompany the inspector as he or she makes the rounds, you'll miss out on the best opportunity to learn where the mechanical systems are located, how they work, and what you need to do to keep them running.

Many homebuyers show up at the end of a home inspection just to receive the report. But wouldn't you rather know that you need to re-caulk your windows to block the moisture? And to learn that the grading isn't steep enough to keep water running away from your foundation?

A skilled inspector should look at everything inside, including the attic, basement and crawl space, and should walk completely around the exterior and up on the roof. He or she may even look at outbuildings on the project.

Tag along. It may be the most useful hours you spend around your home.

Ilyce Glink is the bestselling author of 100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask, and is the Managing Editor of Right at Home Daily.

see more>>



Buyer's Guide to Contracts and Forms

When buying a home, there are a myriad of contracts and forms you'll need to sign, including contracts, disclosures, and other documents. Barbara Buchholz presents a buyer's guide to these documents.


Unless you've recently won the lottery, it's likely you'll be getting a loan to pay for your new home. Here's everything you need to know to get your application approved. From Margaret Crane, contributor to Newsweek, The New York Times and Money magazine and author of Successful Homebuilding and Remodeling: Real-Life Advice on Getting the House You Want without the Roof (or Sky) Falling In.

Tax Implications of Mortgage, Property Tax, and Insurance Payments
How Much Can You/Should You Borrow?
Knowing When It's Time to Refinance Your Home
Will Buying a Home Bankrupt Me?
Your Credit: Determining and Improving It
Finding The Right Lender


There's little chance you'll have a successful closing unless all of the details are in place. Here's some information to help you get from offer to closing without missing a beat. From Barbara Buchholz, former editor of House & Garden Guides Magazine and co-author of Porch Style and the New Homeowner's Handbook.

Buyer's Guide to Contracts and Forms
What to Expect on Closing Day
Process and Paperwork
The Closing Timeline
The Differences Between A Co-op and Condo
Doing Your Final Walk-Through


For most, making an offer for a home is the most stressful part of the process. The information you'll find here will help you figure out everything from how much a piece of real estate is worth to how to win a bidding war. From Margaret Crane, contributor to Newsweek, The New York Times and Money magazine and author of Successful Homebuilding and Remodeling: Real-Life Advice on Getting the House You Want without the Roof (or Sky) Falling In.

How to Win the Bidding War
How Do You Create A Good First Offer?
Figuring Out How Much The Property Is Worth
Negotiating Strategies In A Buyer's and Seller's Market
What To Expect After Pitching An Offer