Klein Sun - News
Home buying 101: Experts offer advice for the house hunt
By VALERIE JONES and VAL CLIFTON
For the home-buying novice, doing some simple background research can make the difference between a humble abode and a pristine palace.
Because of the possibility for this discrepancy, prospective buyers should consider several factors.
Judy Carr, Broker Associate and Vice President of Sales at Heritage Texas Realtors, said finding a trustworthy realtor is imperative to the home buying process.
“You’re giving financial information and your needs and wants to that person, so you’re going to want someone who is a member of the Multiple Listing Service who can show you homes with multiple companies,” Carr said.
She encourages buyers to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement, which lays out realtor-client expectations and makes for a smoother working relationship.
Because salespeople at developments work directly for the company, Carr said for objectivity, realtors are needed regardless of whether the home is new or not.
“Even if you’re buying new construction, you need someone who is truly representing you in the transaction,” she said. “Realtors have credentials. They have to be licensed and they have obligations to be fair and honest to all parties in a transaction.”
In addition, realtors are able to provide the client with information on local taxes, school districts and water districts, which is especially helpful for those unfamiliar with Texas taxing entity terminology.
“It’s not up to the realtor to choose the home for you,” Carr said, “but it’s up to them to give you enough information so that the buyer can make a wise decision in the market place.”
A similar approach should be utilized when deciding on a home inspector.
Jonathan Lang, Owner of Texas Real Estate Inspection Services, Inc, said many people find his services via the Web, or are referred by a realtor.
He said home buyers need to interview the prospective inspector and get an idea of what their strengths are, as well as what they can offer the client.
Some inspectors only offer hand-written reports for a minimal fee, and others, such as Lang, do computer driven reports, include digital photographs and utilize various tools in their inspections.
Texas doesn’t require that a home inspection is conducted prior to purchase, but is highly advised.
“Most people are making the single largest investment they will make in their entire lives,” Lang said, “and to boil it down to someone who’s going to give you a handwritten report for $165 versus someone who’s going to do a thorough, in-depth look at your home and may charge a few hundred dollars to do it, you’re protecting your investment.”
Lang said he recently inspected a $350,000 house with several items that needed to be repaired.
“A lot of people go into a brand-new home thinking that there isn’t going to be any problems at all,” said Lang. “I have found major issues with brand-new homes.”
The Greater Houston Builders Association encouraged buyers to make sure their builder is registered with the Texas Residential Construction Commission.
“It’s really the best way to check on the builder’s history of complaints,” said Marq Mosier, director of communications for GHBA. “TRCC should be the first place people look.”
Mosier also said people should be involved enough in the construction process to ensure satisfaction on their end.
“As with any customer service, building your home is a process that you should be satisfied with every step of the way,” he said.
Bill Edwards Custom Homes is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau and has a satisfactory rating. For two years, they were ranked as a top builder in Houston by “H-Magazine,” and are members of GHBA and the Custom Builders Council.
President Bill Edwards said his company builds homes from the I-45 to I-10 corridor in the northwest.
“We are always looking for ways to ensure quality in our homes,” Edwards said. “We believe the more eyes on the job, the better. Nothing should be overlooked and there are no dumb questions. If it looks wrong, it probably is wrong.”
He said his company tries to be proactive, striving hard to educate field staff and subcontractors on what the company standards of quality are. He said they exceed what is required by code.
“My number one bit of advice for people when looking for a builder is find a person that you feel comfortable with,” Edwards said. “It’s more important than the price or design of a house. Design and price can always be adjusted to meet your needs, but trustworthiness with the builder is set in stone.”
Because of the possibility for this discrepancy, prospective buyers should consider several factors.
Judy Carr, Broker Associate and Vice President of Sales at Heritage Texas Realtors, said finding a trustworthy realtor is imperative to the home buying process.
“You’re giving financial information and your needs and wants to that person, so you’re going to want someone who is a member of the Multiple Listing Service who can show you homes with multiple companies,” Carr said.
She encourages buyers to sign a Buyer Representation Agreement, which lays out realtor-client expectations and makes for a smoother working relationship.
Because salespeople at developments work directly for the company, Carr said for objectivity, realtors are needed regardless of whether the home is new or not.
“Even if you’re buying new construction, you need someone who is truly representing you in the transaction,” she said. “Realtors have credentials. They have to be licensed and they have obligations to be fair and honest to all parties in a transaction.”
In addition, realtors are able to provide the client with information on local taxes, school districts and water districts, which is especially helpful for those unfamiliar with Texas taxing entity terminology.
“It’s not up to the realtor to choose the home for you,” Carr said, “but it’s up to them to give you enough information so that the buyer can make a wise decision in the market place.”
A similar approach should be utilized when deciding on a home inspector.
Jonathan Lang, Owner of Texas Real Estate Inspection Services, Inc, said many people find his services via the Web, or are referred by a realtor.
He said home buyers need to interview the prospective inspector and get an idea of what their strengths are, as well as what they can offer the client.
Some inspectors only offer hand-written reports for a minimal fee, and others, such as Lang, do computer driven reports, include digital photographs and utilize various tools in their inspections.
Texas doesn’t require that a home inspection is conducted prior to purchase, but is highly advised.
“Most people are making the single largest investment they will make in their entire lives,” Lang said, “and to boil it down to someone who’s going to give you a handwritten report for $165 versus someone who’s going to do a thorough, in-depth look at your home and may charge a few hundred dollars to do it, you’re protecting your investment.”
Lang said he recently inspected a $350,000 house with several items that needed to be repaired.
“A lot of people go into a brand-new home thinking that there isn’t going to be any problems at all,” said Lang. “I have found major issues with brand-new homes.”
The Greater Houston Builders Association encouraged buyers to make sure their builder is registered with the Texas Residential Construction Commission.
“It’s really the best way to check on the builder’s history of complaints,” said Marq Mosier, director of communications for GHBA. “TRCC should be the first place people look.”
Mosier also said people should be involved enough in the construction process to ensure satisfaction on their end.
“As with any customer service, building your home is a process that you should be satisfied with every step of the way,” he said.
Bill Edwards Custom Homes is an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau and has a satisfactory rating. For two years, they were ranked as a top builder in Houston by “H-Magazine,” and are members of GHBA and the Custom Builders Council.
President Bill Edwards said his company builds homes from the I-45 to I-10 corridor in the northwest.
“We are always looking for ways to ensure quality in our homes,” Edwards said. “We believe the more eyes on the job, the better. Nothing should be overlooked and there are no dumb questions. If it looks wrong, it probably is wrong.”
He said his company tries to be proactive, striving hard to educate field staff and subcontractors on what the company standards of quality are. He said they exceed what is required by code.
“My number one bit of advice for people when looking for a builder is find a person that you feel comfortable with,” Edwards said. “It’s more important than the price or design of a house. Design and price can always be adjusted to meet your needs, but trustworthiness with the builder is set in stone.”
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