13 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Moving Company
13 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Moving Company When it comes to hiring movers, you may be tempted to compare companies solely on quotes.
With rising home prices, many first-time home buyers are looking to save where they can. This is making modest homes and fixer uppers seemingly more and more popular. If you’ve been eying a potential project house, you may be hesitant to take the leap. It takes a trained eye to know what fixes are purely cosmetic versus the ones that are red flags. How can you know if a fixer upper is a good investment?
When calculating how much home you can afford, remember to section off part of that for renovations if you are looking at properties that need updating or repairs. Shopping for homes under your maximum budget can give you some wiggle room for renovations and unexpected repairs. On the flip side, if you are looking at a home at the top of your budget, you will need to fund the repairs from somewhere else in your budget.
How you will fund your home renovations is ultimately up to you. Here are some options you can consider.
Calling in a home inspector before making an offer on a home is always a wise choice, but with fixer uppers, it can be essential to spot potential money pits. A professional home inspector can take a look at the structure, surfaces, and systems of a home. If the inspector finds problems that need repairing, you may have footing to negotiate with the seller.
While you should hire a professional inspector, spotting these things in photos or a walkthrough of a home may signal monumental repair costs.
There’s a certain satisfaction and pride in stepping back from a completed home project and seeing the completed transformation.
It’s important to know going into a home renovation project just exactly what you are capable of. Just because you can repair something doesn’t mean that it won’t take you hours of work and multiple trips to the hardware store. Television shows and social media videos edit months of renovations fueled by teams of professionals down into minutes.
If you have experience and training in something like construction or plumbing, you may be more well equipped to tackle a fixer upper property. If your experience is limited to assembling a bookcase you ordered online, you will likely need to hire a contractor for projects. Know your limits.
Another aspect to consider when looking at fixer upper homes is whether you have a concrete move-in date or can be flexible. For example, if you are moving to a city to start a new job, or you are listing your old home and it is going to be sold. Some fixer uppers are very livable before repairs, while others you may have to wait to move in. Things like delays in construction or contractor availability can extend the timeline of projects.
Fixer upper properties can range from ones that need new décor, to ones that need to be torn down and rebuilt. To get an idea of what you could be signing up for, bring a family member or friend with repair experience to look at the property, and hire a home inspector.
If the structures and systems of the house are sound, it may just mean cosmetic updates. This can be painting walls, cabinets, and maybe replacing flooring. While this is typically the least expensive type of fixer upper property, keep in mind that things can still add up quickly, especially new flooring. It’s also a good idea to keep an extra fund in case these renovations unveil something major.
If you need to update any systems in the house like heating or air conditioning, or need to knock down a wall, walk through the space with a contractor. Don’t forget to research any permits that you may need to secure.
You may find when looking at a property that the structure and systems need to be completely replaced. In this case, everything will need to be removed from the property, including the walls and foundation. In this case, what you are really purchasing is the lot and the location. If you are trying to get into a particular neighborhood, this may be one solution. Be sure to know about any approvals or permits you may need from the town or city before demolition begins.
With every property comes risks like fires or burst pipes. Some houses need more coverage than others. Your homeowner’s insurance policy may be more complex due to the home’s unique characteristics. Finding, requesting, and comparing insurance quotes from different insurance carriers can be a considerable time investment. At Cross Insurance, we work with over 100 different carriers, from national names to local companies. Requesting an insurance quote for your home is as simple as filling out our form here. If you would prefer to call someone to start the quoting process, you can find a list of our office phone numbers here.
___________________________________________________________________
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not to be relied upon or used for any particular purpose. Cross Insurance shall not be held responsible in any way for, and specifically disclaims any liability arising out of or in any way connected to, reliance on or use of any of the information contained in this article. The information contained or referenced in this article is not intended to constitute and should not be considered legal, insurance, accounting or other professional advice, nor shall it serve as a substitute for the recipient obtaining such advice. The views expressed in this article are that of its author and do not necessarily represent the views of Cross Financial Corp. and its subsidiaries and affiliates (“Cross Insurance”) or Cross Insurance’s management or shareholders.
13 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Moving Company When it comes to hiring movers, you may be tempted to compare companies solely on quotes.
Insurance for Property Management Companies If you are a property manager or part of a company that oversees rentals, either residential or commercial, having appropriate
How Do I Get Started Creating Videos for My Small Business? As a small business owner, you probably know the importance of video content. It’s