...do you really need to look at before making an offer

10 ?

20 ?

50 ?

the actual number may surprise you

I believe that today's buyers typically look at more than 100

now stay with me on this

given the amount of information available online

buyers are able to research properties in great detail

and rule out dozens of them based on their findings

this pre-work has greatly reduced the number that they see in person

now with that said

buyers may still do multiple home tours

often over an elongated period of time

which in turn means that some of those homes

go under contract with a different buyer

and the search then takes longer

there isn't a right or wrong way to shop

it just depends on your timeline and your goals

we expand upon these thoughts in today's show

...is "almost never" a good idea

• even for veteran home buyer
• even for contractors
• even if its a brand new home

Its not that the sellers are always hiding something

or that home builders are doing sub standard work intentionally

hidden defects happen

and construction works can make mistakes

home inspections can find those things

or confirm that everything is ok with the home

both are good outcomes for the home buyer

writing offers with no inspections may help negotiate the price

but may come back to bite you

when you need a wind mitigation and 4 point to get insurance

as the seller doesn't have to allow it

savvy home sellers may choose to pre-inspect their homes

before going on the market as part of a sales strategy

that lets the buyers know upfront

what an independent expert thinks about the home condition

here are some the most popular inspections

• whole home report
• 4 point inspection
• wind mitgation report
• well and septic
• wdo report also known as the termite inspection

... your life situation demands it

We all know the reasons to buy vs rent a home

• home ownership
• build equity
• have a place of your own

but what doesn't often get enough attention

are the reasons why it makes sense to rent

• change in family situation
• long hours at work
• lifestyle choices
• frequent traveler

today we discuss real life circumstances

where renting is the right choice

and when it becomes compelling to buy a home