Home Inspections, Finalizing Your Mortgage, Preparing for your Final Walk-Through, Closing Day, What Not To Do in the Home Buying Process, and 3 Ways to Make A Small Space Look Larger

This is where the rubber meets the road! 

Today, I’m spilling the beans on all things home inspections. 

After the seller accepts your offer on a home, it’s time to schedule the inspection. 

This involves a certified home inspector thoroughly reviewing the property to identify potential problems (structural, electrical, plumbing, safety and more). 

Your inspector should be experienced and reputable, but the good news is that I have a trusted list of inspectors to choose from. 

Inspections can take a minimum of 2-3 hours, depending on the size of the home, and buyers are typically in charge of the bill. The cost usually ranges from around $250-$375.

After the inspection, the inspector will provide the seller with a detailed report, which usually includes recommendations, photo and sometimes video.

Once you receive the report, we’ll chat about it and decide how to proceed. A home can’t “pass” or “fail” an inspection, but if the inspector finds major issues, we’ll need to negotiate repairs (or a price reduction) with the seller.

Do you have any other questions about home inspections? If so, drop them below or shoot me a DM!

The magic words: “clear to close.” 

One of the last steps in your home purchase before closing day is to finalize your loan.

But before we do that, let’s back up and review what you can expect from your lender. 

The mortgage process is different for every buyer, but can usually be broken down into the following steps: 

-Pre-Approval 

-Home Shopping

-Mortgage Application 

-Loan Processing 

-Underwriting 

-Closing

Once you’ve been pre-approved, and have an accepted offer, the process generally takes anywhere from 30-45 days and involves a thorough evaluation of your credit history, income, assets and documentation. 

Once everything is in order and your application has been processed, the mortgage underwriter will approve the loan and your lender will issue a “clear to close.” Now, it’s time to schedule your closing date. 

In just a few more days, you’re going to be a homeowner! In most cases, there’s just one more step: stay tuned for what to expect at your final walk-through.

I’ll just come right out and say it: your final walk through might be the most important thing you do before you close on your next home!

It’s a simple step, but it’s a big one! 

When you’re buying a home, the final walk-through is your last chance to see a house before closing day. 

The way a walk-through typically works is that you’ll go room-to-room with your agent, and possibly the seller’s agent, to ensure that the home is in the agreed-upon condition. 

Here’s what to look for at a final walkthrough:

-All household items included in the purchase are still present (i.e. major appliances, window treatments). 

-Any agreed-upon repairs have been completed, as negotiated after the inspection.

-All major systems are in working order (plumbing, electric, HVAC).

-Condition of the home is the consistent with the last time you saw it.

-Any new damage, stains or problems. 

-Exterior damage, such as new cracks or pest issues.

If you find an issue during the walk-through, call it out immediately. While most issues aren’t dealbreakers, we might need to renegotiate the terms of the purchase agreement with the seller.

Questions about this step in the process? Message me anytime! 

We finally made it…closing day is here! 

Closing day is definitely an occasion to celebrate…but first, you need to get through the actual closing and paperwork involved. 

On closing day, you’ll become the official, legal owner of the property that you’re purchasing. 

The closing involves transferring funds from escrow, paying the mortgage and title fees, and updating the deed of the house to your name. 

Basically, come closing day, you and the seller sign all the necessary papers to officially seal the deal. 

Yes, it’s a LOT of paperwork.

Here’s what you should bring to your closing: 

-Closing paperwork

-Cashier’s or certified check for closing costs

-Photo identification 

-Proof of homeowner’s insurance

-A pen — you’ll be signing your name a lot!

Once you’ve signed the papers, paid the seller and paid your closing costs, it’s time to pick up the keys and pop the bubbly! 

Whew! We have covered a lot of ground over the past few days, but hopefully now you’re feeling ready to tackle the home-buying process head-on. 

If you’re thinking about making a move this year, it’s a great time to start your search (before the spring rush!). Drop me a message anytime and we can schedule an initial chat.

Don’t do these 5 things during the home buying process! 

There’s nothing worse than having to tell a prospective home buyer that the purchase fell through in the 11th hour. 

It’s downright heartbreaking! 

So, in an effort to save you a lot of heartache (and time …and money …) here are 3 things NOT to do when buying a home. 

1. Don’t…buy a car

Taking on new debt (such as an auto loan) will lower your credit score since there won’t be any payment history associated with the purchase. This rule also applies to opening new lines of credit! So, until you close, just say “no!”

2. Don’t…change jobs

Mortgage lenders will verify your employment before they approve your loan, and they look for stability–*at least* 6 months of employment is preferred. 

3. Don’t…miss bills

Paying your bills on time improves your credit score. If you can’t consistently pay your bills in a timely manner, consider waiting to buy a home.

4. Don’t…loan money (or cosign a loan)

It’s awesome that you want to help a friend or family member who has fallen on hard times, but if you’re in the market for a new home, wait until closing day to loan them a significant amount of money or cosigning a loan.

5. Don’t…ghost your realtor

Things can change really quickly during the home buying process, so stay in touch with your Realtor to ensure you don’t miss important information that could affect your purchase. 

My last piece of advice? Hire a Realtor (and mortgage lender!) you can trust to help you through the process. So much goes into buying a home, so you shouldn’t go it alone! 

If you’ve purchased a home before, what advice would you give to a new homebuyer? Share it in the comments! 

3 ways to make a small space feel larger 

If you’re struggling to make your small space feel light, bright and more open, let me help! 

These simple tips can help any space feel instantly larger:

1. Clear out the clutter 

You’d be surprised how open and airy your space will feel after you eliminate unnecessary items and clutter. 

2. Choose lighter paint colors 

A lighter paint color instantly opens up a smaller room. But that doesn’t mean you have to use white or gray? A beautiful, creamy neutral works well, too! 

3. Utilize mirrors 

This trick has been used for decades because it works! Mirrors make any room feel larger and more open – just don’t go overboard (yes, we’re talking about mirrored closet doors – let’s leave those in the ’80s). 

There are definite advantages to living in a smaller space–there’s less to clean and less to furnish! But that doesn’t mean you have to feel cramped and cluttered. So follow these tips to help make your home look and feel larger. 

And tell me: are you making any home improvements this winter? Share them with me in the comments!