Thursday, December 5, 2013

What is a Home Inspection?

home inspection is a limited, non-invasive examination of the condition of a home, often in connection with the sale of that home. Home inspections are usually conducted by a home inspector who has the training and certifications to perform such inspections. The inspector prepares and delivers to the client a written report of findings. The client then uses the knowledge gained to make informed decisions about their pending real estate purchase. The home inspector describes the condition of the home at the time of inspection but does not guarantee future condition, efficiency, or life expectancy of systems or components.
A home inspector is sometimes confused with a real estate appraiser. A home inspector determines the condition of a structure, whereas an appraiser determines the value of a property. 


Tiffany Jacobs
Century 21 Leading Edge Realty

9200 Church Street #200, Manassas, VA, 20110
Direct:  571.209.8133


What Does Home Contingency Mean?


Contingent
This means the seller has accepted an offer on the property, but success may still depend on passing a home inspection, getting financing and or an appraisal.
There are different types of contingent statuses. For example, Contingent - Show means that it is still possible to tour the property and submit a backup offer in case the current one falls through. Contingent - No Show indicates that the seller no longer wishes to show the property.
Contingent with Kick Out means that the seller is willing to accept a better offer if one comes along and will "kick out" the current offer. Contingent No Kick Out means that the seller won't be accepting more offers. However, if the current offer falls through, then the listing will be switched back to Active and the seller will accept new offers.

Tiffany Jacobs
Advantage+ Real Estate Team
RE/MAX Olympic

9214 Center Street #100, Manassas, VA, 20110
Direct:  571.209.8133
www.TiffanyRealEstate.net



Monday, November 4, 2013

5 Holiday Disasters- TO AVOID!

Take a look at the most common things that can go wrong when you have guests and learn how to prevent them.
That’s just one of many hosting nightmares that can end your holiday party before it even begins. Thankfully, some of the most damaging mishaps easily can be avoided. We collected five of the most prevalent issues and give you preventative tips to keep your holiday party on track.
Problem: The oven doesn’t heat
For any holiday occasion, the oven is the most important appliance in your house. If it fails to work, the centerpiece of your meal could go from roasted beef, ham, duck, or Tofurky to Peking Duck from the local Chinese takeout joint.

How to avoid:
  • There are any number of reasons a stove can break, but one common cause of disaster is easy to prevent. Don’t self-clean your oven until AFTER the holidays. You risk blowing a fuse or a thermostat, and tracking down an oven technician around the holidays can be tough.

Problem: The kitchen sink clogs
The day after Thanksgiving is the busiest of the year for plumbers. The prime cause of this clog-a-thon is the mistreatment of drains when cooking holiday feasts. We hope your Thanksgiving went well, and that you avoid clog-a-thons for the rest of the holidays.

How to avoid:
  • Fats and cooking oils can solidify in your pipes, so never dispose of them in your kitchen sink.
  • If you have a garbage disposal, make sure it’s running before anything goes in it, and never feed it any stringy, fibrous, or starchy foods like poultry skins or potato peels.
  • To fix, don’t rely on chemical drain-clearing products that can harm your pipes. Use a snake instead, available for $15 at your local hardware store. Best to keep one on hand.

Problem: The heat goes out
As the party’s host, you’re supposed to hang guests’ coats—not apologize to them for having to keep them on. A lack of heat can stop a holiday party dead in its tracks.

How to avoid:
  • The key to avoiding freezing your party to a standstill is regular maintenance of your HVAC. Every 90 days, a new one-inch pleated furnace filter should be installed. If you haven’t done it in a while, now’s a good time to replace it.
  • Also inspect insulation on refrigerant lines that are leading into your house. Replace them if they're missing or damaged.  

Problem: The toilet stops up
Toilets have a way of clogging up at the worst times, such as during parties and when you have overnight guests. This is especially true if you have a low-flow toilet from the early 1990s.

How to avoid:
  • Don’t flush anything other than sewage and toilet paper down the toilet. And there’s nothing wrong with putting up a polite note to remind your guests to do the same.

Problem: The fridge doesn’t cool
Without a properly functioning refrigerator, your meat could get contaminated, your dairy-based treats could go sour, and you may not be able to save your yummy leftovers. To avoid discovering a warm fridge after it’s too late, take these simple precautions.

How to avoid:
  • Get a thermometer for your refrigerator to make sure each shelf stays below 40 degrees and you can be aware of any temperature changes.
  • Also make sure the condenser coils located on the back of the unit or beneath it are free to breathe. Coils blocked from circulating air by cereal boxes atop the fridge, or dirtied by dust or pet hair can prevent a fridge from keeping cool.


Tiffany Jacobs
Advantage+ Real Estate Team
RE/MAX Olympic

9214 Center Street #100, Manassas, VA, 20110
Direct:  571.209.8133
www.TiffanyRealEstate.net



By:
Published: November 29, 2010

Tuesday, August 13, 2013

EASIEST DIY PROJECT

GIVE OLD CHAIRS NEW LIFE

Recently I renovated a house and moved into it. As we all know, moving alone can be quit costly. Deciding to take a break and not worry about the backyard area just yet, my new kind neighbor offered me her old outdoor chairs. I thought to myself "this is great" since I had no where to sit while watching my dogs run and play.

The chairs weren't beautiful; but they sure were comfy. I decided to take at $10 risk and spruce them up. I ventured off to Lowes on my way home yesterday and went down the paint aisle. For $4.98 a can; and only needing 2 cans (1 for each chair) I said what the heck- lets give this a try.


I get home and immediately go outside; within 30 minutes I have 2 new cute chairs for $10 versus $40 (what my neighbor paid for 2 new chairs). You can't beat that! 




Before you throw those chairs out next season- think about what you can do and the money saved :)




Tiffany Jacobs
Advantage+ Real Estate Team
RE/MAX Olympic

9214 Center Street #100, Manassas, VA, 20110
Direct:  571.209.8133
www.TiffanyRealEstate.net

Monday, June 24, 2013

Bizarre Mortgage Requests Delay Borrowers

Underwriters are being extra vigilant in verifying every detail of a mortgage application, and some of their requests for information, borrowers say, are downright odd. 
For example, one borrower says an underwriter demanded a letter from his doctor that an illness he had would never come back. Another borrower says that an underwriter told her she needed to get verification from her employer on her employment status when she listed “homemaker” as her occupation. 
A borrower said an underwriter asked him for a letter of explanation on a $6 deposit he made (the borrower earned $10,000 a month at the time). 
"I don’t know whether to laugh or cry," says Karen Deis, who operates MortgageCurrentcy.com, and who collected dozens of anecdotes on her Facebook page about bizarre underwriting requests. "People are scared. All you hear about are buybacks, audits, and people losing their jobs" because they didn't verify this or confirm that.
Banks are requiring more documentation when approving a mortgage, and some of the extra requests have caught borrowers off-guard. For example, Deis says one borrower said that an underwriter demanded a letter from her explaining why she changed her name after she got married. A single father who had custody of his child said he was asked for a letter saying he did not have to pay child support. Another borrower who had been out of school for years said he was asked to produce his high school transcript. 
Despite some of the extra documentation requests, recent surveys are showing that banks lately are easing up slightly on their underwriting standards.  
However, "even though there has been some loosening, what they're asking of people is not changing,” says Jonathan Corr, Ellie Mae president. “It's still pretty comprehensive, and we're going to continue to hear stories like this."
Source: “Underwriting requests are getting weirder,” The Chicago Tribune (June 21, 2013)



Tiffany Jacobs
Advantage+ Real Estate Team
RE/MAX Olympic

9214 Center Street #100, Manassas, VA, 20110
Direct:  571.209.8133
www.TiffanyRealEstate.net


Wednesday, May 22, 2013

MY GUARANTEES


I will sell you home in 39 days, or I’ll sell it for Free……

Too good to be true?  It is for real and it is guaranteed.  Of course, there is some fine print.  Call or email Tiffany today to schedule your private consultation and to learn more about this great program.
**Rules and restrictions apply.  



My Ultimate 87 Point Marketing Plan….

That’s right, I have created a marketing plan so diverse, it hits home buyers on multiple fronts.  This plan gives your property the MAXIMUM exposure when selling!
Call me today to learn more about my ground-breaking plan.






My Communication Guarantee…

I promise to contact you every week with updates or suggestions during the listing period.  You will never have to wonder what is going on with your sale.  You will always be able to reach me or a team member.



My Easy Exit Listing Guarantee…

If for any reason you decide not to sell the your property, or if you are not satisfied with the services I am providing, and  I am not able to fix the problem, the listing may be CANCELLED “UNCONDITIONALLY” by you at any time.

A two week written notice is required.







Monday, March 11, 2013

Ellen DeGeneres- Makes Real Estate Funny



FUNNY ADS REAL ESTATE AGENTS PLACED!




RAY LEWIS- Palm Beach Home For Sale

RAY LEWIS:
PALM BEACH HOME FOR SALE

That is right! Ray Lewis listed is lovely Pal Beach, Florida home for sale! How much you ask?

An easy $5 Million and its all YOURS!

Check it out!





Tiffany Jacobs
Advantage+ Real Estate Team
RE/MAX Olympic

9214 Center Street #100, Manassas, VA, 20110
Direct:  571.209.8133
www.TiffanyRealEstate.net