Don’t Get a Contractor For Your Bowling Green Home Until You Read This!

Don’t Get a Contractor For Your Bowling Green Home Until You Read This!

 

After going through a home inspection, getting a contractor to do the recommended repairs will most likely be the next step. Whoever will shoulder the expenses for home improvement and repairs should have been agreed upon before the purchase of a Bowling Green KY home for sale. Getting a contractor is highly recommended to do major repairs such as foundation issues and overall electrical wiring in the house.

Getting a contractor will surely help get things done at the soonest possible time but to get the most out of your investment in your Bowling Green KY home improvement, you must remember these:

• Make a written agreement between you and the contractor and it should include these:

1. Work completion schedule and needed materials (specifications including brand names)

2. Contractor’s warranty that specifies expiration dates and procedures to be done if materials or workmanship should prove substandard.

3. A phrase stating that the contractor will be responsible for negligence of a subcontractor.

4. A phrase stating that the contractor should provide cleanup service after the repairs. Specify the level of cleaning you expect after completion of work.

• Consult a lawyer before signing a contract to make sure you completely understand all of it.

• Check the contract for blank spaces before signing it. If there are blank spaces, write “VOID” across them.

• Pay in full ONLY if you are satisfied with all the work done. It is also recommended to pay in check rather than cash.

• Before signing a work-completion certificate, make sure that the contractor has paid all suppliers of materials and all subcontractors.

The homeowner-contractor relationship is not as complicated as it seems to be when it begins right with both parties understanding the expectations and limitations of each one and making communication lines clear. As a homeowner, avoid delaying decisions and as much as possible, avoid changing your mind too often that the schedule will be too far behind target. Changes will be expected along the way though, but make sure that everyone working on your Bowling Green KY home will be informed.

If you are on the lookout for a home in Bowling Green KY, call me, Greg Raymer at 270-784-7653. The best of Bowling Green KY homes for sale awaits you!

The Essential Guide to Your Bowling Green KY Home Inspection

The Essential Guide to Your Bowling Green KY Home Inspection

Getting a home inspection can never be overrated when you are buying a new home. You will find this written on your purchase contract and your trusted real estate agent will strongly advise you to get one even if you are buying a newly constructed home. Before you even start looking for Bowling Green KY homes for sale and do research on the best home-inspection company in the area, you must know the essentials of home inspection so that when you get the home inspector’s report, you won’t stare blankly on the pages and just agree to whatever the recommendations are. You may even save some money by doing the repairs yourself. Take note of these important areas of the house that should be inspected:

Living Spaces / Interiors:

• Bathroom: A toilet should be sturdy because if it is wobbly, it might break the wax ring at its base and cause serious water damage. Water escaping every flush will rot the subfloor and if not fixed, you might find yourself stumped and dazed on the bathroom floor one day. For older homes, check that the bathroom circuit should have at least 15-amp so that you can plug-in hair dryers or gadgets without causing overheating or tripped circuits. Poor bathroom ventilation may cause mildew and peeling wallpaper. Check that the exhaust duct leads outside. Moreover, the CFM rating on the fan should at least equal the square footage of the bathroom.
• Correct the exit of dryer vents. They should exit the building envelope and not the attic, basement or garage.
• Check the stairs. The railing should be very sturdy and steps are not creaky.
• Structural problems may show in cracks above doors and windows. Stains on ceilings and walls may indicate a leaking pipe or shower pan. Persistent stains and bad odors might mean there are critters living in the attic.

The Attic:

• You seriously have to check the roof truss because any tampering done by the previous owner may have compromised its strength.
• Check the condition of insulation and the covers of recessed lighting fixtures that may start up a fire.
• Leaky Roof: It is best to check this during a strong rain. Look for leaks around vents and skylights, chimneys and plumbing stacks. Check water stains on the  underside of the sheathing.

The Basement

• Termite Tubes: Break these tubes and if termites spill out or the tubes are rebuilt after a few days, it is time to ask help from an exterminator.
• Cracks along the foundation: Keep track of growing cracks and if they get bigger, call an expert.
• Intertwined Wiring: This might indicate that poor wiring may be all around the house. Better check the rest of the wiring and have it fixed.

Exterior

• Check Shingles: Shingles may have worn out because of molds, fungus or roof-damaging algae. You may control this by putting zinc strips along the ridge.
• Gaps around doors and windows may mean shifting of the foundation.
• Thick bushes and plants around the house provide bridges for squirrels or other critters to the attic.
• When doing inspection on a Bowling Green KY home for sale check the exterior paint. Paint that flaked off exposes wood to weather damage.

This checklist covers the essential elements of a successful home inspection . This brings you more prepared for the next step—finding a trusted contractor to do the needed repairs.

Are you still on the lookout for a new home? Know more about Bowling Green KY homes for sale when you call me, Greg Raymer at 270-784-7653.

Top Reasons to Live in Bowling Green Kentucky

Top Reasons to Live in Bowling Green Kentucky

Have you ever considered living in Bowling Green Kentucky? If you dream to live in an urban area without having to crack your bones from working too hard to maintain the high cost of city living, Bowling Green KY is the best place to live. Compared to the rest of the country, its cost of living is 10.70% lower than the U.S. average. Moreover, it is ranked 13 in the emerging metropolitan areas in the U.S. and yet remains to be within the 200 greenest cities in the country—you don’t have to drive too far to find a park to breathe fresh air within the city. Also, in 2014, Forbes Magazine announced Bowling Green as one of the Top 25 Best Places to Retire in the United States. New residents and people looking for Bowling Green KY homes for sale will easily find a nice community to help them adjust to their new home.

Recent job growth in Bowling Green KY has been positive. So far, jobs have increased by 1.4 percent this year. Bowling Green KY is home to world-class manufacturers including General Motors and Fruit of the Loom. All Chevrolet Corvettes built since 1981 came from the Bowling Green Assembly Plant. Residents and future homeowners looking for Bowling Green KY homes for sale love that the National Corvette Homecoming, one of the biggest annual car events in the country, happens here. It is held every July and has been attended by Corvette owners and enthusiasts from all over America. It is not only meant for car owners but is also great for families because it is not limited to car shows and parades but also features shopping booths and activities for both women and children.

Bowling Green KY has no doubt an excellent education system which makes it a great place for families and students. It is home to Western Kentucky University, the second largest undergraduate school in Kentucky where multiple advanced degree programs are being offered. The student to teacher ratio is also good at around 17:1.

Quality living awaits future residents of this wonderful city! 

If you are looking for Bowling Green Kentucky homes for sale, I would like to help you get the best information available in finding your dream home. Call me, Greg Raymer, at 270-784-7653 and I will show you the best of Bowling Green KY has to offer!