Q: How do I check if my fireplace is in good condition?

Fireplaces are considered very inefficient heat sources, but they are a feature homeowners look for in their homes. There are two types of fireplaces: brick (or sometimes rock) and mortar fireplaces and a prefab unit with masonry surrounding it.

Fireplaces and chimneys are part of a general inspection. A home inspector will check for major cracks in the masonry surrounding the firebox. The inspector will then look into the flue and operate the damper to verify that it works.

Because the inspection is a visual inspection, the inspector cannot see if there are any internal problems within the chimney, but they can inspect the exterior of the chimney by observing the condition of the masonry.

The inspector will then look for creosote stains leaking out from the mortar joints, which would indicate that there is a break in the flue liner.

For more information, visit my preferred home inspector’s website, at npiweb.com/benson

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Buying a mobile home is very much like buying a car, in that the mobile home, generally speaking, does not improve in value. If you don’t have cash and need to get a loan, lenders see mobile homes exactly as the see cars. In many cases, traditional mortgage lenders do not do loans on mobile homes.

In addition to the investment/value issue, you typically have a lot rent that is somewhere between $300 – $500 per month. At current rates (5.5%) $300 a month is worth about $60,000 in purchase price. So if you buy a mobile home for $60,000, you could technically purchase a traditional home for around $120k for the same monthly payment, AND build equity and credit.

Some advantages include:

• Lower cost than owning a home.
• You can move the house itself
• Shorter time frame for a new mobile home than a new traditional home

Disadvantages:

• Value does not appreciate (not including land)
• Interest rates are generally higher than a traditional home
• You usually have to pay lot rent, unless you own the property
• Not as sturdy as traditional homes
• Not as energy efficient as traditional homes

In the end, mobile homes are a great way to save some money, but usually, when something is cheaper, it’s usually for a reason.

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But on a serious note, why does it seem that agents cheat and lie? First of all, like any profession, Real Estate is full of ALL kinds of people with all kinds of different ethics. There are rules and associations in place to try and help distinguish which agents are really the good ones and which aren’t but sometimes the not so good ones do a good job of hiding.

That leads you to probably ask – “How do I find one of those “good” real estate agents?” Here are a couple of points on how to go about doing that:

1. Ask your friends who is good: Many times those who are closest to you know of a really good agent that they or someone close to them has had a good experience with. Any agent can tell you they have integrity and are honest, but the best teller of what the truth is experience. So start by asking your friends if they know of any good real estate agents
   
2. Google the agent’s name: With the internet pervading every facet of our lives, this means that whatever that agent does online can be found. And now with online social networks and blogs, you can get a feel very quickly how knowledgeable an agent is and what type of person they are generally.
3. Ask for references of past clients, with phone numbers : If the agent is an honest one and does a good job, they will have a list of past clients that have given them permission to allow new and prospective clients to contact them as references. No agent is going to have every single client that loves them. It’s just reality, but most of their clients should be willing to give them a positive testimonial, if they genuinely care for their client’s needs.
4. National Association of Realtors- NAR is a self-regulatory organization that deals with all the aspects of residential and commercial real estate industry. With 1.2 million members, who are called Realtors©, it is America’s largest industry trade group. Every member of NAR pledges to abide by the Code of Ethics that contains 17 articles together with an elaborate commentary on the standards of practice. Thus, National Association of Realtors is a good place to search for a real estate agent who diligent, assiduous, meticulous, honest and sincere.
5. Scrutinize your neighborhood- Often, you can find good property dealers right in your neighborhood. To determine the efficiency of these agents, pay attention to the ‘Home for Sale’ placards in your neighborhood. If these posters disappear quickly, then the agent is definitely a good one.
6. How much business are they doing? A “bad” agent can do a lot of business, but one of the signs that an agent knows what they are doing is that they get their clients to the settlement table and do it often. If an agent is only doing a handful of transactions per year, then they are either not working hard and don’t really know what they are doing well, or it is a hobby for them, and you don’t want an agent who makes it their “hobby” to help  you buy a  home.
7. What charities are they involved with? - Selflessly serving is a big sign of humility and honesty. What charities and non-profits they support tells you a lot about what is important to them.
8. Are they full time or part time? – Again, you don’t want someone representing you that makes it their “hobby” to help you buy a home. There is too much riding on what you are doing to allow that. You need someone who is available 100% of the time to help you with your transaction and represent you fully. Real estate is too involved and to “urgent/important” for a part time agent to effectively deal with their clients needs.

So those are my quick thoughts on how to find a good agent and what to look for. Of course I am a bit biased, but I think these are all fair questions and items that you can use to find the right real estate agent.

Written by Chris LaGarde, Keller Williams Real estate in Downingtown

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