Descriptive terms in real estate ads yet more definitions

If you are buying or selling a home, the chances are good you struggle with the meaning of descriptive real estate terms. Here are explanations and definitions for more terms. “Plantation Shutters” Refers to interior shutters with large, moveable louvers that can be used much like Venetian blinds. Often they’re used only on the bottom half of the window. “Palladian Window” A tall window that is rectangular except for an arched top and has wooden muntins separating the panes of glass. It is based on a revived classic style of architecture and the work of Andrea Palladio. Builders often use them as the window over the front door in homes with two story entrance foyers. “Pocket Doors” Doors that open by sliding into a slot in the wall much as a serving tray fits into a vertical slot built into a kitchen cabinet. It leaves wall space unaffected by opening and closing doors. I’ve seen them on bathrooms in modern houses. I’ve also seen them used in pairs that meet in the middle when closed as they were in older houses. Between a living room and dining room might be a good place. My grandmother had one between the front and back parlors in her home in Richmond, Virginia. Now that was a neat old house. It could always expand to accommodate one more family member or friend. “Fireplace,” “Wood Stove,” “Wood Stove Insert” A fireplace can burn wood, coal, or gas (natural or propane). If gas, it may or may not be vented to the outdoors. It is generally thought to be dangerous to have a non-vented gas fireplace in a bedroom and is against “code” in many areas. A wood stove burns wood, is free standing (on a non-flammable surface), and is vented to the outside. A wood stove insert is generally fitted into an existing fireplace designed to burn wood or coal. Preferences have to do with perceived beauty, convenience, heat production, and safety. Well, those are some of the terms frequently seen in real estate listings and advertisements and their usual meanings at this writing. I hope you find it useful.

What is a home inspection

Any Sally and Sam Homebuyer can look at a home and decide whether it is attractive. They might notice it is freshly painted in pleasing colors, has the requisite number of rooms, a cook’s kitchen and is located in a location with top schools. But what about less obvious parts of the house? It takes special expertise to determine if the functional parts of a home are in good shape. If you attend an open house, how do you determine if there are plumbing problems, electrical problems, structural problems, drainage problems, the condition of heating and air conditioning equipment and the condition of literally hundreds of other items that could cause concern? Enter the home inspector. A home inspector is trained to be a detective in regard to the construction and working parts of homes. It is not an exact science. The home inspector cannot tear into things, so they can’t always see everything they’d like to. They do, however, come equipped with ladders, strong flashlights, and devices to measure various things related to plumbing, electrical and other necessary home items. Importantly, a home inspector will also typically bring a digital camera to photograph problems such as roof shingles not lying flat, signs of mildew from leaking pipes and construction that doesn’t comply with building codes. They don’t miss much. It’s a good idea for the buyer to be present during the home inspection. If you ask them to, home inspectors will usually explain how things work to you. This is important as they can show you where cut off valves are, how to remove filters for cleaning or replacement and tell you how often various maintenance chores need to be done. This information can be very valuable if you ultimately purchase the property. It’s also a good idea to ask the home inspector if there are any particular tests they would perform if they were buying the home. For example, radon gas (a colorless, odorless gas which is a carcinogen) can be a problem in some parts of the country. It can be detected, measured, and, if levels are above EPA standards, there are procedures to deal with it successfully. A home inspector can help identify such issues for you. It’s easy to see that a home inspection can provide a wealth of valuable information. While it is easy to fall in love with a listed home, a home inspector can be the key to avoiding disastrous discoveries down the line.

Buying tips for france part 1

1. Why buy a place in France? Buying a French home is a major financial decision, so it’s important to be clear about your objectives. Are you looking to make an investment, or do you plan to relocate and work, set up a business, or even retire? If your purchase is a holiday home, will you make long weekend trips, or lengthier stays? Answering these questions will help identify the type of property best suited to your needs, and its ideal location. 2. Where to buy your French home Obviously we’re big fans of the Languedoc, but France has 21 other regions too! France is a huge country boasting a wide variety of landscapes, several climatic zones and numerous micro-climates; narrowing down your search area is key, and clarifying your criteria will help. Joe Laredo’s “The Best Places to Buy a Home in France “(published by Survival Books, Ј11.95, survivalbooks. net) is a good starting point. Note that plural on “Places…” – there are so many great spots in which to look, so keep a sense of perspective: you can’t visit them all. Why not try the Languedoc for starters? 3. The location of your French property It’s been said a hundred times, but it’s worth repeating: location is all-important. You can renovate, restore, rebuild, modernize, extend and transform a house, but its location cannot be altered. Our advice is to plump for a property in reasonable condition in a popular, accessible area, rather than a dream home in a remote spot. You can always do some DIY to turn a modest home into a fabulous French pad, but no amount of cash will transform an isolated spot into anything else. Lost in France was a hit record – but you don’t want it to become Your Tune. 4. Buy your French home according to your life stage For retirees, sunshine may be a “must”; being within walking distance of a doctor, a post office and a couple of shops could be very helpful in later years. Having neighbours nearby can provide a helping hand and some extra security for older folk. For young families planning to relocate to France, access to schools and leisure facilities will probably be important. When buying a French property, take into account your current needs - and also how they may evolve as years go by. 5. French property - what does it cost? As a general rule of thumb, the closer you are to a major town or the coast, the higher prices will be. French property is at its cheapest in the countryside; city homes can cost two or three times as much. Property in chic resorts on the Mediterranean coast can cost as much as Ђ3,100 per square metre, but Paris takes the biscuit at an average Ђ4,385 per square metre. In some rural areas it is possible to buy an old home in need of extensive work for as little as Ђ50,000, but budget at least the same again to make it habitable. For a family-sized home with several bedrooms, a garden and pool, allow upwards of Ђ200,000, depending on the area. 6. French property price trends Annual increases of up to 20% have been seen in the most popular areas of France since 2000. For Brits, French property still offers excellent value; prices are typically 35-60% of those in the UK, peaking where the demand for holiday homes is the strongest, i. e. the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts and Alpine ski resorts. Check the prices of French property advertised online or in specialist magazines to see how they vary from one region to another. 7. Travelling to your French home Before settling on your French property purchase, ask yourself: how long will it take to get there, door to door? Are there any direct travel options? How much are they, and how frequent, year round? Is travelling by car a possibility? There’s arguably little point buying a dream home in a highly inaccessible spot; more time travelling means less time relaxing, and you may have problems when it comes to selling on. 8. House hunting in France: try before you buy Unless you know exactly what kind of French home you want, and precisely where it should be, it can be wise to rent a property. If time allows, give yourself the chance to experience an area, its inhabitants, weather, services, amenities and cost of living, throughout the year – or at least out of the high season. Spending a week’s summer holiday in a pretty French cottage is one thing; living in a damp, drafty old house in the height of winter is quite another. 9. French property types Hunting for a home in France? You’re spoiled for choice, as France offers a wealth of property types, from older, period homes with charm to more recent constructions with all mod cons. A third option is a brand new, off-plan purchase (in other words, reserve a home within a development and then wait for it to be built; completion time is typically 12-18 months). If you prefer your French home to be made-to-measure, a maison individuelle can be built to your specific design. 10. Buying an old French home For a French home with character, ripe for renovation, with land and maybe outbuildings, you will inevitably be looking at an older (pre-1945) property. Remember that renovation or modernisation costs are nearly always higher than estimated, and the price of many renovated properties does not reflect the time and money invested. Older buildings inevitably cost more to maintain. Still, what price the charm of vieilles pierres (old stones) and original features?

Working with a buyer agent does not cost you a thing

Are there a lot of homes sitting unsold in your neighborhood? Are prices still too high? So the best thing you can do is search the MLS yourself just like a Realtor. RealtyXsite is a FREE service to help area home buyers find their dream home. You can change your search parameters easily to expand the towns, price, etc. anytime you wish. There is no charge and no obligation. Each property detail has a Photo Gallery, Email to a Friend, Save Search, Printable Flyers, School Info, Virtual Tour Link and built in Mortgage Calculator. No ads, no banners - just plain, easy to use, functional home and property searching! Here's your chance to be notified of all new listings that meet your criteria, absolutely FREE and Find your dream home. As you find homes you would like to take a closer look at, just use the “Request a Showing” button and a trained RealtyXsite agent will help you set up an appointment to visit the house. REMEMBER: WORKING WITH A BUYER AGENT DOES NOT COST YOU A THING For your convenience, RealtyXsite providing real estate service in the following areas. Homes in Agoura, Agoura Hills, Agua Dulce, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Arleta, Artesia, Avalon, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bassett Bel Air, Bell, Bell Canyon, Bell Gardens, Bellflower, Belmont Shore, Beverly Hills, Bradbury, Brentwood, Burbank, Calabasas, Canoga Park, Canyon Country, Carson, Castaic, Century City, Cerritos, Chatsworth, City of Commerce, City of Industry, Claremont, Cole, Commerce, Compton, Covina, Cudahy, Culver City, Diamond Bar, Downey, Duarte, Eagle Rock, East Los Angeles , El Monte, El Segundo, Elizabeth Lake, Encino, Gardena, Glendale, Glendora, Granada Hills, Hacienda Heights, Harbor City, Hawaiian Gardens, Hawthorne, Hazard, Hermosa Beach, Hidden Hills, Hollywood, Huntington Park, Inglewood, Irwindale, La Canada, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, La Mirada, La Puente, La Verne, Lake Hughes, Lake Los Angeles, Lake View Terrace, Lakewood, Lancaster, Lawndale, Lennox, Leona Valley, Littlerock, Llano, Lomita, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Los Nietos, Lynwood, Malibu, Manhattan Beach, Mar Vista, Marina del Rey, Maywood, Mission Hills, Monrovia, Montebello, Monterey Park, Montrose, Mount Baldy, Mount Wilson, Newhall, North Hills, North Hollywood, Northridge, Norwalk, Oak Park, Pacific Palisades, Pacoima, Palmdale, Palos Verdes Estates, Panorama City, Paramount, Pasadena, Pearblossom, Pico Rivera, Playa del Rey, Pomona, Porter Ranch, Quartz Hill, Rancho Dominguez, Rancho Palos Verdes, Redondo Beach, Reseda, Rolling Hills, Rolling Hills Estates, Rosemead, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, San Fernando, San Gabriel, San Marino, San Pedro, Santa Clarita, Santa Fe Springs, Santa Monica, Saugus, Sepulveda, Shadow Hills, Sherman Oaks, Sierra Madre, Signal Hill, South El Monte, South Gate, South Pasadena, Studio City, Sun Valley, Sunland, Sylmar, Tarzana, Temple City, Terminal Island, Toluca Lake, Topanga, Torrance, Tujunga, Universal City, Val Verde, Valencia, Valley Village, Valyermo, Van Nuys, Venice, Verdugo City, Vernon, Walnut, West Covina, West Hills, West Hollywood, Westchester, Westwood, Whittier, Wilmington, Winnetka, Woodland Hills, Camarillo, Casitas, Springs, Fillmore, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Oak View, Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Ventura, Westlake Village.

Before moving anything into your new home

Before moving any of your belongings into your new home, its important to make sure that everything is as it should be. You may have had a list of repairs you expected – or this may be the first time you've seen the house empty. Take some time to go around with a notepad and check all of the sockets for obvious signs of wear and tear and look for damage that you might be otherwise liable for. Ensure that any cupboards are empty, free of damp, mold or bad smells, and keep a close note of what where the electricity, water and gas stopcocks are. While doing this, you'll also be getting a feel for where you can place any furniture, how to get it up any stairs or even just into the house. Note down any damage or concerns you have to be discussed with whomever you're dealing with – its important to have these notes before moving anything in so that you can get the problems remedied as soon as possible. If you're letting from a landlord, he'll give you a list of any fittings, fixtures and furniture he's leaving – its very common nowadays for landlords to leave 'white goods' – kitchen appliances, such as the fridge, freezer, washing machine and cooker. If you're letting, your landlord should also give you contact details, emergency repair numbers and any paperwork pertaining to these emergency repairs that you may need. You may also want to get bank details or arrange a good time to come and collect rent. Any final paperwork can be signed now, and then you can start making your new place your own. You should also ensure that the central heating and boiler are working correctly and collect any manuals for these from the previous occupant – these manuals will save you a lot of frustration in the long run.