Chic vs. Geek: Are home inspections worth it?

In a hot real estate market, competition forces buyers to bid on homes without having them fully inspected. But can you trust a seller’s inspection report?

CHIC (PEARL)

We see a lot of buyers around the Bay Area waiving a home inspection to make their offer more enticing to the seller. This is a huge risk, not only because the home could have serious problems lurking under the surface, but because the buyer could end up footing the bill for their own pre-inspection to “do the due diligence” – and still not end up winning the bidding war. In my opinion, it’s worth the risk to have some peace of mind and get an inspection done first — even if you miss out on a property.

GEEK (KEVIN)

A home seller’s goal should always be to get the highest price possible as quickly as possible. A buyer’s goal should be to get the lowest price possible and make sure they’re not buying a lemon. In this perpetual tug-of-war, there’s really no way the buyer can 100% trust what the seller says about the home, even if they provide their own inspection report. But it’s important to remember that the same applies for the seller if the buyer comes in with a low offer based on their own pre-inspection.

Number Talk: Confluence of Economic Indicators

The three charts below show how real estate market cycles generally move in sync with other economic indicators such as financial markets, employment, and consumer confidence.

It’s important to note that these data points end in 2019 and don’t reflect the crazed volatility created by the global pandemic. As we’ve all seen, the housing market has experienced a complete rebound, but some economic sectors are still struggling to recover.

Chic vs. Geek: Finding a diamond in the rough

Like a good realtor, a reliable contractor can be hard to find, and the wrong choice can lead to wasted time, money, and energy.

CHIC (PEARL)

Word of mouth used to be the best way to find a good contractor. These days, between Nextdoor and Facebook and Angi, it’s hard to know who to trust. That’s why we’re happy to offer our own recommendations for plumbers, electricians, gardeners, and more who do great work. And we won’t suggest anyone we haven’t worked with ourselves!

GEEK (KEVIN)

A bad contractor can blow your budget, but anyone who’s been through a home renovation will tell you it’s an emotional roller coaster as much as a financial one. The more a project drags on, the less patience you’ll have left for the people in your life who matter. If you want a happy home, make sure you check all of the boxes above.

Cauldrons, Candelabras & Queso

Throwing a Halloween house party? Make your dining room table the life — or death — of the party with these ideas for DIY decorations courtesy of the spooky folks at Good Housekeeping.

Chic vs. Geek: Something in the air?

The atmospheric river brought much needed rain to the Bay Area, but rain also brings out unexpected and unwelcome guests. What are these things swarming outside my window?

CHIC (PEARL)

You may have noticed tiny insects buzzing all over town in the wake of the recent rains. As a real estate agent, I can tell you that it’s bad news. These are flying termites they thrive when it’s humid and wet. If you see a swarm like this near your home, it’s important to act quickly and take appropriate precautions. Please let us know if you’d like a referral to a good termite company.

GEEK (KEVIN)

Whether you’re a home buyer or seller, you absolutely, positively do not want a termite problem. So even if you don’t see a swarm like this outside, there's no reason to mess around. Do the due diligence, have the home inspected — and fumigated or treated as needed — and invest in proactive pest control for the future health of the home. Here’s some good guidance from the EPA.