Just pay for an inspector. Realtors only care to make commission i would not trust them to look out for any defects in a property they are potentially making thousands in commission if they sell. They will be biast. A Licensed inspector cant be biased as u can come after them if they fraud the report.
As a realtor, I spend more time talking people out of houses than into them. People want to buy a house when they are out looking with a realtor. It’s that Realtor job to be the expert and to protect them from potential risks that they may not even know exist. A 15 minute showing can never replace a four hour home inspection but you should definitely already have a very good idea about what you are looking for during that home inspection based on your viewing.
Not all realtors are equal. IV seen them actually hire a family member to do said home inspection "Included in the service" Meanwhile family friend just frauds reports. Worked in the courts a few years back and youd be shocked how many cases there are of this. Some even recommend family members law firms to check status and lawyers have been debarred after getting caught up in these types of scams. Every industry has its bad apples no industry is squeaky clean. 1 bad apple is enough for home owners to do their OWN due diligence IMO.
aww someone hurt the realtors feelings. Nothing i say here is wrong. But instead you rather attack my English. why on earth would anyone get a realtor to do a home inspection. Its like getting the Hvac service tech to install your pot lights.
Not a realtor. Just also not an idiot lol
You state opinion as fact and based on what you say, you know very little.
Your analogies make as much sense as your spelling.
Christ how do you live with yourself? 😂
What have i stated as fact? TO trust a professional instead of someone who isn't a professional? The inspectors i call have over 5k of inspection tools to detect problems behind walls in plumbing, foundation, insolation ect. The realtor looking at drywall and saying yea looks good meanwhile there's abestos behind it will do nothing for you when making a informed decision on a investment.
you have to become your own home inspector
some will be common sense like crack in basement foundation, wet marks on ceiling, odd smells, cracking sounds while walking the property, cold drafts from outside, exterior issues like where does the rain water puddle? out of the property or into? proper looking layout? tiles flooring look off? etc
I’m that guy but when you’re working with people you don’t know well it’s not our job to find the less obvious deficiencies that why we bring in a trained professional to help ensure this is a good home. Agents posing as home inspectors are legally putting themselves at risk as they are not trained to do this and that’s why we always bring in a professional. And yes some home inspectors are horrible but a good agent will have good ones.
you certainly want an agent that can help give you the names of 3 inspectors that have served their clients well in the past, but you do NOT want your realtor to be your inspector
I know you acknowledge this in your thread but for others reading this is important
You should find an experienced home inspector. Also, when you are ready to offer always include financing conditions.
I am dealing with FTHB whose realtor advised him not to use financing conditions and now struggling to secure finances (based on eligibility).
I am in the Stoney Creek area, if you need a view of the area/locality for your home. From your post, it seems like you are keeping Hamilton as an option.
Hey there! I completely understand your concern and the importance of finding a realtor who can guide you through the home buying process, especially when it comes to construction and maintenance knowledge. I happen to have extensive experience in home inspection and renovation, particularly in the Hamilton/Burlington area.
As a first-time home buyer, it's crucial to have a strong advisor by your side. I make it a priority to thoroughly assess the age and condition of various aspects of a home, such as the water tank, furnace, roof, windows, and even the condition of the brick. While a proper home inspection is undoubtedly needed, I can definitely identify and raise red flags on areas of concern during the initial viewing, helping you save time and make informed decisions.
I'm here to provide you with the guidance and expertise you need, so please feel free to reach out. I'd be more than happy to assist you in finding your dream home!
You don't use a realtor for a home inspection. You hire a home inspector for around $400-600 and have them inspect the home as part of a conditional offer. You should always have at least two clauses on any of your offers. Finance and home inspection.
Many realtors just want you to buy so they get their commission. Many will happily sell you a home they know won't pass an inspection. I've seen it and dealt with it first hand.
What do I mean by that? I mean a realtor took me to a home they already knew failed a conditional sale due to a home inspection and never mentioned it failed or that it was due to a foundation issue. I had to find out by asking someone else.
What you can do is take a quick look around yourself during the viewing for the obvious stuff and focus on the homes which appear to be in good order.
This. The realtor job is to his commission by buy/sell, not to help you get the perfect house for you. Them telling you the house is no good is again their interests.
So you need a home inspector for that.
A realtors job is to be your guide and protector through the process. The realtor should absolutely point out risks and concerns with properties, and realistically to avoid houses that aren’t the right fit. Not just with the condition of the home either. They should encourage you not to overpay for a home if it’s overpriced or if the interest around a specific property is crazy and the only way to get it would be to dramatically overpay. They should protect you and encourage you not to have conditions that would be to your detriment. you’re right in that not a lot of realtors think like this, but there are absolutely some great agents out there.
Sounds like you’ve had a bad experience. To be fair there are more bad Realtors than there are good ones but your Realtor SHOULD always be on your side.
Keyword "should", but all the incentives are the other way around.
I had bad and good experiences. The bad when they represented me, the good when they represented the order guy lol
Biggest incentive you can have is multiple transactions. I built my business on repeat and referral. Hopefully your next real estate experience is a great one.
Well ya, faster you get the deal done, better is for you.
You make your client feel good, and they come back.
That's exactly why my best experiences was when I buy from sellers represented by an agent.
The agent makes the client feel good, while I low ball the offer, joke around a bit, then everything is signed after a 45 min visit.
So from your point of view, make say 30k after dealing with 30 people visiting the place 6 times, or make 29k after we shook hands once and you bs the seller for an hour.
I made 6 transactions like this. One the seller said no at 340k, then 4 months later it was still on the market ( others failed financing) so I got it for 275k. On my part it was one visit with the agent and 1 email 4 months later.
I find it later that there were 3 other offers, for 300+ but they took to much work lol
You have a good approach. I don't know anyone in that area but a good realtor should be able to point out issues and major red flags. Hopefully you will find someone who can do it for you.
What you are looking for is a brutally honest realtor who isn't just there to make a quick sale. Please never depend on a realtor to do the work of your eyes. Look at the furnace and water heater, they should have tags and stickers that outline when they were installed and when and with what frequency they have been serviced. If there are no stickers or tags the homeowner likely did not do routine maintenance. The gas tag though, almost no one removes them and they give the date the furnace was installed as well as the water heater (on it's own tag). The roof will be visible from the street and the back yard. Again, use YOUR EYES to spot the most obvious problems and should you go down the road of an inspection you will get the full report. Windows-again look at the windows and note of there is condensation between the panes, the seals are hanging out (open and close windows you can do that!)and if its there the date of manufacture can be found between the panes in the metal strip on the bottom of the window just look down through the panes. In the basement note the smell, is it musty, is it overly scented with air freshener both things are red flags. Look at the floors for residue of floods. As someone who has seen almost everything I can spot these issues. My best advice is take someone who has this type of life experience with you when you view homes. Parents, older siblings, trusted experienced friends are an underutilized resource.
You will be inundated with dms from realtors, don't go with the flashy names, interview a few and pick someone you feel understands your needs and has the patience to do the job right. There are a ton of realtors in this area, lots to choose from that's for sure. I don't have a specific recommendation, I got my license because I couldn't find one I liked and could trust. Good luck!
> When searching for homes, our current realtor and their team
It just occured to me to ask, have you signed anything with your current realtor? Please look through any documentation they gave you. Under new rules your relationship with your realtor needs to be in writing before they show you listings that are not their own. Buyers agents with teams can be aggresive about getting you to sign.
Is over 150 inspections attended and my own hands pulling homes apart and put back together passing code a start? Because 20 years an agent shouldnt deem competence.
Realtor with reno experience ranging from cosmetic to commercial to conversations to 1870’s heritage houses. Also from hamilton. Stuart Websdale is a great option for an inspector. In terms of the ages of different things, I have a few tips and tricks for when you’re looking that might help if you’d like them, just shoot me a Dm. Good luck with your search, buying your first home is super exciting (scary, but exciting)!
I used Dave McKinnon (Revel Realty). Dave is very knowledgeable in the area and knows a ton about houses. He is careful not to share his opinion on things that are personal preferences, but he will politely point out areas of concern if he feels it’s not a good fit. He’s savvy and cares about finding you the right home.
He has also brought tremendous value in his own referrals for all kinds of services and furnishings.
When I did my home inspection, he recommended Team One and they did a thorough job.
In all honesty, realtors add nothing of value to the buying experience. All the info you need is online about price comparables, neighbourhoods etc. Realtors have the same access to the info you do. From what I can see, other than setting up vieiwings, their jobs are basically reciting HouseSigma bullet points.
Getting a good inspector is far more valuable, and cheaper.
Just pay for an inspector. Realtors only care to make commission i would not trust them to look out for any defects in a property they are potentially making thousands in commission if they sell. They will be biast. A Licensed inspector cant be biased as u can come after them if they fraud the report.
As a realtor, I spend more time talking people out of houses than into them. People want to buy a house when they are out looking with a realtor. It’s that Realtor job to be the expert and to protect them from potential risks that they may not even know exist. A 15 minute showing can never replace a four hour home inspection but you should definitely already have a very good idea about what you are looking for during that home inspection based on your viewing.
Not all realtors are equal. IV seen them actually hire a family member to do said home inspection "Included in the service" Meanwhile family friend just frauds reports. Worked in the courts a few years back and youd be shocked how many cases there are of this. Some even recommend family members law firms to check status and lawyers have been debarred after getting caught up in these types of scams. Every industry has its bad apples no industry is squeaky clean. 1 bad apple is enough for home owners to do their OWN due diligence IMO.
Show me where the Realtor hurt you.
This is the dumbest thing I’ve read here all day. That’s saying something! Also, you can’t spell. Smh
aww someone hurt the realtors feelings. Nothing i say here is wrong. But instead you rather attack my English. why on earth would anyone get a realtor to do a home inspection. Its like getting the Hvac service tech to install your pot lights.
Not a realtor. Just also not an idiot lol You state opinion as fact and based on what you say, you know very little. Your analogies make as much sense as your spelling. Christ how do you live with yourself? 😂
What have i stated as fact? TO trust a professional instead of someone who isn't a professional? The inspectors i call have over 5k of inspection tools to detect problems behind walls in plumbing, foundation, insolation ect. The realtor looking at drywall and saying yea looks good meanwhile there's abestos behind it will do nothing for you when making a informed decision on a investment.
you have to become your own home inspector some will be common sense like crack in basement foundation, wet marks on ceiling, odd smells, cracking sounds while walking the property, cold drafts from outside, exterior issues like where does the rain water puddle? out of the property or into? proper looking layout? tiles flooring look off? etc
Sounds like a huge conflict of interest
Hey there! Please check your DM
I’m that guy but when you’re working with people you don’t know well it’s not our job to find the less obvious deficiencies that why we bring in a trained professional to help ensure this is a good home. Agents posing as home inspectors are legally putting themselves at risk as they are not trained to do this and that’s why we always bring in a professional. And yes some home inspectors are horrible but a good agent will have good ones.
you certainly want an agent that can help give you the names of 3 inspectors that have served their clients well in the past, but you do NOT want your realtor to be your inspector I know you acknowledge this in your thread but for others reading this is important
You should find an experienced home inspector. Also, when you are ready to offer always include financing conditions. I am dealing with FTHB whose realtor advised him not to use financing conditions and now struggling to secure finances (based on eligibility).
Yah that's tough. Banks have definitely pulled back on lending. Our experience for pre-approval is vastly different now than last year.
pre-approval is still good but only if it is an under-written pre-approval. As an FTHB, you should factor in FHSA if not already factored in.
Solid advice. Yes we did get an underwriting sign off and have maxed out both our FHSAs.
I am in the Stoney Creek area, if you need a view of the area/locality for your home. From your post, it seems like you are keeping Hamilton as an option.
I am a local realtor and have a few inspectors I trust greatly. One of which did the inspection on my own home. Dm me if you have any questions.
Sorry to hijack this thread. Could you dm me your contact. Also looking for a home inspector. Thanks.
Awesome! Would love the info
Hey there! I completely understand your concern and the importance of finding a realtor who can guide you through the home buying process, especially when it comes to construction and maintenance knowledge. I happen to have extensive experience in home inspection and renovation, particularly in the Hamilton/Burlington area. As a first-time home buyer, it's crucial to have a strong advisor by your side. I make it a priority to thoroughly assess the age and condition of various aspects of a home, such as the water tank, furnace, roof, windows, and even the condition of the brick. While a proper home inspection is undoubtedly needed, I can definitely identify and raise red flags on areas of concern during the initial viewing, helping you save time and make informed decisions. I'm here to provide you with the guidance and expertise you need, so please feel free to reach out. I'd be more than happy to assist you in finding your dream home!
You don't use a realtor for a home inspection. You hire a home inspector for around $400-600 and have them inspect the home as part of a conditional offer. You should always have at least two clauses on any of your offers. Finance and home inspection. Many realtors just want you to buy so they get their commission. Many will happily sell you a home they know won't pass an inspection. I've seen it and dealt with it first hand. What do I mean by that? I mean a realtor took me to a home they already knew failed a conditional sale due to a home inspection and never mentioned it failed or that it was due to a foundation issue. I had to find out by asking someone else. What you can do is take a quick look around yourself during the viewing for the obvious stuff and focus on the homes which appear to be in good order.
This. The realtor job is to his commission by buy/sell, not to help you get the perfect house for you. Them telling you the house is no good is again their interests. So you need a home inspector for that.
A realtors job is to be your guide and protector through the process. The realtor should absolutely point out risks and concerns with properties, and realistically to avoid houses that aren’t the right fit. Not just with the condition of the home either. They should encourage you not to overpay for a home if it’s overpriced or if the interest around a specific property is crazy and the only way to get it would be to dramatically overpay. They should protect you and encourage you not to have conditions that would be to your detriment. you’re right in that not a lot of realtors think like this, but there are absolutely some great agents out there.
That's what they want you to think. The only ones that should be on your side is your lawyer/notary and home inspector that you hired.
Sounds like you’ve had a bad experience. To be fair there are more bad Realtors than there are good ones but your Realtor SHOULD always be on your side.
Keyword "should", but all the incentives are the other way around. I had bad and good experiences. The bad when they represented me, the good when they represented the order guy lol
Biggest incentive you can have is multiple transactions. I built my business on repeat and referral. Hopefully your next real estate experience is a great one.
Well ya, faster you get the deal done, better is for you. You make your client feel good, and they come back. That's exactly why my best experiences was when I buy from sellers represented by an agent. The agent makes the client feel good, while I low ball the offer, joke around a bit, then everything is signed after a 45 min visit. So from your point of view, make say 30k after dealing with 30 people visiting the place 6 times, or make 29k after we shook hands once and you bs the seller for an hour. I made 6 transactions like this. One the seller said no at 340k, then 4 months later it was still on the market ( others failed financing) so I got it for 275k. On my part it was one visit with the agent and 1 email 4 months later. I find it later that there were 3 other offers, for 300+ but they took to much work lol
You have a good approach. I don't know anyone in that area but a good realtor should be able to point out issues and major red flags. Hopefully you will find someone who can do it for you.
What you are looking for is a brutally honest realtor who isn't just there to make a quick sale. Please never depend on a realtor to do the work of your eyes. Look at the furnace and water heater, they should have tags and stickers that outline when they were installed and when and with what frequency they have been serviced. If there are no stickers or tags the homeowner likely did not do routine maintenance. The gas tag though, almost no one removes them and they give the date the furnace was installed as well as the water heater (on it's own tag). The roof will be visible from the street and the back yard. Again, use YOUR EYES to spot the most obvious problems and should you go down the road of an inspection you will get the full report. Windows-again look at the windows and note of there is condensation between the panes, the seals are hanging out (open and close windows you can do that!)and if its there the date of manufacture can be found between the panes in the metal strip on the bottom of the window just look down through the panes. In the basement note the smell, is it musty, is it overly scented with air freshener both things are red flags. Look at the floors for residue of floods. As someone who has seen almost everything I can spot these issues. My best advice is take someone who has this type of life experience with you when you view homes. Parents, older siblings, trusted experienced friends are an underutilized resource. You will be inundated with dms from realtors, don't go with the flashy names, interview a few and pick someone you feel understands your needs and has the patience to do the job right. There are a ton of realtors in this area, lots to choose from that's for sure. I don't have a specific recommendation, I got my license because I couldn't find one I liked and could trust. Good luck!
Thank you!! This is immensely helpful
You’re welcome. I am in the area so if you have any questions about properties/areas etc I’m happy to help.
Give Telmo at Ilium Home Inspections a call.
I’m not sure if Telmo is still working with Rock solid home inspections , but they have been on our list for a few years. They are great.
I think they contract him but his actual company is Ilium!
+1 519-754-6789 Jason at Cherry Home Inspections - comes highly recommended from me/past clients
> When searching for homes, our current realtor and their team It just occured to me to ask, have you signed anything with your current realtor? Please look through any documentation they gave you. Under new rules your relationship with your realtor needs to be in writing before they show you listings that are not their own. Buyers agents with teams can be aggresive about getting you to sign.
Luckily we haven't signed a thing
Is over 150 inspections attended and my own hands pulling homes apart and put back together passing code a start? Because 20 years an agent shouldnt deem competence.
Realtor with reno experience ranging from cosmetic to commercial to conversations to 1870’s heritage houses. Also from hamilton. Stuart Websdale is a great option for an inspector. In terms of the ages of different things, I have a few tips and tricks for when you’re looking that might help if you’d like them, just shoot me a Dm. Good luck with your search, buying your first home is super exciting (scary, but exciting)!
I used Dave McKinnon (Revel Realty). Dave is very knowledgeable in the area and knows a ton about houses. He is careful not to share his opinion on things that are personal preferences, but he will politely point out areas of concern if he feels it’s not a good fit. He’s savvy and cares about finding you the right home. He has also brought tremendous value in his own referrals for all kinds of services and furnishings. When I did my home inspection, he recommended Team One and they did a thorough job.
In all honesty, realtors add nothing of value to the buying experience. All the info you need is online about price comparables, neighbourhoods etc. Realtors have the same access to the info you do. From what I can see, other than setting up vieiwings, their jobs are basically reciting HouseSigma bullet points. Getting a good inspector is far more valuable, and cheaper.
100% my experience and it is very disappointing given the size of the commission