All Forum Posts by: Bob Razler

Hello @Robert DeForge . 

If a full price offer was your price and you are willing to buy at that number, I don't see any issue with making the offer contingent on a home inspection (by you and an inspector).

Sellers can get fatigued when they get lots of calls from tire kickers who waste their time and bug the tenants.  I don't think it's that unreasonable of a request.

My only caveat would be that if you are worried about the seller, make sure your deposit (which should be minimal) is held by a title agency/attorney/escrow agent of YOUR choice.  If the seller does live up to your worst expectations, at least you can get your money back without a hassle.

Good Luck,

Bob

Hello @Ashley Benning .  

Cracks happen in all concrete.  It is natural and expected.  That is why you see lines every 4 ft in your sidewalk, so that it will crack THERE and be less unsightly.  It's also why you see the same lines or expansion joints (spacing filled with some flexible material) in some driveways and garage floors.

The standard in the industry (at least in most new home building) is that a crack in the slab (including garage floor) is not an issue unless it exceeds 1/4 in horizontal or vertical displacement.  So if the crack is wider than 1/4 inch or if one side of the crack is higher or lower than the other side by 1/4 inch.

Sometimes the slab cracks under your tile floor and it manifests itself in a long crack running along the grout seams in the tiles through a room.  The issue there is that you can't know how bad it is until you pop some tiles and look underneath.  If they are serious, sometimes the crack makes it's way to the exterior wall and you will see it outside in the side of the slab.  Then you can get an idea how bad it is.

A good home inspector should be able to tell you if a crack is serious or not.  It may not need to be repaired.  Many times you can fill the cracks with an epoxy crack filler which isn't expensive.

The bottom line is that it may not need to be repaired.

Good Luck,

Bob

Hello @Ruth Escobar :

I have worked for large national homebuilders and small locals for a long time.

Regardless of the reputation of the specific national builder, the local team (community team, subs, etc.) can make all the difference. 

I would do a few things:

1. Check to see if the community (HOA or just individuals) have a facebook page. Many times any chronic issues with the homes will appear there in comments.

2. If there is an HOA in the community, go to the next HOA meeting. You may get some good info there, not to mention you can see if they are discussing any major infrastructure issues with the community that might affect your HOA fees (the roads need paving, a bridge or dam needs to be replaced, etc.).

3.  Focus on the home you might buy.  Walk it and see if anything stands out.  Get a home inspection and see what it reveals.

4.  And if you do buy, make sure the seller executes all the warranty transfer forms from the builder and manufacturers so that you are covered for by the warranties that are still in effect (structural, roof, windows, HVAC, etc.).

Best of luck,

Bob

Hello @Zach Kiser .  I think one reason you don't hear much about it is that you don't have lots of people SELLING their properties here.  Lots of people here are buy and hold investors.

The people who FLIP or BRRRR probably value landscaping as well.

Hello @Katrina Poole.  Delray is a hot area.  Not a lot of deals there but a great place to live!

Hello @Zach Kiser .  

Curb appeal is huge in any attempt to sell real estate.  It is the first impression the buyer gets.

Landscaping plays a big part.  Green grass and well-maintained landscaping shows that the owner is taking care of the home.

Bob

Hello @Katrina Poole .  Congrats on your decision.

I would highly recommend visiting the area and getting a feel for WPB and FTL.  I would also HIGHLY recommend:

Jupiter/Juno Beach/Palm Beach Gardens

Delray Beach

Parkland/Coral Springs/Sunrise (Parland gets lots of mentions for schools, lack of crime, etc. but it's far from the ocean and you will see lots of gators)

Hollywood

Pompano Beach

Boca Raton

Wellington

Coconut Creek

Miami Beach (fashion)

That is a good sampling.  

Welcome to paradise,

Bob

Beautiful Juno Beach:

Hello @Isiah Ferguson .  That is a big hit.

An AC system is made up of parts - outside compressor, interior air handler/blower, etc.  I would find out what "part" broke and see if you can't limit the replacement to that part of the system (for now).

Bob

Hello @Matt L.  Thanks for the head up.

I would love to be able to run a script every morning and have it list all the homes on Realtor, trulia, etc. that meet some defined parameters.

Hello:

Please let me know how this works for you. I was thinking of trying to find a coder to write something for me that will pull data from all the MLS linked sites as well.

Thanks,

Bob