Helpful Travel Alert

 Travel alert — avoid bright, shiny objects!

More and more people are traveling every year, so I thought I'd better issue this travel alert to watch out for bright, shiny objects at the airport. I'm not talking about guns or knives, but rather clothing with metallic features, like the ones on my shirt in the video above.

I actually set off security with this shirt! I thought they'd just take me aside for a moment, but it turned into a full-body search in a private room. I also had to take apart all of my carry-on luggage so they could check for explosives.

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I'm talking about clothes, not guns or knives.

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My husband and I were able to move on without a mishap from this rural airport, but I can't say the same for the poor French people next to me who were searched. They missed their flight and had to stay overnight in the airport. 

So I repeat, don't wear clothing with metallic decorations, and be prepared with extra time in case the unexpected happens.

Likewise, if you're thinking about traveling to a new place to live, I'd love to help you out. Give me a call or send me a text, and let's talk soon. I look forward to hearing from you!

Avoid Major Mortgage Mistakes When Buying on Long Island

I recently had a buyer whose lease was up. This buyer had been in the army and felt that he “hadn’t had a place to call home since.” He was about to close on the property when the lender sent an email requesting more paperwork, pushing the closing back another month.

The buyer had sent in his application on time and paid for inspections and appraisals. Unfortunately, the lender never sent the application to underwriting. When the buyer asked why everything took so long, the lender cited staffing issues. Because of this, the buyer didn’t have a home to move into when his lease was up. As the buyer said, this finance company failed.

When you buy a home, there are certain things you can do to avoid major mortgage heartbreak like this. First of all, make sure you work with a local, reputable lender. Get recommendations from friends and colleagues. Hire someone who has done many transactions. 

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Work with a local, reputable lender.

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Please, don’t search online for lenders and hire one from a different state. They won’t know any appraisers in our area, and that can only lead to headaches.

You should also make sure that you have money in the bank to close. That means you should have enough for your down payments and closing costs. Don’t run up any additional debts by purchasing something like a car or furniture between contract and closing; doing so will also cause trouble with your mortgage.

Finally, make sure that you call your lender with any questions. Make sure you are pre-approved, not just pre-qualified.

If you have any questions, give us a call or send us an email. We would be happy to help you!

How to Avoid Common Home Inspection Mistakes When Buying & Selling

Buying a home? Click here to perform a full home search
Selling a home? Click here for a FREE Home Value Report

I wanted to touch on five common mistakes that I often see buyers and sellers make with home inspections in the Long Island area.

1. Not researching the home inspector. Some people hire purely on price, and we all know what happens. Many certified home inspectors belong to the Association of Certified Home Inspectors. Ask the inspector to provide their credentials before you hire them.
2. Not attending the inspection or getting too involved in the inspection. Yes, you should be there for the inspection if you’re the buyer; they will explain little things that will help you when you own the home, and it’s not as scary as reading a long report. From a seller’s point of view, the inspection is very invasive, and most of the time it’s best to meet the inspector, give them your cell number, and leave.
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   With a pre-inspection,
   you can get ahead of issues.

   
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3. Reviewing the inspection from an emotional standpoint. From a buyer’s standpoint, read the items that need to be fixed and what needs to be done to get them up to standard. As a seller, don’t take offense because you’ve been told things are wrong with your house. Look at them as things that need to be corrected.
4. Not obtaining a pre-listing inspection. This is for sellers only. With a pre-inspection, you can get ahead of issues that can be easily fixed before putting the home on the market.
5. Not preparing for the inspection. As a seller, you need to make sure all areas of the home are accessible. Can the inspector get into the garage and the attic? Are all the utilities turned on? Buyers should check with their agent to make sure the power, water, and all utilities are on, so when the inspector does their job, they can get access to everything they need.

I hope you find these tips helpful. If you’d like to have a detailed report on mistakes that buyers and sellers make with inspections, click here or call me at 1-800-822-1222 and we’ll happily send you one!