Real Estate Showcase - March 21 2007
This past Wednesday we attended the Real Estate Showcase which is put on each year for realtors, by the Edmonton Real Estate Board. It was REI's first year doing this and we found it to be very beneficial.
We managed to meet a lot of realtors - some knew of us and some had never heard of us even though we have been around so long.
A lot of realtors were repeating our thoughts in regards to homes that are being sold without conditions on. They definitely thought that it was time to change things as a lot of their clients may end up finding issues with their homes once they move in and then it would be too late for recourse.
It was good to hear that realtors were in agreement and wanted their clients to get a home inspection for their own peace of mind....
With the weather getting better we hope for more homes on the market and thus not so much competition for each home - therefore allowing people time to decide on their purchase AND allowing them time to get a home inspection!!!
Signing off,
Geoff

Welcome to the first BLOG by Geoff...

Welcome to REI & Co's first BLOG. The team at REI & Co thought it fitting to start a BLOG with the ever changing real estate market.

With the real estate market being the way it is at the moment it does effect home inspections and the way people look at them and we hope through our website AND our BLOG that people will begin to understand the relevance and the sheer need to get an inspection done.

With multiple offers coming in on homes right now there is a tendency for people to want to put as little as possible on their offers except for a great price~

What they forget though, in all the excitement of the win of the house, is that there could be problems. Some problems are solvable but may require money and some are a disaster. And wouldn't it have been great to know ahead of time so you know what you are getting yourself in to.

What we are finding at REI & Co is that people are coming back to us after they have taken possession of a home and are asking for a post home inspection. Usually it is because they have discovered something that they need checked to put their mind at ease.

It is so risky to purchase a home without an inspection being done and the main point I want to stress is we need to educate everyone on this fact so they do understand that putting a condition on an offer is just fine. You get the peace of mind you need when you are doing something as big as buying a home. REI works with some great realtors who stress to their clients all the time that they need to get a home inspection done...thus with the realtors along with the inspectors educating the Edmonton public we should be able to see all offers subject to inspection. And then people do not have to worry that theirs will be the only one with an offer - THEY ALL WILL HAVE IT!

And rest assured we are usually able to make it out to the property within 24-48 hrs so there doesn't have to be a 2 week time period placed on the condition. REI can have a full inspection and report done for you immediately.

Hopefully this BLOG will be a source of information to all looking in. We hope to have a lot of pictures and descriptions for people so they can see what can go on in some houses that perhaps look great on the outside but have issues on the inside. And we will also show the good ones! Cause there are some great houses and buildings out there that are the model!

If you have a comment or a question please feel free to add your 2 cents in..the more the merrier!

A BLOG is an open forum for all!

Signing off for now!

GEOFF LATHAM - CEO of REI & Co (Real Estate Inspections)

Geoff@reiandco.com