Don’t Make These Mistakes During Your Home Inspection

You can learn a whole lot about houses from a Home Inspection. In fact, they’re one of my favorite parts of my job for that very reason. That being said, when it’s a house you’re in the process of purchasing, it can be overwhelming if you don’t know what to expect. Here are the mistakes to avoid:

1. Not working with a trusted and knowledgeable Home Inspector. Buyers should ultimately choose who they work with and feel the most comfortable and confident in. We do have a short-list of vetted and trusted inspectors and can help you make an informed decision.

2. Not attending the inspection, or the findings recap at the end at the very least. Your Home Inspector will go over their overall, most important findings with you immediately following their inspection. They will follow up with a thorough, written report after that you can use as a long-term resource.

3. Following the Home Inspector around during the inspection. There are a TON of nooks and crannies that your Inspector is evaluating in just 3-4 short hours. Let them focus, leave them alone, hang out with your super cool Realtor and be available for questions if they pop up.

4. Being emotionally unprepared for the myriad of things that are likely to come up during the inspection. Inspections are meant to turn over stones and call out every little fix. Your Home Inspector and Realtor can help you prioritize what items are most pressing and which you can work to negotiate with the Seller.

5. Not reading the inspection report. This thing is thick, but it’s a WEALTH of knowledge. My partner and I created a Trello board/home maintenance to-do list from ours so we can prioritize and tackle things over time (reach out if you’d like tips on how to create your own).

Questions? Advice? Let’s chat. Happy to help. 971-371-0203 // kelsey@livingroomre.com // @kcb_portland.

From Frustration to Fulfillment: Hannah and Luke’s Journey to Finding Their Dream Home

Buying a home is more than just a transaction; it’s a journey filled with hopes, dreams, and sometimes, challenges. For Hannah and Luke, the journey was anything but straightforward. They started out in a small 1-bedroom, 1-bathroom townhouse but dreamed of moving into a single-family home where they could start their family. However, after working with two different sets of realtors and feeling let down, they were starting to lose hope.

When Hannah and Luke found me, they were understandably cautious. We worked together on and off for about two years, with no pressure to rush into a decision that didn’t feel right. They appreciated that I wasn’t pushing them to buy just any house. My priority was to find them the right home—a place where they could envision their future. It wasn’t just about a transaction; it was about ensuring they found a home they would love for years to come.

The Turning Point: Finding “The One”

After seeing numerous houses, we finally found one that seemed perfect. But, as with many things in real estate, there was a potential “gotcha”—this time, it was the solar panels. The house itself was everything they wanted, but the solar panels came with a $40,000 loan, which was a huge shadow over the property. This was a significant concern for Hannah and Luke, and understandably so.

Guiding Through Negotiations: A Win for the Clients

I knew this was a deal-breaker for them, so I went into negotiation mode. We successfully negotiated for the seller to cover the entire $40,000 loan on the solar panels, ensuring Hannah and Luke wouldn’t have to take on that burden. Additionally, we secured $12,000 in closing costs covered by the seller—a huge win for my clients.

The key to these successful negotiations was preparation. I had worked closely with Hannah and Luke throughout the process, making sure they were ready to act when the right opportunity came up. A year prior, they had been pending on another house, but that deal fell through. From that experience, we learned the importance of being “patiently aggressive.” We were ready to jump on this house as soon as it hit the market, with all the necessary ducks lined up far in advance.

The Final Outcome: Thrilled with Their New Home

The outcome couldn’t have been better. Not only did Hannah and Luke move into their dream home in Tigard, OR, but they also walked away from the process feeling supported, informed, and truly cared for. Their feedback says it all:

“Where is the 6-star option?!?!?!? Will went well ABOVE AND BEYOND my expectations to get my wife and I our dream home after 2 years of searching with him. The best thing about Will is that he LISTENS to your input! He also provides excellent home advice from his personal experiences, is very proactive in communication, and is extremely patient. I can’t recommend working with Will enough!!!

Will was wonderful to work with – patient and understanding, willing to work through the details and all of our tedious questions. After a long search, Will helped us land in a house that checked almost all of our boxes. He followed that up with helping sell our previous home in what felt like record time! He is very knowledgeable, kind, professional, and provides many informative resources to ease the process for an anxious buyer like me. Would highly recommend. Thank you, Will!”

For me, stories like Hannah and Luke’s are why I love what I do. It’s not just about helping clients buy or sell a home—it’s about making sure they’re truly happy with one of the most significant decisions of their lives. If you’re looking for someone who will listen, guide, and go above and beyond to find the right home for you, I’m here to help. Let’s start your journey today by setting up a 1:1 meeting to discuss.