Out of San Francisco, from the fertile minds of three young  whix kids comes the latest in vacation travel—from a room to a private island—every type of property you can imagine—anywhere you would like on the globe. At very AFFORDABLE prices.

Freshly minted, they now have over 27,000 properties worldwide and the number is growing daily.

Here’s how it works: Log on to airBnB.com, from your desktop or add the app to you smart phone. Its free and fast. Register and begin surfing. How about a flat in Paris: loads to choose from. London, no problem. Want to catch the summer south swell s in Lahaina. How about a beachfront  for $90 a night.

The site has lots of pictures of the properties, maps and contact info so you can contact the host and asks questions before you book. AirBnB  requires hosts to respond in a short period of time or they will get moved down in the ratings, so you’ll get a quick response. If you don’t then this is not the place you want to stay.

How does it work for hosts? Have a spare room, a guest house, an apartment to rent? Register on AirBnB as a host, they will even send a professional to photograph you digs at no charge. Once the easy down load is complete, you are in business. You write a profile on yourself as a host, a description of your property, the amenities and nearby activities, all the info a tourist would want to know and that’s it. AirBnB will give you an idea how much you can charge by answering a few simple questions. They handle the bookings, reservations, inquiries and money. Once you accept a potential reservation, the guest will be charged and AirBnb will email you with a confirmation, calendar upgrade and contact info for your guest. After their stay, you get paid directly to your checking account or by paper check or paypal, you choice.

There’s a growing tribe of young travelers who are using AirBnB , what a way to either have a cheap vacation in a great place or host some very interesting guests and make a little money, all for the price of a bed and breakfast.

Seller’s can take a proactive approach to the home inspection process and avoid the hassles associated with prolonged negotiations and price adjustments after the sale has been agreed.

A seller paid home inspection allows time to get major items bid so you know what it really costs to sell your home.  An ethical home inspector is prohibited from estimating repair costs or giving referrals for repairs. After all the fix it items are estimated, you can either repair them or disclose and credit the buyer for the repairs.

What does a home inspector do? Home inspectors inspect a home and analyze all of its major components, note items that need repair or explanation, take pictures of components that are not readily visible, and verbally present a summary to principals at the conclusion of the home inspection. A written report usually follows the next day by email. The process can take from 3-8 hours depending on the size of the home and the complexity of its components. Cost ranges from approximately $300-$500 again depending on the size of the home and its components: spa, pool, water features, outbuildings add to the basic fee.

Structurally the home inspector revises the inner and outer areas of a home:

Plumbing

Roofs

Structural Damage

Heating Systems

Electrical Wiring

Water Issues

Plumbing is one of the major items of concern to buyers, water pressure, plumbing fixtures, drains, caulking, properly seated toilets will be addressed by the home inspector.

Roofs are checked for old or deteriorated materials as well as any active or old leaks. The report makes note of the useful life left in the roof and recommends replacement if it is no longer serviceable. Tar and gravel roofs have an approximate lifespan of 15 years; wood shakes average 20-25.

Structural Damage concerns the overall condition of the main structure. Foundations walls are looked at, floor joists and rafters of are of importance as are window and door headers. Older houses are checked for sagging and settlement issues.

Heating Systems as well as cooling systems are checked for serviceability. Controls are checked, tests are done as to the air flow from ducts, and the integrity of the ducts themselves and outdoor air compressors are checked. The home inspector also checks the chimney, flue, integrity of masonry and will always recommend a “C”clamp be placed on the damper to prevent it from closing all of the way.

Electrical wiring and all aspects of electrical delivery to the house will be checked including, panels, subpanels, GFCI devices, plugs, outlets, switches etc.

Water issues—these are very important items as they tell the present and past condition of the house. Standing water, water in crawl spaces, slope issues where water does not flow away from the house, will be noted in the report. Dry rot and fungus found on wood members will generally be referred to the termite inspection.

How To Choose A Home Inspector

California does not have a state law requiring the licensing of home inspectors. Many home inspectors have a state contractor’s license and all should have some sort of credentials for home inspection. The California Real Estate Inspection Association (CREIA) is a voluntary, nonprofit public-benefit organization of real estate inspectors. According to its website, “…founded in 1976, CREIA provides education, training and support services to its member s and the real estate community. CREIA’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice are recognized by the California Business and Professions Codes and are considered the standard of care by the real estate industry and legal profession in the State of California. Nationally, home inspectors can become members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI). Daniel Sterling of Sterling Property Inspections holds advanced designations as a Certified Mold Inspector (CRMI) and membership in the Indoor Air Quality Association (IAQA).  Ask your home inspector what qualifications he has, how long he has been doing inspections and how many has he done. It’s also advisable to ask him for a copy of a recent inspection so you can see how detailed it is and how easy it is to read. The statements should be simple to understand and definite in meaning. If every item is noted that a trade specialist should provide further evaluation, get another inspector…this inspector is just covering his a__, and not giving you a definite opinion. If your home has unique upgrades, bring them up to the inspector and make sure he has experience in their use and operation.

Preparing Your Home for The Home Inspection

Rick Yerger, from Building Specs, a well respected home inspector who has worked for many agents representing luxury homes. Rick suggests that prior to your home inspection; you perform your own “virtual inspection.” Note and repair items like peeling paint on the exterior, check for wood contact on any part of the structure, make sure all windows are operative. He further stresses that you check the grading of your property making sure that water slope away from the home. On the interior, check plumbing, faucets and fixtures. Check grout and caulking to see if both are in good condition. Make sure GFCI fixtures are present and operative. Change the filter in your furnace and clean all intake grills.

Take the time to have a pre listing home inspection and you can alleviate one of the biggest “deal killers’ in the home purchase process. Yes, it costs money but in the long run its money well spent.

You will rest easy by being proactive and your buyer will be reassured that you care about the condition of your home. Win-Win.

We work with the best local home inspectors, call us for a recommendation or visit us at www.2sheridans.com for all of our home maintenance referrals.

Don Sheridan

HOM Real Estate Group

949.433.7078

This article was published in THE COASTAL REAL ESTATE GUIDE on July 15, 2011 Vol 1 Issue 36

be moved through the system. Click here to read the full story: http://www.inman.com/news/2010/11/22/report-8-months-shadow-inventory

Simply Staged

Successful home stagers are master story tellers. They use rooms and feelings to weave a magical experience for buyers, leading them to the inevitable conclusion that they want to live like this forever.  Watch Meridith Baer, one of the grand dames of Los Angeles home staging transform a vacant house .

Home staging is cost effective by shortening the amount of time your home will be on the market and by differentiating your home from all others in its price category.

Suppose you are one of the lucky few who have a dramatic home, one that all of your friends rave about. Count your blessings, put out some fresh flowers and start packing. For the rest of us, we need a little help from our friends. If you have financial concerns, declutter, freshen up the paint, pay particular attention to curb appeal and the front door . Go outside and take a fresh look at your home, pretend you are visiting f or the first time, ring the doorbell, how does it smell? how does it feel? Simple changes can make all of the difference. Remember ‘less is more’ when you put the for sale sign in the front yard.

For a free professional consultation call Natalie Putnam from Premier Home Staging. After you do everything she says, call us and we’ll be right over to list your house. Then you can start packing.

The following six steps can speed up the sales process and put your home at the top of a buyer’s pick for purchase :

1. Have Your Home Inspected by a competant home inspector
2. Hire a local Home Stager and follow their directions
3. Order all Homeowner Association Documents and Financial Reports in advance of listing the property.
4. Prepare all of you Disclosures for the buyer in a binder to give them at the time of sale.
5. Order the Termite Inspection and have a copy of the report ready for the buyers with the other disclosures.
6. Use Event Pricing to determine the value of your home.

Come back soon for a detailed discussion of these 6 steps to success.