Tips & real world advice to avoid disaster 

Are home owners liable for injuries to home buyers? Depends - but first - I am not a lawyer, below is general information on this topic. This is not legal advice and every situation is different. Remember, a ham sandwich can be sued...

Under Georgia law, property owners have a duty to exercise ordinary care in maintaining their property in a safe condition for those who are lawfully on their premises. This includes taking reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable hazards that could cause injuries to visitors. Liability for slip and fall accidents can vary based on the jurisdiction and the specific circumstances of the incident. Generally, whether a home owner is liable for a slip and fall by a home buyer during a visit depends on several factors.

Are…

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It's not usually if, it's when trouble with polybutylene pipes occurs. Polybutylene pipe (AKA PB, Poly, gray pipe) is a type of plastic plumbing pipe that waspoly pipe leaking commonly used in residential water supply systems from the late 1970s to the mid-1990s. Polybutylene pipe was popular due to its low cost and ease of installation. However, it eventually fell out of favor due to concerns about its long-term durability and potential for leaks and failures. The greater Atlanta area has a significant number of homes with poly pipes and

Polybutylene pipes are susceptible to premature degradation when exposed to certain water disinfectants, high chlorine levels, and other chemicals commonly found in water systems. This degradation leads to brittleness, cracking,…

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No investors is immune, every one has dealt with additional costs due to unexpected repairs in a flip home. Hours of research, project expenses and potential profit, getting contractors and permits lined up and trying to hold onto the wallet. Rookie investors make rookie mistakes; overpaying, underestimating repairs, poor project management, overestimating finished market value and a thousand other things. But even experienced flippers get surprised from time to time.

Here's an example. The residents of this town home ignored routine maintenance for years, it needed extensive renovation. Several neighbors mentioned the residents were hoarders and the prospect of the home being completely renovated was welcomed news.

The preliminary inspection…

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Technology continues to transform marketing, real estate in particular. Accuracy in real estate listings is more concerning than ever, how a home is represented and described may not always be what a buyer sees. Advertising, especially in real estate, always pushes the boundaries, but there is an expectation that the information presented is factually accurate.

Accuracy in Real Estate Listings Matters:

  • Legal Implications:  Providing inaccurate information could lead to legal issues. Misrepresentation of a property can result in lawsuits and fines. Real estate laws vary by state but there is the expectation of full disclosure of all material facts about a property. Seller disclosures are completed and assumed to be truthful but that’s not always…

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Moving out of a home can be an emotional experience. When a seller develops a fondness for certain things defined as real estate fixtures, things can get sticky. Maybe they love the special features like the glass kitchen cabinet doors, custom lighting fixtures, high tech thermostats or even a favorite miniature Japanese Maple tree. Traditionally, these items remain in the home for the next owner to appreciate. However, some sellers have a deeper attachment to certain items, going as far as removing them prior to closing.

Talk to agents and stories will flow; the seller who was determined to take his outdoor plants after selling. The seller that removed the rain shower heads from all of the bathrooms in the home. The seller that took the high-tech,…

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landscape swaleWater is not a home owner's friend, it is constantly looking for ways to cause trouble. But it's predictable, we know it flows downhill and that is the key to successful water control. The short clips below are a great example of proper surface water control. This builder, unlike most, did a great job in setting a predictable pattern to control surface water runoff. This is a big plus, most builders could not care less about things like this; get in and get out as fast as possible and when problems develop just say "the county approved it so...". Salute to this builder.

Swales Provide Surface Water Control

A swale is a shallow, gently sloping depression or channel in the landscape designed to collect and redirect surface water runoff. It is…

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Georgia is a buyer beware state, so does a seller have to disclose repaired defects? Home sellers in Georgia must disclose known latent or hidden defects, things that might not be discovered during a reasonable inspection of the home. A defect that’s been properly repaired is no longer a defect so technically, the home seller has no obligation to disclose it. That doesn't mean it's not a good idea to anyway.

Latent Defects Must be Disclosed

A latent defect is an issue with the property known to the seller but that might not be discovered during a reasonable inspection of the property. Examples of a latent defect might be a mold situation or sporadic water problem in areas not easily accessed. Problems with plumbing or electrical systems,…

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Selling your home by owner, also known as For Sale By Owner (FSBO), is appealing to some in this exceptionally robust market. Not dealing with agents is nice, but can money be saved selling a home by owner? About 7% of homes nationally sold without a listing agent, of those over half were between parties that already had the transaction arranged.  Data shows that around 25% of FSBOs don't sell; and for those that do, they sell between 6%-26% less than agent assisted homes. Consider…

Buyer Agent Interaction

Some buyers' agents may be less inclined to show FSBO properties to their clients, knowing they will be doing double work, may receive a below average commission or even no commission. This might limit the pool of potential buyers for the…

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As the spring market heats up, home buyers will examine all options. Many will consider new construction, often visiting the projects and sales reps or calling the information lines. Seemingly innocent inquiries which often result in them being unrepresented by a buyer’s agent if they move forward. Builders love unrepresented home buyers. Not using a buyer's agent when building a home is the single biggest mistake new home buyers make and it will result in problems over the build.

What is Procuring Cause

Every home buyer should work with an experienced buyer’s agent. The buyer agent fee is almost always paid by the seller, there is no reason to be unrepresented.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) says procuring cause means the agent who…

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“Should I rent my home if it won't sell”? Well, that question has many layers. But that off the cuff declaration by an annoyed seller might be a bit dramatic and premature. For owners unsuccessful at selling, “I’ll rent it” seems to be a knee jerk response. Best to take a step back, breathe, and examine all of the mitigating circumstances that contributed to this situation. For owners, selling a home usually has a significant emotional component; it’s unavoidable. To home buyers, it is just another home. Motivations, objectives, and personal situations are different and before anything rash is done, slow down. Start with figuring out why the home didn't sell.

Why Didn’t My Home Sell?

Assuming the home is/was placed on the market, why didn’t it sell?…

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