10 Cheap Ways to Boost Your Home’s Sales Price by Spring

To G. Williams and tracy a of KS: I haven't read all comments posted, but yours were at the top. There IS something you can do. Take your complaint to your state's real estate commission. If you don't know how to get in touch with them, just use your favorite search engine and it should come up. These folks have a board who addresses such issues and can penalize or even yank a license for unethical behavior or unlawful practice.

SG of TX 4:12PM February 22, 2010

my realtor also suggested a home inpector for me to use. I can't believe my home passed inspection at all. My first big project was to rip off the new front porch to reveal a slab porch that was full of mold and sank back into the base of the house. This caused major foundation damage. So, after spending 9 hours with a power jack hammer, i was able to reveal enough of the damage to formulate a plan. This entailed jacking the front of the house up and replacing all the base board of the front wall. Anyway, point is, this house has major foundation damage which led to a mold issue. But the real horror is that both the real estate agents, the alleged repair man, the inspector, and the sellers had to be in on the sale. None of this was disclosed either. And that doesn't matter. BUYER BEWARE!!! The disclosure means nothing. Every lawyer i talked to told me they needed $50 thousand up front to even begin to pursue anything. Even with all of the photo and documentation evidence i had. How sickening is that? These heartless people sold me a moldy, damaged home and knew i had my two little ones living with me. I live in a small town, but this could happen anywhere. My advice.....find your own inspector and be there to follow him around and make sure your agent isn't present. And look over your disclosure, but don't even think it is accurate. Thats the ignorant part. The disclosure means nothing, and you cannot use it against the seller once the deal is done. The seller can lie through their teeth and leave out important things like structural damage, foundation damage, electrical damage, and so on. And there is nothing you can do about it. What a sad world we inhabit.

tracy a of KS 7:32AM February 21, 2010

If you want an honest inspection of the home you want to purchase, get recommendations and check background of the home inspector YOU choose as well as other professionals who will be inspecting the home. YOU make the selections -- not people that the real estate agent prefers and not the people that the owner prefers. I would have multiple home inspectors, a general inspector, an electrical inspector, a plumbing inspector, HVAC inspector, fireplace inspector, etc., especially if the house is more than 10 years old. If you truly want to know the house is in good shape and safe, do that.

Also, make sure the owners have everything out of the house before the pre-closing walk through so you can inspect everything. If you don't, you will have surprises and it will be too late.

Lynda of VA 9:49PM February 20, 2010

Realtor's should not be generalized because of your past negative experience. It is unfair to group us all into these statements. Some of us DO actually put our clients needs and best interest first. I do not have to work, but I choose to continue my real estate because of the importance of the outcome. With that said, I work extended hours (6:30 am to 8:30 pm and 8-6 on weekends and holidays). It is a shame that you had a bad dealing, but we are all individuals and not all $ hungry commission based hogs. I hope your next dealing is a more positive one.

Denise Lynn Hill of NY 8:24AM February 20, 2010