Inspections (I had two)

 The man who did the inspection of this house before we moved in was so thorough, and he was really easy to work with. His online report was very simple to use and read. He had color-coded charts for everything. You can glance at it and know it's either a low, medium, or definite concern. Rather than using green, yellow, and red, he used blue, orange, and red.  He had many photos for each issue, and he explained them in very simple terms. I have to tell you, it was really nice to not have to wonder about anything in particular. He told it like it is.

    So, when we got the report, my realtor and I went over what she believed the sellers should take care of and what I could handle. She wrote it up into a contract, and we both signed. I agreed not to be too picky, but he did need to fix the obvious or more hazardous issues. I didn't mind doing the lighter things - or I could be more honest, and say that Laura didn't mind doing the lighter things. She's the handywoman I always knew she could grow up to be.

    Well, we aren't staying here; we're moving. So I called the same man, and he did the inspection of the new house. While there are only a couple of big-ticket items, I think there are a few more little things that Laura will have to tackle. She's ready. If she needs anything, we go to Home Depot, and we make it happen. (That's not true, we go to Ace Hardware now.)  The new house has the following big-ticket items that are wrong: things I can't fix.

• Trusses need to be shored up in the attic. 

• HVAC is considered at the end of life, but will survive another 2 years

• The breaker box is old (1971) and has been outdated for years. It will need to be rewired or replaced, and the fuses need to be labeled. That's a big thing, but the seller has to handle it.

• There are wires that need to be terminated, closed off, and relocated in the basement.

• Some receptacles are loose, one is broken, and one has an open ground. Some plugs need a GFCI fix.

• The dryer prong is a 3-prong and needs to be a 4-prong.

• The garage door will need an adjustment to be sure it is 100% on track.

Other than that, I can replace some door handles on the closet, lightbulbs in a few places, and the furnace filter. Laura can caulk two bathroom corners, and I can buy 4 smoke detectors. They have to add a rail for the basement, and I will end up Googling how to turn on the stove and my shower. Both need a manual downloaded, I'm sure.

    I also had a termite inspection done today. That was one of those things that you do to make sure you're good. I paid $129 to be told it's all good and nothing has to be done, but you do need that peace of mind. You do. If you don't know, you wonder about it, and it's just something that I don't mind paying for up front. The house inspection included a sewer scope and a lovely 7-minute video. It's not that exciting, but it's good to know that there is nothing wrong or needing to be repaired. There are no trees for their roots to get stuck in my sewer lines, so that's a plus.

    All in all, I'm a happy camper. If my realtor can get the contract in place on Monday so they can fix what needs fixing before we move in, that would be lovely. I'm OK with them coming after we move in; I just don't want to pay for anything that they need to pay for. As for the HVAC, I'll save $5000 and finance the rest in about a year. I want to finance it to build Laura's credit. I think that will be a good thing. We may be out a few dollars on the other repairs, but the HVAC is the biggie. I should be OK with a year's warranty, and then I'll try to find the best unit possible with the best warranty and the best options.

    There's always something that needs to be fixed, repaired, remodeled, or replaced in a new or used home. There is no such thing as perfection - if it were, it wouldn't be perfect anymore if I moved into it. I trust the plan. I will be just fine. God is just so good to us. 

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com

The Insurance Trap

     When you buy a new home (and, you know, when you get anything that needs insurance), you have to call your insurance company to either switch your current policy to a new one or just update it. I know it's very important, and it's something you simply can't buy a house without. Today was that day for me. We had found a great home insurance company for the house I am currently in, and even the other house I was going to get, because they were both smaller. When it turned out that I had to buy the larger home (because it would appraise for the asking price), it was imperative that I have an insurance policy lined up to go with the escrow. That's been my fun for the day.

    Farmers was the company I was going with for the current home, as well as the first new home. For just over 1320 sf, one of the houses was $2300 while the other was $2210. The differences are minute, but the biggest difference is their location. The more expensive policy was for the house that was a few feet smaller and in the urban area. Now, because I'm buying a larger home, the same company couldn't get me anything remotely close to that price. The house is 2150 sf, so it makes sense that it would be more expensive, but $3890 was just too high for me to consider. I decided to look outside the standard big-box companies.

    I went with a company called Kin.  Though it's a very young company, founded in 2016, it is reputable and stable. It provides insurance in a slew of locations, and they even insure homes in risky areas as well as simple suburban living spaces like mine. They have an A+ rating, which, if you know anything about insurance, is a good thing. They have a lower-than-average customer complaint rating, which is good, and they have a good response rate. There is a big difference in price -that was the most important thing to me, and it's the most important thing to just about everyone.

    For my new house, I am paying $2817, not $3890. It's the exact same coverage down to the last feature on the declaration page. Literally every line item is the same. It just makes me question why Farmers is $1073 more. I know why - advertising. Well, I couldn't care less if my insurance company has a mascot, a funny jingle, or a catchy commercial presence. I want good insurance from a good company at a lower rate. I chose Kin.  My guy is Alexander Vega. You can find him at 855-717-0022. Tell him I sent you. He'll love that.

    I will be so happy when all of the selling and buying part of this is over, and I can just be inside my new house with all my stuff, and I don't have to worry about jumping through hoops anymore. I've been waiting to close for nearly nine months. First, it was on the house I'm currently living in. When that fell through, we put a contract on a house only to find out the seller wanted more than it would appraise for, and I'm not willing to just throw money away - too many houses to choose from. Now, with the new house, I have three weeks before we actually move - so the packing has started, and I'm ready for it to be over.

    At least now I know that when I do move, the insurance will be in place. Next year, when I can control things a bit more, I can lower the rate by increasing my deductible and paying the whole thing upfront. It will take about $240 a month off my mortgage, and I'll have the coverage I want, rather than the coverage they tell me I have to have to close. I'm just so tired of everyone else telling me what I need or have to do - when it's all over, I swear, I won't move again. Nope. This is it! Done!

Photo Credit: Kin.com