BUYER TIP: Ways to Tell If There Is, (Or Was) Any Water in The Basement.

One of the biggest concerns that most buyers have is whether or not the basement has gotten, or continues to get water seepage, and if so, how much?

Sometimes, you do not want to rely on the seller statements- after all, they ARE trying to sell their home, and may ...ahem...- conveniently forget that the basement has had seepage,  they may downplay the amount, or much worse- try to hide it entirely.

So, it's Caveat  Emptor (Let the Buyer beware in Latin)

There are some ways to ascertain whether the basement  (or cellar) does get water. You just have to know where to look.  These are  some hidden clues, that I look for when showing a home.

First, are the sellers storing anything in the basement?
Why? They live there. If they are not concerned about water damage, they will store items of importance in the basement.
HINT: If the main level of the house is spotless, and everything has its own place, lack of storing anything in the basement  may not necessarily mean that the basement is wet, or gets any dampness.

Next,  are the items that are stored on a  raised platform?

Why? The owners are either 1) concerned about dampness on the item being stored, or 2) the owners have always placed their items on a platform.
HINT: Check for signs of dampness  or old stains on whatever was used to raise stored item from the floor.

Was the basement floor obviously recently painted?
This can be a red flag. In other words, what is the seller trying to hide?

Does the owner use the garage for storage, but not the basement?
Another red flag. The garage is at grade level, and will very  rarely get water.
HINT: Some sellers just do not want to go down a flight of stairs. This clue is not always a red flag.

Check the basement walls, and perimeter.
Look  for signs of efflorescence, (white chalky substance on concrete walls) and  if the lower level is finished, look closely at the  wood molding on the floor, and the sheetrock or paneling .  Is anything buckled, or does it have signs of staining from water damage?

Look for rust on any metal in the lower level.
That includes lally columns, a boiler or furnace, or anything built in.  Unscrupulous sellers that try to hide dampness will most likely forget to " hide" this .

Look in the rear of any enclosed storage areas, (such as under the stairs).

Sellers forget about hiding any evidence here, too.

One other thought:

Is there a wet vac downstairs? Hmmm.

NOTE: A dehumidifier does not necessarily mean that the hosue gets any water. Also, the presence of a sump pump should not deter you from purchasing a home.  It is a device to ensure that no water does get in.

Lastly, I am not a building inspector.   Do not rely on these clues SOLELY when buying  a home. When you purchase a home, it should be contingent upon your favorable review of a building inspection. The inspector that you hire should be  very skilled in  deciphering the clues that a wet or damp basement leaves behind.

Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County Connecticut? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate  in Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Buying or Selling A Home in Fairfield County with Facebook is Easy!

Our town-based Facebook Pages are THE place to go in your social media travels for all things real estate! We've improved our Facebook presence and upgraded every one of our  twenty Town-based  pages. We service home buyers and sellers in most of Southwestern Connecticut, including most of Fairfield County and parts of New Haven County. 

 Enhanced Facebook Town Pages !

Each town page already features free MLS access, local news specific to the town, a town bio, relevant real estate articles, and our blog posts, besides the latest listings. We JUST added new tabs for school and education information, the town  website,  and Judy's professional bio, if you haven't seen it already.

We invite you to stop by any one of our town pages. Just click on the little "F" next to the town (or towns) below to stay current  on the real estate market in that town, or for your favorite town related websites all in one place.....and please tell your friends - we would truly appreciate a "Like' .

When you need to buy or sell a home in any one of our towns, please give us a call, and get  "The Facebook Advantage" to work for you. 

.. in Fairfield County

   Darien
   Easton
   Fairfield
   Greenwich
  Monroe

  New Canaan
  Newtown
  Norwalk 

  Redding
  Shelton

  Southport
  Stratford
  Trumbull
  Weston
  Westport

  Wilton

and New Haven County

  Ansonia
  Derby
  Milford
  Oxford
  Seymour

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Buying or Selling a Home in Fairfield County Connecticut? We'd love to represent you.

Feel free to email us here or visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate  in Fairfield County, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

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For more information, visit this home's website
125 Mile Common Road, Easton CT 06612

If you would like a private showing, or more information, please call or text Exclusive Listing Agent Judy Szablak at (203)257-5892 or just send us an email

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Buying or Selling a Home in Easton? We'd love to represent you.

Please visit our main  site at

www.CThomesAndRealEstate.com

If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in  Easton, and are in need of representation, I invite you to contact me. I know the market like the back of my hand, know marketing inside and out, am a skilled negotiator- and I'd love to be on your side :) - Judy

Why is it That the DAY You Decide You Want That House, Everybody Else Does, Too?

The home could have been on the market for a year, and the day you decide to put an offer in on it, all of a sudden there's one or more bids on it.

If you just put in an offer a week earlier, and you would not have not had any competition, but instead  now you have to compete with other buyers for that house.

As an agent who gets into these situations with my buyer clients, even I get frustrated. Some agents don't always tell the truth (see this prior post as an example)  and I  get skeptical too. When I  submit an offer on behalf of a buyer-client only to hear from the listing agent that there is one or more offers on the table I have to question it, too.

As a buyer's agent, it is my duty and my job to check out this type of claim as thoroughly as I possibly can, however most of the time, I must take the word of  the listing agent.

For the record, I don't like this scenario any more than you would,- it just seems to be Murphy's Law. The best way to avert this is when you find a property that you like, to place an offer on it as soon as you are ready, and not give other buyers the opportunity.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

What Should You Include with your Offer to Purchase?

When you decide to make an offer on a home that you intend to purchase, think about what accompanying information or documentation that might be a good idea to include. It might make the difference between you getting the home of your dreams and having the sellers overlook your bid, whether it's for an offer on the table  that seems "better on paper", or  the anticpation of a better offer to come.

Of course, there is certain information that is standard on any Offer to Purchase Agreement, but that shouldn't mean that you stop there.

Standard Information to be  included in your offer besides the property address and the buyer(s) and seller(s) name:

What personal property is to be included in the sale, and excluded for that matter-if anything.
One percent earnest deposit, and details on when  the remainder of the deposit  is to be paid.
Mortgage amount and contingency date.
Closing date.

Most agents, including myself will insist on a mortgage pre-approval letter that either has a dollar amount noted that is sufficient for the property, or tailored to the property address itself.

There are times when an introductory letter to the seller (that is prepared by either the buyer or buyer's agent) can be KEY to getting an offer accepted.

For example- If you are in a multiple bidding war (and it does happen , even in a buyers market)  then a short introductory letter to the seller that is included with your offer can set you apart from the competition- just because you or your agent took a few minutes to write it. What you would put in that letter is entirely up to and certainly ust be geared to that particular home and specific to the seller. Trust me, they all appreciate the thought.

Another example is when there is an absent seller who is unaware of the condition of the property. A few pictures say a thousand words, and so does your willingness to work with homeowners who have a property that is in need of repair. The same works with a price adjustment. That is something that I have done, and will continue to do for my buyer clients.

It can really boil down to the little things which can make all the world of difference when it comes to buying or selling a home successfully.

Leave no stone unturned, and no opportunity wasted.

And a note From Judy: If you have a question about buying or selling Real Estate in Fairfield County, and are in need of an Realtor to represent you, I invite you to contact me, and if you have an idea for a topic that you would like to see on The CT Realty Blog, please include it in the "Post a Comment" section link below this post. We appreciate the feedback and look forward to providing you with the best real estate content, advice and service in Fairfield County, Connecticut.