Comments on: Foreclosures: Good For Some, Not For Many http://www.amybsells.com/blog/2007/09/06/foreclosures-good-for-some-not-for-many/ Experienced advice from a Professional Cincinnati, OH Real Estate Agent and her Team Mon, 12 May 2008 22:34:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5 By: Cincinnati Real Estate Blog - Amy Broghamer » Blog Archive » Ohio Law Warns Buyers About Foreclosures http://www.amybsells.com/blog/2007/09/06/foreclosures-good-for-some-not-for-many/#comment-4322 Cincinnati Real Estate Blog - Amy Broghamer » Blog Archive » Ohio Law Warns Buyers About Foreclosures Tue, 05 Feb 2008 13:47:40 +0000 http://www.amybsells.com/blog/2007/09/06/foreclosures-good-for-some-not-for-many/#comment-4322 [...] year, I talked about how foreclosures seem like a great idea on the surface, but most often, don’t pan out for [...] […] year, I talked about how foreclosures seem like a great idea on the surface, but most often, don’t pan out for […]

]]> By: Michael Patton http://www.amybsells.com/blog/2007/09/06/foreclosures-good-for-some-not-for-many/#comment-2134 Michael Patton Sun, 16 Sep 2007 12:49:28 +0000 http://www.amybsells.com/blog/2007/09/06/foreclosures-good-for-some-not-for-many/#comment-2134 Amy has written an excellent article on the pleasures of foreclosures. I am a home inspector and deal with foreclosure properties frequently. One point that Amy did not mention is that the utilities are turned off when the properties go into foreclosure. Getting the utilities turned back on can be a challenge. When the utilities are turned on you as the potential buyer are frequently the one that has to pay for utilities to be turned on, this may also include purchasing meters (electric/gas/water) that have been removed from the home. Many of the homes in the Cincinnati area have electric powered sump pumps for removing water from the basement or crawl space. If a sump pump is not working you quite frequently you have water damage in these homes and consequently you have air quality/mold problems. In addition, if the utilities have been off during the colder months often, damaged water lines/fixtures are present and frequently these are not visible and are not located until the water is turned back on. Yes I know they are winterized, however this does not insure that water lines and fixtures are not damaged prior to or after winterizing. If you are the responsible person for the utilities to be on then you would also be the responsible party for making operable gas appliances within the home (furnace, water heater etc), electric service main, water into the home at the shut off valve etc. The inspector will commonly not do any of these items due to the excessive liability involved, per our Standards of Practice (SOP) (ASHI and NAHI) the inspector is not required to turn on any of theses services within the home or at the meters, nor are we required to ignite pilot lights. Prior to scheduling a Home Inspection, I recommend having a commitment form all utilities that they will be turned on at a minimum of one day in advance prior to the desired inspection date. If they are not on and you have the inspection, you still do not know what you have purchased. Good luck on your home purchase, and yes always have a home inspection! Michael Patton AA Home Inspection, LLC www.aahomeinspectoin.net Amy has written an excellent article on the pleasures of foreclosures. I am a home inspector and deal with foreclosure properties frequently.

One point that Amy did not mention is that the utilities are turned off when the properties go into foreclosure. Getting the utilities turned back on can be a challenge. When the utilities are turned on you as the potential buyer are frequently the one that has to pay for utilities to be turned on, this may also include purchasing meters (electric/gas/water) that have been removed from the home.

Many of the homes in the Cincinnati area have electric powered sump pumps for removing water from the basement or crawl space. If a sump pump is not working you quite frequently you have water damage in these homes and consequently you have air quality/mold problems.

In addition, if the utilities have been off during the colder months often, damaged water lines/fixtures are present and frequently these are not visible and are not located until the water is turned back on. Yes I know they are winterized, however this does not insure that water lines and fixtures are not damaged prior to or after winterizing.

If you are the responsible person for the utilities to be on then you would also be the responsible party for making operable gas appliances within the home (furnace, water heater etc), electric service main, water into the home at the shut off valve etc. The inspector will commonly not do any of these items due to the excessive liability involved, per our Standards of Practice (SOP) (ASHI and NAHI) the inspector is not required to turn on any of theses services within the home or at the meters, nor are we required to ignite pilot lights.

Prior to scheduling a Home Inspection, I recommend having a commitment form all utilities that they will be turned on at a minimum of one day in advance prior to the desired inspection date. If they are not on and you have the inspection, you still do not know what you have purchased.

Good luck on your home purchase, and yes always have a home inspection!

Michael Patton
AA Home Inspection, LLC
http://www.aahomeinspectoin.net

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