Cedar Park - Far Northwest Austin Edition | July 2023

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Inspections take place during the option period—a negotiable time frame during which a buyer can inspect a home, amend a contract for relevant repairs or cancel a deal—and are often sought before one-year warranties expire. INITIATING AN INSPECTION

INSPECTIONS

COMPILED BY BEN THOMPSON

One key piece of the process to buy a home is having it inspected. Community Impact spoke with the Texas Real Estate Commission and Joey O’Brien, the owner of Austin- based Inspect It, to lay out the details of the inspection process. The inspection involves a professional canvassing of a new or existing home to ensure it’s up to various building and safety standards. WHAT'S A HOME INSPECTION? Texas does not mandate that home inspections take place, but lenders may require an inspection before a purchase to secure nancing. ARE HOME INSPECTIONS REQUIRED? Professional real estate inspectors are state certied, trained and qualied to inspect homes for both buyers and sellers during a real estate transaction. WHO ARE HOME INSPECTORS?

Final negotiations and closing, or ending option

Agent helps their client searching for a new home

After nding a home, client submits an oer and signs a purchase contract

During the option period, the buyer or seller may schedule an inspection*

*UTILITIES TURNED ON PRIOR TO THE INSPECTION

FINDING AN INSPECTOR

The TREC lists all licensed inspectors, including details on education and disciplinary history, at www.trec.texas.gov.

Real estate agents can conrm licenses and provide a list of preferred inspectors. Friends and family can also provide recommendations based on past experience.

WHAT DO TEXAS REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONALS DO?

HAVING ISSUES?

Sales agents: handle property transactions for clients on behalf of a broker

Brokers: manage all activities of a real estate oce, overseeing agents

Appraisers: estimate property values

Inspectors: inspect real estate

Consumers may le complaints with the TREC within four years of an incident. Complaints must be written, and the commission has a stock form available to use at www.trec.texas.gov .

SOURCES: INSPECT IT AUSTIN, TEXAS REAL ESTATE COMMISSIONCOMMUNITY IMPACT

Join Us for a BBQ Benefit Supporting the Leander Police & Fire Friday, July 14th 2:00 5:00pm • Touch A Truck

Friday, August 11th • 1:00 3:00pm Get a head start on your fall wardrobe and discover select items from Chico’s®. Afterwards, enjoy a trunk show and shopping as you snack on tea sandwiches and sip on your choice of sparkling rosé or white strawberry martinis. VERENA AT LEANDER IS BRINGING THE RUNWAY TO YOU! Fits that Flatter Fashionista Extravaganza FEATURING CHICO’S AND ACCESSORIES BY KENDRA SCOTT JEWELRY

• Live Music • Fundraiser

Kindly RSVP for you and a friend to 512 591 5121.

INDEPENDENT SENIOR LIVING 11350 Hero Way West Leander, TX 78641 www.VerenaAtLeander.com

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