It’s already almost February 2009! I hope everyone has a wonderful Super Bowl Sunday. We are planning on watching the game with some friends. I will be pulling for the Cardinals as I am an NFC fan! My wife is rooting for the Steelers. This should make for an interesting day.

I wanted to ask those that have recently visited our site to give us some feedback. What about our site do you like? Where are some areas we can improve? Do you like having to sign up to view listings for all other properties besides those listed by Drew Sineath & Associates.

If you are a past client we would love some feedback on what you thought of our service. Did you feel like Drew SIneath & Associates earned their commission? Would you recommend friends, family and neighbors to us to help with their real estate needs? You can be open and honest with us either by posting a comment on this blog or by sending me an email at drew@drewsineath.com.

We are only as successful as our feedback. We can learn how to improve by receiving feedback. If you chose to work with another agent after visiting our site what was the reason? We really want your input!

We’ll be gearing up for our next upcoming trade show. Drew Sineath & Associates, Inc., will be at the Low Country Parent magazine trade show on Saturday, February 21, 2009 from 1-4 pm. The location is at the Citadel Mall in West Ashley. We would love to see you there!

In closing we are so grateful to all of our loyal clients and sphere of influence that have either given us business or sent us business in 2008. We had our best year yet! We are looking forward to breaking those numbers again in 2009. Please send us some referrals! Nothing quite says something like a REFERRAL. Please remember to visit us on our Drew Sineath & Associates page on www.facebook.com as well as our page o www.myspace.com. We are also working on putting a video link on our home page. I hope you all have an enjoyable weekend. Stay safe & God Bless!

We would like to thank everyone who attended the Del Webb Community Business Fair last week. It was a cold Thursday night but you didn’t let that stop you. This was the second year that Del Webb put on this fair and it seems to have been a big success. We had a great time meeting everyone and enjoyed sharing real estate stories.

There were many different types of businesses in attendance that included home remodeling, home décor, banks, insurance, doctors, dentists, etc. We were proud to be there to represent the real estate industry. We know many in attendance were surprised to see us there being that they just bought a new home in Del Webb. It was fun to explain to them that now is a great time to invest in real estate because it is a buyer’s market.

Del Webb is such a unique community and their residences really enjoy the fun and active lifestyle it has to offer. It was a pleasure to meet the variety of residence from all over the country that have chosen to settle in the Charleston area. We hope that as you grow to love this area and want to share it with friends and family, you will think of us to help find them that perfect home.

We are also participanting in the Lowcountry Parent Camp and Education Fair to be held on February 21^st at the Citadel Mall in Charleston from Noon to 4 pm. We hope to see everyone there. Come register to win a Free Home Inspection ($300 value).

Foxbank Plantation is the perfect portrait of classic Low Country living. The 800 acre master planned community, located in Moncks Corner and only minutes from Goose Creek, offers both single family homes and townhomes. The naturally beautiful development boasts natural lakes, ponds, swimming pools, parks, sidewalks and walking trails for your enjoyment. There will also be a village area for shops, and the developers donated twenty acres to Berkeley County School District for a new elementary school.

The beauty of the land is accented with a 67 acre lake with a boardwalk and boathouse as well as 10 ponds laced among the tall pines and Live Oaks. The amenity center offers two swimming pools: one Junior Olympic and one Resort-Style, a great lawn park with an open-air pavilion, a child’s play area, a Linear Park, and 12 smaller parks located throughout the neighborhood.

The variety of builders offers a diverse community perfect for families of all sizes and all income levels.

KB Home offers homes from the $150s with 1,432 to 2,054 square feet.  With two different models and 5 floor plans offering 1 and 2 story homes, 2-4 bedrooms, and 2 car garages. Additional options include: smooth ceilings, cultured marble vanities, fireplaces, and lofts (per plan).

Sabal Homes offers homes from the $200s. The Boulevard collection starting in the $240s offers alley fed lots which back up to protective tree buffer. They offer features such as: large spacious floor plans, Hardiplank cement siding, energy efficient features, and are EarthCraft certified. The Cottonhope collection starting in the $130s offers Charleston Single Style with 3, 4, and 5 bedroom floor plans ranging from 1,233 to 2,490 square feet. These homes feature 2 story porches, upgraded kitchens, and 1 or 2 car garages.

David Weekly Homes offers homes from the $215s for 3-5 bedroom homes from 1926 to 2949 square feet. These homes feature at least 2 bathrooms, 2 car garages, and breezy front porches.

Midfield at Foxbank Plantation is the next phase to open drawing the development closer to the beautiful 67 acre lake. Custom built homes by the development’s premier builders: Palmetto Classic Homes, Southlund, and Truepenny Homes will offer homes from the $300s. David Weekly Homes and Sabal Homes will also have homes available in this phase.   

 What are Home Inspections?

Why do I need a home inspection?

Home inspections can be an important aspect of a real estate transaction for both the buyers and sellers. In today’s buyer’s market the old saying “location, location, location” has now changed to “condition, condition, condition.”

Buyers: A buyer needs a home inspection to find out all the problems possible with the home before moving in and to ensure extra peace of mind in their investment. Many mortgage loans will require an appraisal of the property, but an appraisal is not a home inspection. Emotion or attachment to the property can cloud a buyer’s better judgment of the condition of the property they want to purchase. Lew Sichelman’s article in Realty Times, Should Home Inspections be Mandatory, addresses this issue “The inability to cover the high cost of repairing unforeseen or unknown problems is a major reason buyers default on their mortgages.” The buyer should also be present at the time of inspection so that the home inspector can explain in person and answer any questions the buyer may have.

Sellers: In the state of South Carolina sellers are required to fill out a property disclosure for their home prior to listing it on the market. A home inspection will enable the sellers to honestly fill out the disclosure. According to Kenneth Austin’s article “Pre-Inspection Peace of Mind” in Realtor Magazine, “With a home pre-inspection, sellers have the opportunity to address any defects an inspector might find and have them repaired before a possible buyer even sees the house. That gives the seller and sales associate peace of mind that the property they’re listing has no surprises awaiting them in the contract or appraisal.” He further explains that a pre-inspection can “Eliminate last-minute price negotiating and the possibility that buyers might develop cold feet regarding a sale once their buyer inspection uncovers a needed repair, often bringing into question the whole purchase.”

What should be inspected?

Professional and qualified home inspectors are fully trained in the proper operation of all commonly found home systems which generally include:

• Structural Components: Foundations, floors and walls.
• Exterior Components: Siding paint, windows, decks, garage doors, landscaping, elevation, drainage, driveways, fences, trim, windows, doors, etc.
• Roofing: Coverings, flashings, chimneys, framing, etc.
• Plumbing: Piping, fixtures, faucets, water heating and fuel storage systems, toilets, showers, sinks, etc.
• Electrical: Wiring, main service panels, conductors, switches, receptacles, etc.
• Heating: Equipment, safety controls, distribution systems, chimneys, etc.
• Air Conditioning and Heat Pumps: Cooling and air-handling equipment, controls and ducting, etc.
• Interior: Partitions, ceilings, floors, railings, doors and windows, etc.
• Insulation and Ventilation: Attics, walls, floors, foundations, kitchen and bathrooms, etc.
• Appliances: dishwasher, range and oven, built-in microwave, garbage disposal, and smoke detectors, etc.

Is there anything I can do to prepare for the home inspection?

1. Clean the house

2. Be on time

3. Leave the utilities connected

4. Provide workspace around furnace and water heaters

5. Keep pilot lights ignited

6. Provide access to attic and garage

7. Leave keys for outbuildings and electrical boxes

8. Clear away brush from exterior  inspection points

9. Provide repair documents

10. Plan to be present to ask questions

A home inspection starts at $250 and can take up to 3 hours to complete. Right now and for a limited time only, you can have your peace of mind free of charge when you buy with Drew Sineath and Associates. Please email Drew at Drew@DrewSineath.com for details.