Month: August 2016

Buying a home takes more than signing your name

Purchasing a new home is an exciting time whether it’s your first or your fifth. The thrill of opening up your front door and decorating everything is one that’s hard to match in your everyday life. First time homeowners, however, may be shocked to know how many different steps are required before the home of your dreams actually becomes yours to keep.

First, pretty much all lenders will require you to provide proof of steady employment. This means showing your loan officer one or more check stubs that prove you have been employed without fail for a certain length of time. Some lenders require you to show only proof of employment while others request stubs or proof that you have been employed at the same job for six months to one year. You must also provide your personal information and sign paperwork allowing the lender to perform a credit check. A good credit score is essential when you are working with reputable lenders, and your credit score can actually affect the interest rate you receive on your loan.

Unless one has been done very recently, you will also be asked to pay for a survey of the property you are trying to purchase. These surveys are done by title companies all around the country. A survey verifies the property lines of the home and surrounding yard that you are attempting to purchase and updates the official record of that property. These surveys can cost anywhere from $250 to $500 or more, depending on the provider. Your lender will likely have a preferred provider, and the cost will be added in with other closing expenses.

Finally, when all other paperwork and requirements have been fulfilled and you’re ready to take ownership of your home, your lender will ask you to provide proof of insurance. No good lender will sell you a home that is not protected. You must get insurance, sometimes for a year in advance, before the loan becomes final. Call around to get quotes on homeowners insurance in West Palm Beach and choose the one that is right for you.

While it may seem like a daunting task that requires a ton of paperwork to complete, buying a home is still a tremendous feeling. Your lender will help walk you through the steps along the way, so there is nothing to fear. Just call ahead before visiting to apply for a loan in order to make sure you have all required documentation with you when you arrive.

Things to Consider before Starting a Home Remodel Project

Anyone who has gone through a home remodel project knows that planning and preparation are absolutely essential. If you do not plan well, you are basically going to be living in a disaster. When your home is torn up and there is not an end date for the completion of the project insight, your life can get completely turned upside down.

One of the very first things that you need to think about is the price of the project. You want to be realistic when calculating how much money you will need. It is always better to calculate a little bit more in order to deal with unexpected costs or emergencies that may arise. Some individuals have gone through the unfortunate experience of starting a project and then finding out that they did not have the money to complete it. This has left them with a disaster in their home, angry workers, and other problems. Don’t simply buy the least expensive tools and materials. You want to buy things that will last and be of value.

The next thing you are going to want to do is take time to find trusted and honest contractors to work with. Thankfully, there are a lot of websites online that you can consult in order to be sure that you are working with a trustworthy company or individual. For example, if you are looking for electrical contractors Jacksonville FL, you can consult many different webpages that will list the name of their company and the experiences that individuals in the area have had with them. This will give you a good idea of what you are getting into. It will give you confidence knowing that you will work with people who will be on time, do their job well, and who will be pleasant to work with.

There are some projects that will allow you to figure out the details later. For example, you do not necessarily need to decide on the knobs for the kitchen cabinets in order to begin a kitchen remodel project. However, you want to have most of the materials picked out and purchased before starting a project. The last thing you want to do is hire a contractor to install kitchen cabinets, set a start date, and then find out that none of the materials are going to arrive until a week later.

Planning and preparation will ensure that your home remodel project will go smooth and turn out well.