DUFFY buyers demand a formal itemized PDF quote broken down by labor, materials, scope, and timing.
A formal PDF estimate can support your Amendment to Address Defects and gives the seller less room to argue the price.
List of What to Take With You While Looking at Homes
- Any printout or information you have of the homes. For example, the listing data sheet, tax records, seller’s disclosures, etc.
- Instructions from DUFFY regarding handling listing agents you encounter along the way. This is important as agents will try and find out all the information that they can from you to inform their clients about you. Do not give away negotiating tactics we can use later!
- Pre-mapped itinerary in the order of location (use GPS or printed Mapquest directions)
A House-hunting Toolbox containing:
- Tape measure
Be sure your furniture will fit! - Flashlight
You may want to check in dark places like the attic or crawl space. - Questions to ask the neighbors
The neighbors know everything! This may seem awkward, but you will not regret this step! - Camera
To document the condition and help you remember features. - Marble
This simple tool will tell you if the home has settling issues! - Video camera
To document the condition, features, and flow of the home. - Hand sanitizer
- Mask
- Gloves
- Toilet paper or Kleenex
- Are You Interested in Selling Flyer (under Step 3) with painters tape to tape to the mailbox or door
The seller is required by the Purchase & Sale Agreement to give the property to you in the same condition as when your contract was binding with reasonable wear and tear.
“Seller warrants that at the time of closing the Property and all items remaining with the Property, if any, will be in substantially the same condition (including conditions disclosed in the Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement or Seller’s Disclosure of Latent Defects and Fixtures Checklist) as of the Offer Date, except for changes made to the condition of the Property pursuant to the written agreement of Buyer and Seller. At time of possession, Seller shall deliver Property clean and free of trash, debris, and personal property of Seller not identified as remaining with the Property.”
The seller is not required to repair these things unless it is addressed in your contract.
The inspector you hire will be looking for mechanical and structural issues, not cosmetic issues.
- Nail holes that may be left behind by pictures, tv brackets, window treatments, etc.
- Raise a small section of a rug to check for discoloration of the flooring.
- Scratches or imperfections to floors under furniture and rugs
- Broken cabinet doors or doors where the hinge is not lined up
- Torn window screens
- Issues with paint or wallpaper
- Cleanliness of the home. You may want to ask the home to be professionally cleaned or the carpets professionally cleaned.
- Stains on the floor in the garage
- Use your camera with a date and time stamp to document the condition of the home if you anticipate writing an offer.
The rule of thumb is look for anything cosmetic that is a deal breaker for you or that you know you want to ask to be repaired. Be sure that you add these requests to the Offer you submit so we can be sure it is included.