Buyer Beware

Well...I'm back after a little hiatus. Thanks for your patience as I attempt to continue this blog. (Luckily), I am consumed with several relocating home buyers from out of town as well as several listings. All of which are keeping me on my toes!

Last week I met with a potential first-time home buyer who wants to buy a distressed property. I'll call him John (not his real name). John requested a visit and tour of a distressed property. The home has been on the market for more than a year. The kitchen and living room are the best features of the property. However, after further inspection we found evidence of mold and mildew. Plumbing leaks -- and the water is turned off. Additionally, there is standing water in 3 separate places in the basement. The facade of the house is loaded with wood-rot and the list goes on.

First of all, in spite of what you hear on TV and in the news media, distressed properties are not for "first-timers". Truly, it is Buyer Beware. Typically, I encourage anyone interested in a distressed property to BEWARE. Beware of the unexpected. It wouldn't take much for an unsuspecting buyer to become "house-poor" very quickly in their efforts to remediate a property or fix / repair / replace all the items necessary to bring the property to a livable standard.

I find that most people (unless they have lived it) simply can not imagine the impact on your life and that of your families when you are exposed to mold. There are lots of different kinds of mold. Mold and mold spores in the air can ruin your health very quickly. Children particularly can be adversely affected by mold.

I want everyone considering the possibility of purchasing a distressed property to understand that millions of families face health and safety hazards like mold, lead, pest infestation and the physical deterioration of their homes. It is sad but true that many of these problems are specifically common among some of the nation's most vulnerable populations: children, senior citizens, the disabled and low - income families. However, it is not limited to these groups. You may recall the stories of Johnny Carson's friend and long time side-kick Ed McMahon. His family was devastated by mold. The problem runs in all economic and demographic circles.

To address these widespread issues, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S, Department of Energy and the U.S.Department of Agriculture will host more than 3,000 national health and safety experts in Denver from June 20-23, 2011 at the National Healthy Homes Conference NHHC).

One of the really cool highlights of the NHHC takes place before the actual start of the conference, when HUD and Rebuilding Together rehabilitate 25 homes in a Denver neighborhood. The event, called Building a Healthy Neighborhood, will bring together more than 300 volunteers to make the homes of local families safter and healthier.

Sara Hibbard is a licensed Realtor in the state of Georgia. Sara is concerned about the welfare of all her clients. Sara strives to ensure that each client has knowledge of the pluses and minues associated with the home they want to buy. Sara also makes certain that her clients obtain the best possible property for the money invested. Properties that either meet or exceed client objectives as well as their search criteria and "needs" and "wants" list. Call Sara Hibbard today for a free Needs Analysis. Sara Hibbard looks forward to assisting you further with all your real estate needs when the time is right for you. Sara can be reached at Sara@SaraHibbard.com or 770-399-8108. For more information, visit Sara's websites located at www.SaraHibbard.com, www.SaraHibbardRealEstate.com and www.AtlantaMLSHomes.com.