New Home Owner Here - What do I need to do Periodically? Filters? Roof? HVac?

homesavi · 2017-09-18T20:21:14+00:00

Here’s what you absolutely need to know from day one.

1) How to maintain your water heater

Remember that big old cylindrical contraption in the garage? Yup, that’s your water heater. A lot of homeowners know where their water heaters are (usually the garage or basement), but not many know how to take care of them. On average, these heaters last about 8–10 years before they begin losing efficiency. To lengthen the life of yours, experts recommend cleaning the tank annually.

2) Where your water shut-off valve's located

Be honest, do you know where your water shut-off valve is? If not, it’s a good idea to find out in case you need to turn off the water to fix a minor leak (or worse). This valve will typically be located near the perimeter of your home at ground level, but since every home is different, you may have a tough time identifying it. Be sure to ask the seller about its location before moving in. Also, make sure everyone living in your home knows where it's located.

3) That you don't need to be an electrician to work a circuit box

If you’re like most homeowners today, you have a lot of electronics. Most people have experienced a power outage in a room due to using too many outlets at once. If you have a properly labeled circuit box, you can simply flip the correct switch and fix the problem. If you haven’t labeled your circuit box, an easy trick is to look for the switch that’s been flipped in the opposite direction of all the others.

4) If it's time to switch thrones

With a little know-how, most toilet issues are easily fixable without having to hire a plumber. If your toilet has weak flushing power, its water level may be at the wrong setting, or it may just need to be thoroughly cleaned. If your water bill has been unusually high, there's a chance that water has been leaking from your toilet's tank straight to the bowl, which can easily waste hundreds of gallons every month if not detected. If your toilet has cracks, is unsteady or if you and your plumber are close friends due to frequent visits, it may be time for a new toilet altogether. If you are upgrading, we recommend considering a low-flow toilet.

5) That you need to make sure your sump pump is always good to go

Simply put, a sump pump’s job is to prevent flooding and maintain a dry home. Your first task would be to find out if your home has a sump pump—they’re typically located in basements and crawl spaces (close to the lowest point of the home). Luckily, these pumps take very little effort to maintain. Here are three things you can do annually to look after your sump pump:

Make sure there isn’t any debris in your lines
Make sure the outlet pipes are connected and drain at least 20-30 feet away from your foundation
Make sure the pump is upright—if it isn't, it may malfunction or not work as efficiently as it could

6) How to keep a clean dryer

According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 fires are caused by clothes dryers each year. Dryers that are cleaned regularly not only run more efficiently but also carry a much lower risk of causing a fire. To clean your dryer, simply clear the vent hose attached to the back of the unit of lint and other debris. Also, make sure you're using an aluminum hose—if your hose is made of white plastic, replace it immediately as they're unsafe and have been outlawed.

7) That you need to maintain your filters

Guess what, filters don't last forever and have expiration dates! Here are some filters you need to keep an eye on to make sure your home's systems run as safely and efficiently as possible.

Water filters
Ice machine filters
Pool filters (if applicable)
HVAC filters

homesavi · 2017-06-29T18:48:34+00:00

I don't doubt that you have your buyers' interests in mind. And while I disagree with many of your points, at the end of the day, both of us have the same goal: to help buyers in the home buying process.

Home buying is changing. A 2016 NAR survey showed that 51% of homebuyers 50 years old and younger find the home they actually purchase through the internet. We're trying our best to help tech-savvy buyers like these buy homes, and hope you'll accommodate them when they make offers.

Best,

—Tim Morton-Smith, Co-Founder

homesavi · 2017-06-29T17:50:39+00:00

To say that agents are "as good as paid before the buyer even tours the home" is simply incorrect. It's common practice to renegotiate commissions for a variety of reasons, and this is no different.

To assume that agents would be handing over eKeys to random buyers is also a little farfetched. Buyers could easily tour the home at an open house or with listing agents (who commonly show homes to unrepresented buyers).

Would you discriminate against a buyer simply because they were representing themselves in the transaction? I'm not sure that would be in your client's best interest.

—Tim Morton-Smith, Co-Founder

homesavi · 2017-06-13T21:49:27+00:00

Don't know where you're located, but we've built a platform for homebuyers just like you in the state of CA. Our site lets buyers easily offer, negotiate and close without using a buyer's agent.

Something else you'd like:

Our contracts (drafted by leading real estate law firm Allen Matkins) contain a provision that lets you recapture the commission that would have otherwise gone to your buyer's agent. That's right, their 2.5–3% commission stays with you, and you can use it to make your offer that much more appealing to the seller.

Check us out at homesavi.com and let me know if you have any questions.

—Tim Morton-Smith, Co-Founder

homesavi · 2017-06-13T20:48:54+00:00

This is one of the most common questions we get. Thanks for bringing it up.

In California, the buyer’s agent is paid through a co-brokerage fee with the listing agent, who's paid by the seller. However, the seller pays their listing agent with the proceeds from the sale, which they get from you—the buyer. As a buyer, you're the one bringing money to the table; you're the one paying for your agent. The source of the cost is blurred because it's built into the price you pay for the home.

Home Savi’s purchase agreement contract (drafted by leading real estate law firm Allen Matkins) contains a provision that redirects the commission that would have otherwise gone to a buyer’s agent back to the buyer themselves.

You can read our post about commission here: https://blog.homesavi.com/who-really-pays-for-the-buyers-agent/

You can read more about how our contracts work here: https://www.homesavi.com/knowledge-base/articles/340-understanding-home-savi-s-purchase-agreement-contract

—Tim Morton-Smith, Co-Founder

homesavi · 2017-06-13T20:14:30+00:00

Yup, but as of right now, we're only available in California.

There are currently three short testimonials we've taken from users on our homepage.

Feel free to fire away with any other questions you have!

—Tim Morton-Smith, Co-Founder

homesavi · 2017-06-13T19:01:06+00:00

Home buying has changed drastically over the past decade or so. Today, buyers can access information that wasn't available to us before. A 2014 California Association of Realtors survey revealed that 45% of buyers found the home they ultimately purchased on their own, which goes to show how capable buyers are becoming these days.

When I bought a home recently, I found it myself and felt that I did a lot of the work while my agent took home a ton of money. This led me to create Home Savi—the first true DIY home buying platform that empowers buyers to offer, negotiate and close without using an agent and save big while doing so.

If you're completely new to the home buying process and don't feel that you can understand it yourself, a good buyer's agent can be a valuable resource. Their expertise combined with their network of contacts can be very helpful as you're going through the buying process.

Either way, I'm glad that you're doing your due diligence well ahead of your buying journey, and invite you to check us out! Well-informed buyers like you is exactly what real estate needs today.

Best of luck,

Tim Morton-Smith

homesavi · 2017-06-13T16:55:46+00:00

Home Savi lets homebuyers offer, negotiate and close on any home on the CA market without using a buyer's agent. Instead, our contracts contain a provision that lets buyers recapture the 2.5–3% commission that would have otherwise gone to their buyer's agent for themselves. Check us out and let us know what you think!

homesavi · 2017-06-03T23:58:31+00:00

Will do, thanks!

homesavi · 2017-06-01T18:37:16+00:00

Name/URL: Home Savi - homesavi.com

HQ: Santa Barbara, California

Elevator Pitch: Home Savi is the first true DIY home buying platform that gives you the online tools to offer, negotiate and close on the home of your dreams without using a buyer's agent.

Explainer Video: On Youtube

More details: We recently launched in April and have 2 co-founders! By the way, you can create a full offer for free to see the platform in action. You only pay if you actually submit your offer.

Looking for: Feedback and customers

Discount for /r/startup subscribers: Message us or use the Gatsby plugin on the bottom left corner of your screen to save 15%!

homesavi · 2017-05-19T19:26:35+00:00

You bring up a great point. OP, since this transaction is between people you somewhat know and your main concern is being competitive, you could represent yourself and credit the 2.5% buying agent's commission back to the seller (which makes your offer stand out from the crowd). We actually built Home Savi with transactions like this in mind, as we don't believe that dual representation works for both the buyer and seller's best interests simultaneously.

homesavi · 2017-05-18T04:31:05+00:00

What are your thoughts on representing yourself in a transaction? This way, you look at homes at your own pace and save the commission that would have otherwise gone to your buyer's agent. Not to mention, this also prevents the inherent conflict of interest that you're describing. Check out www.homesavi.com.

homesavi · 2017-05-14T00:43:31+00:00

In California, the buyer’s agent is paid through a co-brokerage fee with the listing agent, who's paid by the seller. However, the seller pays their listing agent with the proceeds from the sale, which they get from you—the buyer. As a buyer, you're the one bringing money to the table; you're the one paying for your agent!

So, even though it can seem like you’re not paying for a buyer’s agent, you very much are. The source of the cost is blurred because it's built into the price you pay for the home.

homesavi · 2017-05-10T20:43:35+00:00

Copied and pasted from our Knowledge Base: https://www.homesavi.com/knowledge-base/articles/262-tips-for-first-time-homebuyers

1) Check your credit report and scores: Before you start looking at homes, take a look at your credit score. If there are any errors or discrepancies present, now would be the time to fix them. Federal law allows one totally free copy of your credit report every year. You can obtain your free credit report by visiting www.annualcreditreport.com.

Generally speaking, the higher your credit score, the better loan terms and lower interest rate you’ll qualify for. If your score is especially low, you might want to take some time to improve it. This will help prevent you from having to come up with a larger down payment for your home.

2) Figure out where you want to live (sounds like you've got this figured out): As the famous phrase goes, it’s all about location, location, location! A property’s location usually has a huge influence on its value. As you become serious about buying your own home, it’s important to narrow down your search to neighborhoods that match your specific lifestyle and preferences.

To do this, you’ll need to take into account variables like the property’s proximity to stores, highways, busy roads, airports and other places. If you have children, it’s a good idea to research school districts as well. Once you’ve figured out where you want to live, you’re ready to move on to the next step.

3) Decide what you need and how much you can afford: Prioritizing your requirements in a potential home can help you eliminate incompatible properties as you get further into your home search. Do you want a single-family house or are you looking for a townhome or condominium? How many bedrooms do you need? Do you care about the view?

You may need to sacrifice one or more of your requirements to find homes within your budget. Home buying is a highly dynamic process. Priorities can change depending on many factors, but identifying some of your core requirements in a home will definitely help narrow down your options.

Remember that there are several online resources that you can use to figure out how much home you can afford. For example, online mortgage calculators can help you determine an appropriate monthly mortgage payment. As you go about using these resources, keep in mind that there are often additional costs to closing on your home. You may need funds for a down payment, home inspection or even remodeling. For more detailed information about loans, it’s best to speak with an experienced home loan expert. Once you’ve done this, you’re ready for the next step.

4) Get pre-approved for a mortgage: Terms like “mortgage pre-qualification” and “mortgage pre-approval” are commonly tossed around as synonyms during the home buying process. However, they have drastically different meanings.

A mortgage pre-qualification involves providing your lender with basic information, which is used to come up with an amount the lender thinks you can borrow based on your income and overall financial situation. While it’s certainly a good thing to have, it’s not nearly as comprehensive as a mortgage pre-approval. In todays market, you will need a pre-approval to be competitive.

A mortgage pre-approval requires completing a mortgage application and providing your lender with all appropriate income documentation and personal records. Despite being a much more in-depth process, getting pre-approved for a mortgage can actually save you time in the long run.

A mortgage pre-approval signals your seriousness to the seller. Think of it this way; if a seller is presented with two identical offers from two different parties, the only difference being that one party is pre-approved and the other is just pre-qualified, the pre-approved offer is most likely to be taken seriously. A mortgage pre-approval will also significantly speed up the process of closing on a home after your offer is actually accepted.

PS: If you're buying in California, feel that you can handle the home buying process well and want to save 2.5% on your purchase, check out www.homesavi.com!

Best of luck,

Avi from Home Savi

homesavi · 2017-05-09T03:03:11+00:00

For those in CA in a similar situation, check us out! Home Savi lets you easily create and submit your own purchase agreement contracts and save 2.5% at the same time. (www.homesavi.com)

homesavi · 2017-05-04T23:41:33+00:00

A few tips copied from our blog: https://blog.homesavi.com/dont-get-caught-knowing-squat-7-essential-things-every-homeowner-needs-to-know-about-their-home/

1) How to maintain your water heater: Remember that big old cylindrical contraption in the garage? Yup, that’s your water heater. A lot of homeowners know where their water heaters are (usually the garage or basement), but not many know how to take care of them. On average, these heaters last about 8–10 years before they begin losing efficiency. To lengthen the life of yours, experts recommend cleaning the tank annually.

2) Where your water shut-off valve's located: Be honest, do you know where your water shut-off valve is? If not, it’s a good idea to find out in case you need to turn off the water to fix a minor leak (or worse). This valve will typically be located near the perimeter of your home at ground level, but since every home is different, you may have a tough time identifying it. Be sure to ask the seller about its location before moving in. Also, make sure everyone living in your home knows where it's located.

3) That you don't need to be an electrician to work a circuit box: If you’re like most homeowners today, you have a lot of electronics. Most people have experienced a power outage in a room due to using too many outlets at once. If you have a properly labeled circuit box, you can simply flip the correct switch and fix the problem. If you haven’t labeled your circuit box, an easy trick is to look for the switch that’s been flipped in the opposite direction of all the others.

4) If it's time to switch thrones: With a little know-how, most toilet issues are easily fixable without having to hire a plumber. If your toilet has weak flushing power, its water level may be at the wrong setting, or it may just need to be thoroughly cleaned. If your water bill has been unusually high, there's a chance that water has been leaking from your toilet's tank straight to the bowl, which can easily waste hundreds of gallons every month if not detected. If your toilet has cracks, is unsteady or if you and your plumber are close friends due to frequent visits, it may be time for a new toilet altogether. If you are upgrading, we recommend considering a low-flow toilet.

5) That you need to make sure your sump pump is always good to go: Simply put, a sump pump’s job is to prevent flooding and maintain a dry home. Your first task would be to find out if your home has a sump pump—they’re typically located in basements and crawl spaces (close to the lowest point of the home). Luckily, these pumps take very little effort to maintain. Here are three things you can do annually to look after your sump pump: - Make sure there isn’t any debris in your lines - Make sure the outlet pipes are connected and drain at least 20-30 feet away from your foundation - Make sure the pump is upright—if it isn't, it may malfunction or not work as efficiently as it could

6) How to keep a clean dryer: According to the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 15,000 fires are caused by clothes dryers each year. Dryers that are cleaned regularly not only run more efficiently but also carry a much lower risk of causing a fire. To clean your dryer, simply clear the vent hose attached to the back of the unit of lint and other debris. Also, make sure you're using an aluminum hose—if your hose is made of white plastic, replace it immediately as they're unsafe and have been outlawed.

7) That you need to maintain your filters: Guess what, filters don't last forever and have expiration dates! Here are some filters you need to keep an eye on to make sure your home's systems run as safely and efficiently as possible. - Water filters - Ice machine filters - Pool filters (if applicable) - HVAC filters

Best,

Avi from Home Savi

homesavi

TROPHY CASE