A note to homeowners in this trying market    After hearing about the death of the real estate market, many of you are wondering where you fit in all this.  You may be thinking that your home isn't worth as much as last year or maybe that selling isn't the thing to do now.  Thinking that way may be a crucial mistake.   Before you would buy something as simple as a toaster, you would probably do some basic research.  For those looking to buy or sell, starting with the Internet would be a good choice to get that information.  But is it accurate?  Would you be able to buy the toaster at the same price in California as in North Carolina?  Would it even be available?  Most information on the web is as good as how much you paid for it, maybe just a little bit more.  Before you hire your agent... 08/11/2008

Confessions of a For Sale by Owner ( or never again will I attempt to sale my home)       After careful planning,  doing hours of research, I decided to sale my home myself.  Really what could be so hard about it- I would save thousands of dollars!    Day one:  I purchased a sign at my local hardware store that had a tube attached it to put in flyers.  Wouldn't have guessed that flimsy metal and plastic tube would have cost $29.00.  Couldn't wait to get home and put the sign up.  There is so much traffic on my street that someone will buy it! Day two:  Made some flyers on my inkjet printer at home, not to bad.  I knew I had some marketing talent!  Put 15 or so in the tube and took some to the office.  Day Three: While at work, a coworker commented on my flyer. Looks like a buyer!  But a... 08/11/2008

Winston-Salem is a large vibrant community centrally located in North Carolina.  Approximately 3 1/2 hours from beautiful beaches and 1 hour from the Blue Ridge Parkway, area residents are the recipients of the best that nature has to offer.   Businesses are attracted to the city for a variety of reasons.  The area transportation system boasts large updated airports, an excellent highway and rail system as well as a population that is diverse in its education, skills and abilities.    The city has a rich heritage.   The Moravians came to the area in the mid eighteenth century.  First establishing the town of Salem, which is one of the oldest towns in America, they continued to expand and started the town of Winston just down the road.  Combined to form the city of Winston-Salem,  the Mo... 08/11/2008

ADVANTAGE INSPECTION'S SELLER'S CHECKLIST Sellers' Checklist for a Smooth Home Inspection: We at Advantage Inspection Clear View understand that many times the inspection process is time sensitive and essential for an expedient closing. That is why we have prepared this pre-inspection checklist so that we can do our job efficiently. First, we would like to answer some of the commonly asked questions about our service:  What is a home inspection? We are a real estate support service that evaluates the overall structural, mechanical and electrical condition of the home. We examine nearly all-visible construction components and evaluate whether these items are still serviceable. We make notations of items that may need attention to help preserve their long-term integrity. We also give our ... 06/03/2008

Advantage Inspection is only home inspection company chosen to be a Preferred Vendor Partner of Lowe's Home Improvement, Inc. which means all of our customers ordering a home inspection recieve a 10% coupon for Lowes Home Improvement Inc. This is important because people buying or selling a home spend anywhere from $3000-$5000 renovating a home for sale, or updating it to move in. This amounts to a potential savings of up to $500 for the home inspection customer, EQUALLING OR WORTH MORE THAN THE INITIAL COST OF THE HOME INSPECTION.  CAN ANYONE SAY ' FREE HOME INSPECTION' ? And better than that, if a buyer has the inspection, both the buyer and the seller get the coupon. If the seller gets the inspection, both the buyer and seller get the coupon. I am so excited to be a part of this comp... 06/03/2008

Many homeowners I speak to about home inspections are disgruntled with their last inspector because they feel he did do a thorough enough job. When I ask them more specific questions they might say, ' Well, the inspector put down that the door lock was broken and I already knew that' They might be upset because some of the things the inspector noted were obvious to them as well, and they expected the inspector to not waste their time with the obvious things. The problem is, what may be obvious to one homeowner, is completely overlooked by another. Furthermore, we are required by NC State standards to note all broken items, or those that don't function as they were intended, as well as items that adversely affect the habitability of the house. Now, some of that may seem silly to the home... 06/03/2008

Though Spring is almost upon us, let's not take any chances that you will be the one still sitting on your property when late Summer arrives.  Be proactive and differentiate yourself from the market ! All of these options require some monetary investment up front ( except the Home Warranty and the Realtor), but will pay handsomely in the end, by helping your house to sell more quickly, for top dollar. Here are a few ideas and some costs/benefits to each.   Hire the services of a Home Stager Cost:        $500+ Benefits:   Making your home show its best will create that valuable first impression.        2.    List your home with a competent Realtor Cost:        6% of the sale's price ( On a 200K home, 12K) Benefits:     A good Realtor can help make your house 'Visible' on the market-place... 06/03/2008

Inspectors Unite  !   Change is coming to the home inspection industry !  Change is HERE !   We are actively seeking inspector affiliates who can join our team as we revolutionize the inspection industry. Advantage Inspection is poised to expand nationwide ! Doing buisness the same old way won't answer the needs of tomorrow.  Mom and Pop operations, working out of a truck and a spare bedroom cannot offer your clients all that the combined efforts of the Advantage Inspection team can !  Established and Newbie Inspectors all over the Southeast are joining Advantage Inspection because of the powerful benefits both to themselves ( marketing support, reporting software, training ), and to their customers ( affiliation branding, exclusive products and services ). By becoming an Advantage Home... 06/03/2008

Once, not too long ago, when the real estate industry was young, the way business was conducted, (commission-split set up and no effective support/training for new agents) led to an office of unsupported, poorly trained low producing and low commissioned agents and high turn-over.  But Re/Max ( read history) changed that. By changing the paradigm and offering maximum compensation, superior agent support and traditional Real Estate franchise services, Dave and Gail Liniger of Re/Max transformed the way business was done and changed an industry forever.   The home inspection business is on the cusp of a similar transformation.   Presently, it is mainly comprised of Mom and Pop organizations that because of their natural limitations, can offer only the talents of one individual and whateve... 06/03/2008

Greensboro, Winston-Salem, High-Point homeowners have an alternative to bad service and denied claims.  Find Out How to Avoid Being Ripped Off !   A TARNISHED REPUTATION A lot of Realtors offer home warranties to their clients,  But many may not know that the credibilty of the home warranty industry is tarnished in the eye of the public.  And for GOOD REASON.  The whole business model is intentionally flawed in their favor. But first, do a little research...... DO A BACKGROUND CHECK I challenge anyone to  Google any home warranty company's name and the word `complaints', rip-off or `fraud'.  Find out how many people believe they got burned, turned down wrongfully or got rotten service..... here's one site that should keep you busy: http://www.my3cents.com/.  THERE ARE MANY OTHERS..... C... 06/03/2008

Pre-Listing Inspections are the wave of the future.  Realtors, you cannot afford to be left behind.  This will help sell that home! http://youtube.com/watch?v=cEJ-N6t0yJA Now that you know you should do a pre-listing inspection, have it done by the experts ! Advantage Inspection Clear View are experts in residential pre-listing inspections. Put the power of our Listing Advantage Program to work for you ! And each client who gets an inspection from us qualifies for the only 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty available on the market-place!   We provide signage and will help advertise your property for you !  Give us a call today to put the benefits of Advantage Inspection's Listing Program to work for you! Brian Haire/Philip LaMachio 7B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro, NC. 27408 336-327-5523 06/03/2008

 PRESS RELEASE  Release date:   5/28/08   A PRE-LISTING INSPECTION / WARRANTY COMBINATION OFFERS POWERFUL BENEFITS FOR SELLER; A HIGHER LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR BUYER There is a lot of frustration associated with selling a home in today's real estate market:  the 'mortgage crunch', competitive pricing and a flooded market are all factors putting the seller at a disadvantage.  Home buyers are definitely in the 'driver's seat'.  In order to get their house sold, sellers have to think outside the box and find ways to differentiate their home from the crowd. Would-be sellers should'nt overlook the power of a pre-listing inspection / warranty combination.  "People don't realize that they can get their house sold quicker, with fewer problems and for more money if they get an inspection on the h... 06/03/2008

Home inspection clients and Realtors in Greensboro/Winston-Salem/High Point and the Greater Triad get more value with Advantage Inspection! We are excited to announce some brand new affiliations that will enable us to offer incredible discounts for services our clients will need. Many of you already know that we are preferred Vendor Partners with Lowes Home Improvement, and as such our inspection customers receive a 10% coupon worth up to $500 for purchases at Lowes. Now we have even more: $200 coupon for installation of an ADT home security system Discount for using Allied or North American Van Lines And perhaps the most exciting: Up to 20% discount for Homeowner's insurance from Nationwide Insurance, renewable each year the homeowner lives in that home. A potential savings of up to $1... 05/31/2008

Advantage Inspection Clear View in Greensboro NC is excited to announce that Coldwell Banker Triad Realtors has chosen our company to help them roll out their new Home Buyer Ready Program. ( See this description from the Highland/Cashiers area). Advantage Inspection (Corporate) has been promoting the use of Pre-Listing Inspections for almost 10 years. Consequently, we at Advantage Inspection Clear View, your local AI franchise with Brian Haire and Philip LaMachio, are the Triad's source for information on everything about pre-listing inspections. Because of our familiarity with this radically effective tool in real estate marketing, our exclusive affiliate partnerships and the extra value they give our customers, Coldwell Banker has chosen us as their preferred pre-listing inspectors fo... 05/31/2008

Pre-Listing Inspections are the wave of the future.  Realtors, you cannot afford to be left behind.  This will help sell that home! http://youtube.com/watch?v=cEJ-N6t0yJA Now that you know you should do a pre-listing inspection, have it done by the experts ! Advantage Inspection Clear View are experts in residential pre-listing inspections. Put the power of our Listing Advantage Program to work for you ! And each client who gets an inspection from us qualifies for the only 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty available on the market-place!   We provide signage and will help advertise your property for you !  Give us a call today to put the benefits of Advantage Inspection's Listing Program to work for you! Brian Haire/Philip LaMachio 7B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro, NC. 27408 336-327-552... 05/31/2008

Pre-Listing Inspections are the wave of the future.  Realtors, you cannot afford to be left behind.  This will help sell that home! http://youtube.com/watch?v=cEJ-N6t0yJA Now that you know you should do a pre-listing inspection, have it done by the experts ! Advantage Inspection Clear View are experts in residential pre-listing inspections. Put the power of our Listing Advantage Program to work for you ! And each client who gets an inspection from us qualifies for the only 'No Denied Claims' Home Warranty available on the market-place!   We provide signage and will help advertise your property for you !  Give us a call today to put the benefits of Advantage Inspection's Listing Program to work for you! Brian Haire/Philip LaMachio 7B Corporate Center Ct. Greensboro, NC. 27408 336-327-5523 05/31/2008

I am a Home Inspector now, but when I took a real estate course in Greensboro NC, the instructor made his feelings about FSBO's quite clear. His disdain was palpable. Though many sellers are tempted to try to market their homes themselves in order to avoid paying a Realtor's commission, eventually they would be driven by sheer desperation to acknowledge the futility of their mission, and call a Realtor. The Lonely FSBO Since then I have watched many a FSBO linger on the market way too long, especially at this time, only to eventually capitulate and call in the calvary. And there are many good reasons to do so.  Not the least of which is that if you get a good Realtor they are going to make sure your house gets seen, priced correctly and point out a number of things that are obvious to e... 05/31/2008

Home buyers beware ! Upon purchasing a home, your agent may suggest you buy a home warranty as well. Educate yourself before you blindly trust that your Realtor: 1. Is sure he is recommending the best warranty2. Is not recommending an unreputable company 3. Is not taking kickbacks Don't make a choice that could lead to having a denied claim costing you hundreds or thousands of dollars. Read my insider info on the home warranty industry at: http://www.squidoo.com/homewarrantysecretsexposed See the Home Warranty Checklist for MUST ASK questions that will come back to bite you if ignored. Find resources online that expose the dark underbelly of this questionable industry and lastly... Discover the one company that is changing it all..... Philip LaMachio Advantage Inspection Clear View     ... 05/31/2008

From Advantage Inspection in Greensboro, NC, here's a cautionary tale from the trenches for all you price shoppers out there.  AN AGENT'S TALE OF WOE My fellow inspector, Brian Haire, at Advantage Inspection Clearview, relayed a story from an agent in Burlington, NC. who told him that she had to change inspectors because as Brian relayed: ' the last one (an inspector she had used exclusively and swore by) ended up costing her $30,000.00 in repairs for having missed a rotted girder.  In talking to her it was not conceivable that the inspector actually accessed the whole crawl space from her description of the damage.  The only response she got was "we sometimes miss some things".' I have to chuckle because at the most recent continuing education session in Feb. 2008 Charlotte NC, where a... 05/30/2008

 PRESS RELEASE  Release date:   5/28/08   A PRE-LISTING INSPECTION / WARRANTY COMBINATION OFFERS POWERFUL BENEFITS FOR SELLER; A HIGHER LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR BUYER There is a lot of frustration associated with selling a home in today's real estate market:  the 'mortgage crunch', competitive pricing and a flooded market are all factors putting the seller at a disadvantage.  Home buyers are definitely in the 'driver's seat'.  In order to get their house sold, sellers have to think outside the box and find ways to differentiate their home from the crowd. Would-be sellers should'nt overlook the power of a pre-listing inspection / warranty combination.  "People don't realize that they can get their house sold quicker, with fewer problems and for more money if they get an inspection on the h... 05/30/2008