The inspector should ensure that their inspection and inspection report will meet all applicable requirements in your state if applicable and will comply with a well-recognized standard of practice and code of ethics. You should be able to request and see a copy of these items ahead of time and ask any questions you may have. If there are any areas you want to make sure are inspected, be sure to identify them upfront.

2. How long have you been practicing in the home inspection profession and how many inspections have you completed?

The inspector should be able to provide his or her history in the profession and perhaps even a few names as referrals. Newer inspectors can be very qualified, and many work with a partner or have access to more experienced inspectors to assist them in the inspection.

3. Are you specifically experienced in residential inspection?

Related experience in construction or engineering is helpful, but is no substitute for training and experience in the unique discipline of home inspection. If the inspection is for a commercial property, then this should be asked about as well.

4. Do you offer to do repairs or improvements based on the inspection?

Some inspector associations and state regulations allow the inspector to perform repair work on problems uncovered in the inspection. Other associations and regulations strictly forbid this as a conflict of interest.

5. How long will the inspection take?

The average on-site inspection time for a single inspector is two to three hours for a typical single-family house; anything significantly less may not be enough time to perform a thorough inspection. Additional inspectors may be brought in for very large properties and buildings.

6. How much will it cost?

Costs vary dramatically, depending on the region, size and age of the house, scope of services and other factors. A typical range might be $300-$500, but consider the value of the home inspection in terms of the investment being made. Cost does not necessarily reflect quality. HUD Does not regulate home inspection fees.

7. What type of inspection report do you provide and how long will it take to receive the report?

Ask to see samples and determine whether or not you can understand the inspector’s reporting style and if the time parameters fulfill your needs. Most inspectors provide their full report within 24 hours of the inspection.

8. Will I be able to attend the inspection?

This is a valuable educational opportunity, and an inspector’s refusal to allow this should raise a red flag. Never pass up this opportunity to see your prospective home through the eyes of an expert.

9. Do you maintain membership in a professional home inspector association?

There are many state and national associations for home inspectors. Request to see their membership ID, and perform whatever due diligence you deem appropriate.

10. Do you participate in continuing education programs to keep your expertise up to date?

One can never know it all, and the inspector’s commitment to continuing education is a good measure of his or her professionalism and service to the consumer. This is especially important in cases where the home is much older or includes unique elements requiring additional or updated training.

Are you frustrated out of your mind when you think about all of the years you’ll be making those huge mortgage payments and all of the $100,000′s of interest charges that lie BEFORE YOU?

Have you tried everything from bi-weekly mortgage schemes, answering every internet refinance advertisement, sending the bank another $20 with each monthly payment, etc. to payoff your mortgage early — with little or no results?

And if you are like most Americans, you only stay in your home for an average of 5-7 years before you move to a new home. And then you start the thirty year mortgage process all over AGAIN!

How can you ever get financially ahead and pay off your mortgage if you keep beginning the process over and over again?

Well, what if your mortgage lender called you today and said something like…

“if you qualify for our new mortgage acceleration program, we would like to cut up to 18-22 years off your mortgage term. And we’re not going to change anything at all with your current payments”…

What would you say to an offer like that?

Is there even one homeowner in America that would honestly say “NO” to that program?

That’s right.

There is an easy way to payoff your mortgage in as little as 12 years or even LESS. With no refinancing your current mortgage and without sending your lender larger or more frequent payments.

That is true whatever type of mortgage that you have — even if it is a fixed or an adjustable mortgage rate, 30 or even 40 years long, whether your mortgage balance is only $100,000 or over one million. It doesn’t matter.

And if you have credit card debt that makes you feel like you are drowning in high interest rates that result in huge monthly minimum payments, you can solve that problem as well.

In fact, I would suggest getting rid of that debt before starting to payoff your mortgage debt since personal credit card debt is non deductible off your income taxes.

I’m often asked questions like, are you sure that I don’t have to get a NEW mortgage? Do I have higher monthly expenses so that I have to change my current lifestyle? Am I ever locked into anything?

The answer to all of those questions is NO!

Well why hasn’t my bank told me how I can pay off my mortgage in less than half the time it takes your neighbors?

Let me ask you? Why would they? Why would they want to stop getting 30 years of interest income (your payments) and just settle for 7-14 years of payments? It is not to the lender’s benefit to tell you how get become debt free!

Did you know that with a 30 year mortgage at 7%, that about 80% of all your mortgage payments during the first 5 years of the loan are interest.

Did you know that it isn’t until some point in the 20th year that even half of your monthly mortgage payment goes towards paying down you principle (your loan balance)?

Let me give you an example of a typical client:

Mr. and Mrs. Smith earn $3,000 combined every two weeks in take-home pay (after taxes and benefits). Their normal monthly bills (excluding the mortgage) run $3,000 each month.

They live in a home worth $250,000 with a $200,000 current mortgage balance with 25 years remaining on the loan. Their loan interest rate is 6.25% with a monthly payment of $1,539 (excluding taxes and insurance).

With this set of assumptions, how long would it take the Smiths to FULLY pay off their mortgage with this financial strategy?

Just under 10 years!!

How much interest would the Smiths save over their 30 year original mortgage plan without using this strategy?

$261,700

So they saved over a quarter of a million dollars in interest and saved years of writing and mailing those hefty monthly mortgage checks! After paying off their mortgage, they get to keep that $1,539 payment every month and use if for their kid’s college or to prepare for retirement, travel or whatever they want!

All with no re-financing and without sending larger or more frequent payments to the lender. They were never locked into anything and retained complete flexibility.

And your interest savings could be much much more — especially if you have a jumbo mortgage or have a higher interest rate.

There’s an old saying that those who understand interest, collect it while those who don’t… pay it!

To learn more about how you can pay off your mortgage quicker than you ever thought possible, please visit the website listed in the author BIO box below.

Mark J. Orr is a Certified Financial Planner serving clients throughout the USA. To learn more about how to pay off your own mortgage in less than half the time it will take your neighbors please visit: http://www.CutYearsOffMyMortgage.com

Most people start looking for a bail out as a way to lower your house payment, which is what often times most credit counselors will advise when facing a situation where you’re trying to stop home foreclosure. There could be a way that you might be able to generate a few hundred extra dollars by working on line or doing a side job that might be a far better solution for saving your home from foreclosure.

Many people today are turning to places like eBay and are able to sell a few items every month to make a few hundred dollars. If you combine a solid online selling strategy and also looking at your budget closely you may find ways of cutting back on the budget. You may find that you’re able to stop home foreclosure without having to negotiate any kind of special loans or lose any equity in your home.

If you simply have no time and no other resources for generating extra income then the quickest way to stop home foreclosure is to make a call to the bank or lending institution that’s carrying the loan on your home. Simply be honest with them and explain your situation and see if you can’t work out a reasonable solution for making payments and avoiding foreclosure.

If you need more foreclosure help then quickly head over to http://foreclosure-help-now.com where you will find helpful foreclosure tips, advice and resources including information on foreclosure plans, negotiating and more Stop Home Foreclosure.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tom_Turner

• Kitchen: Hang tight, you do not need to gut it and start over. Consider replacing the countertops, or getting new cabinet door fronts. Current trends in countertops are quartz and recycled glass, and granite is still popular.

• Walls: Whether it be a simple coat of paint or a textured paper, walls create the foundation for the rest of the space. If your walls are in serious disrepair, nothing camouflages imperfections better than wallpaper. Also, only use flat paints on perfect walls or ceilings – an egg shell or semi-gloss paint is preferable.

• Bathroom: Spa trends continue. Installing a multi-head shower, a jetted tub and arranging some rolled up towels go a long way to create the Zen like feel people seek today.

• Window Coverings: Do you still have vertical blinds on your patio doors, the super-skinny mini-blinds, or even worse – nothing on your windows? Window treatments usually go with the house and add value to your home. In addition, some treatments offer great energy efficiency and can save you valuable dollars on heating and cooling bills. What trends are hot today?
- Woven wood blinds in organic colors and countless reeds.
- Sheers – that’s right – sheers in fun fabrics and textures can illuminate an entire room and provide a great solution for patio doors.
- Drapery panels on rings hung close to the ceiling. Placing the panels over the woven woods or sheers creating a layered effect is hot if you can invest a little more. By bringing the panels closer to the ceiling you are tricking the eye into thinking the space is higher and the room seem larger.

By spending your dollars wisely and being patient, you will ride out this slump in style and enjoy your surroundings in the meantime.

Colleen A. Lora, CID is an award winning interior decorator with Decor & You in the Columbus, Ohio area. Decor & You was recently voted Best Interior Design Firm by Columbus CEO magazine for 2008. Colleen can be reached at 614-855-1700. She encourages you to visit her website at http://www.decorandyou.com/clora , email her at clora@decorandyou.com or check out her blog for further decorating tips at http://decorandyoucolleen.blogspot.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_Lora