Do I Need to Have An Inspection on New Construction?

I often hear that since there is a state required builder’s warranty for new construction in Louisiana, that it is not necessary to have a home inspection done when purchasing one of these properties.

 

WRONG!  No home is perfect, even a newly built one, and it is still important to have a thorough home inspection done.

 

I recently had the chance to work with a terrific military couple relocating to the West Bank of New Orleans.  After a whirlwind search, we found the perfect house for them.  Brand new construction that was just the right size, in just the right neighborhood, with the perfect finishes and upgrades they were hoping for.   I recommended that although the builder would be willing to work from a punch list it was in their best interests to hire a professional home inspector to be sure that everything was done correctly.  Boy, am I glad they followed my advice.

 

Most home buyers and their agents don’t have the expertise or the knowledge of structure, mechanical items and building codes to determine whether or not a home was built properly and it’s easy to overlook things that are not obvious defects. 

 

Just a few of the items that the home inspector uncovered:

• Toilets that were loose and not properly secured to the floor
• A leak in the new HVAC unit that caused sheetrock damage and mildew to begin forming
• Loose shower heads
• Bathroom fans that were improperly vented into the attic instead of the exterior
• Improperly installed insulation in the attic
• Scratches on the granite counter top

 

Armed with the inspection report, we were able to have all of the issues resolved before closing, giving my buyers peace of mind that they were moving into the best possible home in the best possible condition. 

 

This is not meant to be negative about any builder.  The particular one we were dealing with is a reputable businessman and has built and sold many homes on the West Bank.  But, he cannot possibly personally inspect every detail in every home as they are constructed and subcontractors (and their subcontractors) often don’t take the same personal pride in their work that the actual builder does.  Given how responsive he was to the buyers requests, I’m sure that he has a long history of satisfied customers and I wouldn’t hesitate to write an offer on another home he built.

 

The bottom line is that spending just a few hundred dollars up front for a professional home inspection can save you plenty of aggravation, time spent waiting for warranty service and even possibly money, after you have settled in and the builder has moved on to other properties.

 

Are you in the market for a newly constructed West Bank home?  Be sure to use a professional, local REALTORR to represent YOUR interests.  For more information about buying a new West Bank home or for a list of available properties, contact Lisa Heindel.

 

    

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Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

An Anniversary Celebration, New Orleans Style

Many, many years ago (28 to be exact), my wonderful husband and I were married right here on the West Bank, at Algiers United Methodist Church.  I remember the sun streaming through the stained glass windows on that hot June afternoon in 1980, long before we ever dreamed we would have 4 children, 2 dogs, a cat, a mortgage, car notes and all of the other grown up responsibilities that come with being…well, grown up (which is completely overrated, by the way)

 

                                     

 

In typical New Orleans fashion, we still live in Algiers, just a stone’s throw from the houses we were both raised in only 4 blocks from each other.  While lots of couples choose to travel to celebrate their wedding anniversaries, we chose to stay local.  With dinner reservations at that New Orleans original, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, we headed out to spend an evening downtown enjoying our fabulous city.

 

 

View of Fulton Street from outside Ruth’s Chris

          The interior of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse

 

 

I highly recommend the steak and shrimp

                             Yummy creme brulee…

            (and the sinful creamed spinach)

 

A little wine….               

                                       A little music…..

 

What better way to celebrate not just our wedding anniversary, but the rebirth of our city as well.

Happy Anniversary, honey…

 

   

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Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

Algiers Home For Sale: 3612 Huntlee Drive New Orleans, LA 70131

For the first time since it was built in 1964, this terrific home in the heart of Algiers is for sale.

 

From the freshly painted exterior to the spacious 4 bedrooms and 3 full baths, there’s so much to love here and a great location to love it in.  Some of the wonderful features are:

• Formal living and dining rooms, giving you room to entertain to your heart’s content
• Spacious den with a pass through/breakfast bar from the kitchen
• Large, eat-in kitchen with room for a table and chairs
• Covered and screened rear patio to keep you cool and dry
• Roll down hurricane shutters on all downstairs windows - no boards needed here!
• 4th bedroom is upstairs with an attached, full, private bath along with walk in closets…a perfect set up for an extended family, home office or home gym.  How will you use it??

 

 

Priced to sell at only $189,000 and eligible for VA or FHA financing

 

              

 

              

 

Located only 6 miles from downtown New Orleans, 3612 Huntlee Drive is also just a hop, skip and a jump to either NSA New Orleans in Algiers or NAS JRB New Orleans in Belle Chasse.  Walking distance to Edna Karr School, Alice M. Harte Charter School, St. Andrew the Apostle School and Norman Playground offers weekly gas savings with fewer long drives.  Just a half block off of General de Gaulle with quick and easy access to neighborhood shopping, parks, local dining, golf, tennis and swim clubs.

 

For more information or to schedule your private showing of this beautiful Algiers home for sale, please contact Lisa Heindel. 

 

    

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Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

What Does “As Is With a Waiver of Redhibition” Mean?

Tracking how people get to my website allows me to see, in detail, exactly what kind of information consumers are looking for about West Bank real estate.  Recently, I had a website visitor that came to me by way of a search for "louisiana property disclosure vs. as-is".  I figure that if one person asked that question, then there are other folks out there wondering the same thing.

 

FIRST, it is important to point out that under Louisiana law, sellers (with few exceptions) are required to provide a property disclosure, whether they are selling the property "as is" or not.  Disclosing or selling "as is" is not a one or the other decision.   Unless you are one of the few who meet the state mandated exceptions, you MUST provide a disclosure to all purchasers.  The law applies equally to those using a professional REALTOR® and those attempting to sell their property on their own.

• For details on what has to be disclosed when selling your West Bank property, read more about Louisiana property disclosures here.
• For a list of those exempt from providing a property disclosure, contact Lisa Heindel.

 

As a listing agent, I always recommend that my sellers transfer their Louisiana property to the new owners with an As-Is Clause and Waiver of Redhibition.  (For people living in other parts of the country, Redhibition is basically the Louisiana civil version of a lemon law, allowing purchasers to sue for unseen defects.)  The waiver of redhibition is intended to minimize the number of lawsuits brought by purchasers against the sellers of real property in Louisiana.  IMPORTANT NOTE:  This does NOT mean that the purchasers cannot do inspections or that they cannot walk away from the purchase if there are inspection issues that cannot be resolved by negotiating repairs or a price adjustment. 

 

It does mean that after inspections have been completed to the purchaser’s satisfaction the following language will become a critical part of the act of sale documents (the highlights are mine).

 

From the Louisiana Real Estate Commission Website:

 

Do you still have questions about As Is and Waivers of Redhibition?  Please contact Lisa Heindel, REALTOR®.  I’d be happy to refer you to a local real estate attorney who is well versed on this topic.

 

    

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Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

West Bank Weekend Events: June 27-29, 2008

While I’m celebrating my wedding anniversary this weekend, here are some fun things for you to do!

 

Gretna Farmer’s Market

Every Saturday from 8:30 am - 12:30 pm under the Market on Huey P. Long Avenue, between 3rd and 4th Streets.  Featuring local produce, art, music, crafts and more, it’s a great way to start your weekend!

 

 

Make-A-Wish Benefit

The Make-A-Wish foundation is the recipient of proceeds from a benefit being held at the West Bank Elks Lodge at 900 Monroe Street in Gretna.  The party will be rocking from 5 -10 pm on Saturday with food, live auctions, raffles and live music.

 

Don’t forget about children’s crafts every Saturday morning at 10:30 in the Children’s Wing of the West Bank Regional Library on Manhattan Blvd., a cool start to these hot summer days!  Or, you can cool off at the wave pool at Bayou Segnette State Park in Westwego.

 

Beyond the West Bank

With the 4th of July coming up, why not get in the swing of things at the World War II Museum in downtown New Orleans?  This Sunday the New Orleans Jazz Vipers will be performing from 1-4 pm during Sunday Swing.  Also on hand for this FREE event will be dance coaches from NOLA Swing.

 

 

Upcoming Events:

Wednesdays on the Point

A summer music series taking place in Algiers Point, the concerts pick up where Wednesdays in the Square left off.  This weeks performance features Amanda Shaw at the Rosetree Glass Studio, located at 446 Vallette Street.  The studio will have glass blowing demonstrations, showcasing the talents of our local Algiers artists.  Take the ferry, take a walk or drive on over the Point and join in the summer celebrations.

 

Algiers Reunion Dance

July 12th at Mardi Gras World from 7 pm to midnight.  Reconnect with all of your old Algiers friends while you dance the night away at this benefit for Holy Name of Mary sponsored by the Blue Knights of Holy Name Men’s Club.  The dance will have live music (of course), a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, photo opportunities and local memorabilia for sale.  This is absolutely the Algiers event to see and be seen at!  Call 450-7460 or 361-0937 for ticket information.

 

Make it a great West Bank weekend!

    

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Here’s the disclaimer part:  The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments.  All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.

Copyright 2008.  Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.

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