After you’ve searched properties for sale and have found a home of interest in the Portland OR or Vancouver WA area, you’ll need to take additional steps to get closer to completing your new home purchase. Review the guidelines below, and as always ask your Coldwell Banker Seal agent for additional advice.

Should I get a Home Inspection?

A home inspection is a very important step when you are buying a new property, especially in the Pacific Northwest. It’s common for buyers to make an offer contingent upon one or more home inspections, which the buyer arranges and pays for with the seller’s consent. Before you buy Portland Oregon or Vancouver Washington real estate, you want assurance that your new home will be free of any structural or weather-related issues on top of normal house wear and tear. If the inspection findings are acceptable to you, the closing process can begin on your new home purchase. If the inspection uncovers problems, your Coldwell Banker Realtor can provide valuable suggestions on how you might work with the seller toward a mutually acceptable resolution.

A home inspection should be conducted by a qualified home inspector based locally in the Portland Metro or Southwest Washington area. Your Coldwell Banker Seal agent will be present the day of the inspection. We recommend that you also be present when an inspection is performed so that the inspector can describe the process and findings to you personally.

The Home Inspector Should:

• Look for any structural, mechanical, and/or other defects in the property.
• Examine all systems, including heating, air conditioning, electrical wiring, and plumbing.
• Spend time checking the exterior of the house, including the roof, foundation, and chimney.
• Check the attic and interior for proper venting, insulation, and electrical outlets.
• Test all appliances and plumbing fixtures to verify working condition.
• Check all bathrooms to see if moisture has affected the areas around the tub or shower.
• Inspect for other items such as insects, termites, and other pests.

What is an Appraisal?

The value of your new home is determined by a professional appraisal which is usually completed at the request of the lender. Property appraisers consider numerous factors such as square footage, construction quality, design, floor plan, amenities, energy efficiency, lot size, topography, view, and landscaping. Other issues appraisers take into account when determining Washington or Oregon real estate values are neighborhood quality and a property's proximity to transportation, shopping, and schools. Ask your CB Seal broker for more information about the appraisal process.

Do I need Homeowners’ Insurance?

You’ll want to protect your new home with insurance. A comprehensive homeowner's insurance policy provides coverage for fire damage, water damage, personal possessions, personal liability, vandalism, theft, and loss of use of the house. If you are financing your home purchase, your lender will require you to buy at least basic hazard insurance, which will fund the cost of rebuilding your home. It is important to contact your insurance professional early in the buying process. They will be able to advise you of their ability to provide coverage as well as to quote the rates and terms of the policy.

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