Handyman’s Special
Tuesday, February 26th, 2008When buying a handyman’s special, there are certain things to consider. While a handyman’s special, or fixer-upper house, is generally priced much lower than other houses in the area, prior to buying, it is important to know what needs to be fixed and how much it is going to cost.
In many cases, those selling a handyman’s special will not allow a home inspection. The homes are usually advertised “as is” which means that there are substantial repairs needed. If you are getting a mortgage, chances are your mortgage lender will want to make sure that the house is inhabitable before lending you the money to purchase the property. Lenders usually order an appraisal of the property before lending you any money. The appraiser is not a home inspector, but can ascertain approximately how much the house is worth by comparing it to the sales price of existing homes in the area.
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