Tag: real estate

Carson Dunlop Acquires National Property Inspections, Inc.

April 4, 2022

National Property Inspections, Inc. is pleased to announce that Carson Dunlop has recently acquired our organization. In this exciting development, Carson Dunlop and NPI are slated to become the preeminent provider of inspection and inspection-related services in North America. “I have long admired the strength of the Carson Dunlop brand and am thrilled to join forces to further accelerate growth at NPI,” said Roland Bates, founder of NPI. “I am extremely proud of the business we’ve built over the last 35 years and am enthusiastic about the future. Becoming part of Carson Dunlop will be an exciting new chapter for us and I look forward to continuing to support the NPI franchise system in my new role.” I have long admired the strength of the Carson Dunlop brand and am thrilled to join forces to further accelerate growth at NPI. I am extremely proud of the business we’ve built over the last 35 years and am enthusiastic about the future. Becoming part of Carson Dunlop will be an exciting new chapter for us and I look forward to continuing to support the NPI franchise system in my new role. Roland BatesFounder of National Property Inspections, Inc. Carson Dunlop has been

Downsizing Tips For Seniors: Moving Safely And Comfortably

January 10, 2022

By Harry Cline of the blog NewCaregiver.org Downsizing is often a relief for seniors who find that their current living situation just isn’t sustainable anymore, either due to their financial situation or because their health is failing. However, it comes with many considerations, and it’s important to know what to expect before you make any decisions. The cost of the move itself is one thing to think about. There’s also the actual downsizing — figuring out which items you will take with you to the new house and which ones will need to go — as well as packing and preparing to live in a new neighborhood. It can be overwhelming, but with a solid plan, you can ensure that it all goes smoothly. Find the Right Place Before anything else, you’ll need to find the right place for your needs — as well as decide what to do with the place you already have. For the latter, you might want to begin by scheduling an inspection. A real estate agent is a great advocate in the home search process, and even more so when you work with someone who specializes in senior moves. Interview at least a couple of

Haunted Places Series: Cincinnati Music Hall

October 4, 2021

Location: Cincinnati, OhioArchitectural Style: Venetian Gothic, Victorian Gothic Revival StyleBuilt: 1878 “It’s alive!” The leaves are changing, there’s a haunting chill in the air, and spookiest of all, our Haunted Places series has been resurrected! We’re loaded up for another road trip to some of the most paranormal places across the United States and Canada. Our first stop plays host to one of the oldest baseball teams, world-class chili, Steven Spielberg, and plenty of ghostly citizens–you guessed it, it’s “The Queen City” AKA Cincinnati! The Elaborate Cincinnati Music Hall It comes as no surprise that a city as historically rich as Cincinnati has a building to match. The Cincinnati Music Hall was built in 1878 to replace the older temporary Exposition Hall. Funding for the Music Hall was started by the affluent Reuben R. Springer, who campaigned for donations from other citizens and socialites. Designed by Samuel Hannaford, Music Hall stands as one of the last Venetian Gothic buildings that were part of the Victorian Gothic Revival Style. Music Hall has been the home of the Cincinnati Ballet, Symphony Orchestra, Opera, May Festival Chorus, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. It also served as the main convention center for the city

Get the Most Out of Your Home Listing

August 30, 2021

Trying to get the most money for your home can feel like navigating through a maze at times. You try to figure out your local market and price your house competitively, but you’re still struggling to get good offers. As you work with your agent, they’ll likely give you advice on how to optimize your listing. Here are a few tips to draw the perfect buyer to your home. Spruce Up Your Listing To make a great first impression with buyers, start by creating a strong listing. Each part from your pictures to the description of the house should be as accurate as possible. If a buyer comes to tour and realizes things aren’t how they appear in your listing, it can turn them away from making an offer. Staging your home for photos makes all the difference in how buyers will assess it. To get your home picture ready, clean from top to bottom. All your belongings should be put away so that people can see each room in its entirety. If you have a storage area or large closet space you want to highlight, clear it out to show the full size. Lastly, use good lighting so each

A New Leaf: Pros and Cons of Moving During Autumn

August 16, 2021

Moving can be an exciting, albeit, stressful time during any season. Fall, especially, has its own set of challenges, the main one being weather. But there are upsides to selling at the end of the year as well. So is it worth it to move during the changing season, or should you wait it out? Pro: Fall typically has nicer temperatures. Autumn temperatures tend not to drastically swing too much, which is nice when you’re trying to plan out a moving day. Unlike spring or early summer, you won’t have to worry about getting caught in a surprise rainstorm. The cooler temperatures also mean you probably won’t be sweating or risk getting overheated as you sort boxes and lug totes up the stairs. Con: Northern falls can get chilly. While it’ll feel good to have lower temps, you might have to be wary of that fluffy white stuff interfering. Northern climates in particular are prone to early snows that could impact your travel plans. Ice and snow make roads dangerous to drive on for long distances. If you’re not heading out until late October or November, you may need to keep a close eye on the forecast. Pro: You might

Choosing the Right Home Inspector

August 2, 2021

Being a homeowner is a major accomplishment! Everyone dreams of getting their own place, and landing your first home is a great feeling. It’s also a big investment to both buy and maintain it. One way you can protect yourself is by having a home inspection performed at the time of the transaction. With different choices for inspection companies, how do you choose the best one? Where to Look When you Google home inspectors in your area, you’re likely to be returned dozens of results. Narrowing down your choices will take a little digging and diligence, but you should get a clear idea of what to expect from each company by perusing websites and reviews. You can also look for a company through inspector databases at the local or national level. Check Their Licenses Along with being part of a verified inspector database, look at what other licensing the inspector has. Are they part of accredited associations like ASHI or InterNACHI? What about certifications for extra services like drones or radon? Even just ensuring they’re licensed properly with the state (if required) will show that the inspector is following all necessary regulations. You’ll know that they’re being held to certain

5 Costly Reasons You Should Never Skip a Home Inspection

March 29, 2021

Today’s housing market is more competitive than the majority of buyers and real estate professionals have experienced in their lifetime. Purchasing in a hot seller’s market, facing a low-inventory challenge, and competing with upwards of 30 offers can make it feel like anything goes when it comes to landing your dream home. You may even be tempted to skip a home inspection in order to speed the process along and make a “clean” offer the seller can’t refuse. But despite current market trends, a home inspection is still a crucial step in the buying process. Here’s why you absolutely need a home inspection: 1. Your Family’s Safety is at StakeYour home inspector assesses thousands of different components of a house to identify issues ranging from small to serious. That means they’ll look for loose doorknobs and malfunctioning garbage disposals. But they’ll also check for potentially serious problems, like the presence of carbon monoxide leaking from the furnace, radon, mold, and fire hazards. Opting out of an inspection could put your family’s safety in jeopardy. 2. You’ll Want an “Out” in Your ContractYour home may just be the most expensive purchase you’ll ever make. Making an offer contingent on a home

Haunted Places: The Deane House

October 30, 2019

Location: Calgary, AlbertaArchitectural Style: Foursquare, aka Cornbelt CubeBuilt: 1906 In our latest installment of NPI’s Haunted Places Series, we’ll take a closer look at the Deane House, one’s of Calgary’s most intriguing haunted places. With a history marred by tragedy from its earliest construction, the Deane House has earned its reputation as a hub of ghostly activity for over a century. Fort Calgary and the Deane HouseEstablished at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in 1875, Fort Calgary became the region’s command post of the North-West Mounted Police. Keeping order in this time period was a tough prospect, with the area populated with whiskey traders, outlaws and other colorful characters. As rail lines were laid, trade increased and the city of Calgary grew around the fort. In 1906, the fort’s superintendent, Captain Richard Deane, had a home built for his wife, Martha, on the grounds of the fort, as he believed that the existing accommodations were unfit for family living. The home was constructed by prisoners of Fort Calgary. Martha, however, wouldn’t live to see the home completed—she died of an undisclosed illness shortly before construction of the house was completed. The Deane House MovesAfter Fort Calgary closed

Haunted Places: McPike Mansion

October 29, 2019

Location: Alton, IllinoisArchitectural Style: Italianate-VictorianBuilt: 1869-1871 McPike Mansion in Alton, Illinois is one of the most notorious purportedly haunted houses in the Midwest. With 150 years of history within its walls, McPike Mansion boasts countless tales of intrigue and good old-fashioned spookiness. Read on to learn more about the alleged hauntings of this infamous home. McPike MansionMcPike Mansion was completed in 1871 by Henry Guest McPike, a local businessman, real estate developer and horticulturist. McPike became famous for cultivating the mammoth, prize-winning McPike grape, an important species for wine-making. McPike was involved with local politics, serving as Alton’s mayor for three years. Quick fun fact: he was also close friends with Abraham Lincoln, and was by his side when he received the telegram informing him of his election to the presidency. Built on a 15-acre plot of land, McPike’s three-story, Italianate-Victorian-style home featured 16 rooms and a vaulted wine cellar—extravagant even by today’s standards. The house featured 11 marble fireplaces and intricately carved banisters and trim. In their prime, the grounds were adorned with lush gardens and orchards, home to rare trees, plants and shrubs. McPike passed away in 1910, but his family lived on at McPike Mansion until 1936.

Haunted Places: The Vaile Mansion

October 15, 2019

Location: Independence, MissouriArchitectural Style: Second EmpireBuilt: 1871-1881 The Vaile Mansion has stood for nearly 140 years at 1500 North Liberty Street in Independence, Missouri. Its history has been fraught with scandal, tragedy and more than a few reported hauntings. This makes the beautiful yet foreboding Vaile Mansion perfect for our Haunted Places series! Read on as we uncover the fascinating history of this haunted home-turned-sanitarium. Meet the VailesColonel Harvey Merrick Vaile was born in 1831 in Bennington, Vermont. After building his fortune carefully for years as a lawyer, journalist and business investor, he became part owner of Star Mail Routes, a U.S. postal contractor that would run mail from St. Louis to points west in the frontier. As budding socialites in Independence, Missouri, he and his wife, Cecilia Sophia Vaile, set out to build a home reflective of their wealth and status in the community. The Vaile MansionThe Vailes’ new home was designed by renowned Kansas City architect Asa Beebe Cross in the Second Empire style, borrowing popular stylistic embellishments from French Baroque Revival architecture. Breaking ground in 1871, the Vaile Mansion was constructed over the course of 10 years and cost an astounding $150,000 ($4,000,000 in today’s dollars). The