Ask the Agents #19: Who Pays for Repairs After a Home Inspection?

June 15, 2021July 10, 2021Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: We are in contract on a house and had an inspection done. Among the inspector’s findings: wood rot around windows, cast iron pipes under the house and missing shingles on the roof. Doesn’t the seller have to make the repairs? Answer: No. There is no requirement for a seller to...

Ask the Agents #18: Renting, Buying & Hosting Open Houses

May 18, 2021May 18, 2021Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: Are open houses actually useful? Answer: The short answer is, yes. Oh, we’ve heard many of the arguments against public open houses: Only nosy neighbors come. It’s a weekend amusement for people who could never afford my house. Dishonest people might be checking out my stuff. Real estate agents want...

Ask the Agents #17: Open House Precautions

September 16, 2020September 17, 2020Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What precautions should be taken for an open house? Answer: Despite six months of COVID-19, the real estate business has not ground to a halt. Or, to put it more accurately, after a hard stop last spring, it is once again percolating along. People feel more comfortable going out, and...

Ask the Agents #16: Saltwater Pools

June 15, 2020June 15, 2020Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What is the difference between a saltwater pool and a regular pool? Answer: A sparkling clean backyard pool makes a sultry Houston summer worth it, right? And no doubt, given our current COVID situation, people who have a swimming pool will be staying home and using it more than ever...

Ask the Agents #15: Contingencies

March 20, 2020March 20, 2020Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: I know that real estate contracts have contingencies. What does that mean? Answer: Black’s Law Dictionary helpfully defines a contingency as “an event that may or may not happen, a doubtful or uncertain future event.” As Texas realtors, we are trained in the use of promulgated forms – i.e. forms...

Ask the Agents #14: Home Staging Services

November 12, 2019November 17, 2019Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What do home staging services do – and are they worth the money? Answer: The point of staging a home is, simply, to make it more appealing. You know about getting rid of clutter, touching up paint and replacing the dead shrub by the front door. Staging takes that “fluffing”...

Ask the Agents #13: Home Seller Mistakes

March 14, 2019March 14, 2019Cameron Ansari

Question: What are the most common mistakes made by home sellers? Answer: We can think of three areas where sellers sometimes stumble. The first is pricing the property too high. The logic is, often, “Let’s price it high so that we have room to negotiate down.” We see that backfire all...

Ask the Agents #12: What is Title Insurance?

February 8, 2019November 13, 2019Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: What is title insurance? Why do I need it? Answer: Before you close on a new home, the title company does a title search that includes examining the deed, tax records and survey. The point is to make sure that there are no existing liens or restrictions on the property...

Ask the Agents #11: When Should We Close on Our House?

December 14, 2018December 14, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: Does it make any difference whether we close on our new house before or after January 1? Answer: If this new home will be your primary residence, then, yes, it does make a difference. If you own your house as of January 1, you will qualify for the homestead exemption....

Ask the Agents #10: For Sale By Owner

November 14, 2018November 15, 2018Cameron Ansari & Teresa Byrne-Dodge

Question: We’re considering selling our home ourselves without using a real estate agent. Is that legal? Answer: Yes, it’s perfectly legal to sell your own home. But there are many reasons why you are better off using a professional. Sellers who choose to sell their home on their own – the...