Thursday, February 11, 2016

Another Silver Spring sale! I just sold a ranch style home on an awesome lot in Springbrook Forest!

Cell:  (301)943-4370
 
On Tuesday afternoon My buyers settled on a charming home located at 12319 Brookhaven Drive located in a subdivision of Silver Spring, MD. called Springbrook Forest.
 
It's rare to find a home that has the perfect blend of charm, set back on a large corner lot and at
the same time located in a convenient location.  I look forward to
seeing the personal touches that the new home owners put on their home.


 
My goal is to learn something knew in every home sale because every home and sales situation has its unique aspects.  There are almost always 1 or 2 things that I remember and associate with a specific home purchase.
 
This home has a well which is underground.  The selling party was very nice and came out to mark the approximate location of the well so it could be dug up and inspected.  It got a little exciting because we reached out to the county to get more information on the system and the county had recently talked with a contractor about a well and septic system on a home with the same street name as my client's new home and the county got confused by our call, thought we were following up on the other home. Thankfully everything was cleared up.
 


Another interesting aspect of the sale was related to getting a final water meter reading for the
home before settlements.  Most older homes have inground meters that most laymen cannot access and so we rely on WSSC to get a meter reading after settlement.  WSSC insisted that there was a water meter in the house.  Keep in mind that this is currently a 1 level ranch style home and so it if there is an indoor water meter, it should be fairly obvious where it is. I didn't know where the meter was and neither did the selling side.

After looking around for the water meter and checking out the house, I called the radon inspector because I noticed that he put the remediation system in.  So we talked and I asked if by the way he saw a water meter in the house.  He said there was one in the back outside of the house in a certain area.  Fortunately I found it and was hoping that WSSC meant outdoor meter instead of inside meter.


 
So I emailed a picture of the water meter to the settlement company, gave them the water meter
reading, was thankful that this was behind us and left the house for another appointment.

The settlement company reached out to WSSC with what the water meter information I provided them.  However, WSSC still insisted from their records that there was a meter inside and I need to find it, tell them that meter reading and make sure that the numbers on the inside and outside meteres matched.

I went back on another field trip to the house. It felt like a scavenger hunt :-).  I stepped into the laundry area was looking to my left and right, up and down and something about a metal pipe and a wooden table that was screwed in intrigued me.  With the selling side's permission because you need permission to move items on their property, I was able to remove the wooden piece, and the inside water meter was directly underneath the wood, facing upward. Thankfully I found the inside water meter, WSSC was happy and we moved on. 

I should mention that this was an estate sale and it was amazing that the estate knew where the septic sytem was and understandable that the selling party didn't know where water meter was.  Often when a home is an estate sale, sellers disclaim information instead of disclosing/answering questions because the estate cannot reasonably know some information about a house if they aren't live there.  Everyone was understanding, cooperative in just trying to get to the answer and we we were all smiles at the settlement table.









Congratulations to my buyers on this amazing home purchase.  The home has so much character and being on a huge corner lot there are so many ways for them to enjoy their new home.
I wish them all the happiness in the world.

If you, a family member, friend or colleague is thinking of making a move I would love to help and always have time for your referrals.  I am licensed in MD & DC.

Even if you aren't in the market to buy or sell but have a real estate question, I'd be delighted to speak with you.

Life is good!

Adam
Licensed in MD & DC
adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Information deemed to be accyrate but not guaranteed

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Home sellers: Think of yourselves as the buyers of this house. Was enough done?







Cell:  (301)943-4370
Email:  adambashein@mris.com
www.basheinhomes,info

A home seller shoveled enough snow so you can park at the end of the driveway and made a path from there to the front of the door so you don't have to walk in the snow - to the left of the path is driveway.  






Would you consider this to be enough, whether you owned and living at the house, were selling the house or buying the house?  Technically speaking you can park off the street and get to the front door cleanly. 

Legally, regarding property condition, snow removal is a tricky question as far as seller obligations, in a similar way to raking leaves. It depends on which real estate attorney you ask.

Either way, the good news is that the snow is melting.

Whether you or your friends are thinking of buying, selling or have a real estate question, please feel free to give me a call or email me. I always appreciate and have time for your referrals.  Thanks.

Adam
adambashein@mris.com
Licensed in MD & DC
www.basheinhomes.info
Cell:  (301)943-4370
Office:  (301)469-4700 - ask for Adam
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.
Information deemed to be accurate but not guaranteed