RECENT HOME BUYERS - Input on who you used for inspection, lawyers, etc (Greenville: short sale)

[Eldemila]

I've been looking for homes in Greenville County for a while and finally put in an offer on a short sale. I doubt we'll get it, but in the slim chance we do, or whenever we do find a home, I'd love to know who's services you used, if you were happy/unhappy with the job they did and if you found the price you paid to be fair. I'm trying to make sure I have people who come recommended instead of going through the phone book blindly as I'm not from the area.

I'll probably need:

Real estate attorney (want someone who specializes in this)
Home Inspector
Chimney Inspector/Cleaner (if applicable)
Home Cleaning Service (the house we bid on is FILTHY!)
Titel Insurance Co
Survey Company
Appraiser
Roofer (if you ended up needing repairs)
Plumber (if you needed replairs)

If you did and demo - did you dispose of whatever by yourself or rent a dumpster - if the later, who you used.

Anything else you can think of.

If anyone can think of anyone or any other service they may have used, please mention it - I could easily be forgetting something. Any tips or suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

THANKS!

[MT Man]

I'll probably need:

Real estate attorney (want someone who specializes in this)
Christopher Cogdill on Haywood Rd does a good job. I don't know if they all charge the same or not? 864-233-7170

Home Inspector - Buyers' Inspection Group - 864-235-1019 - Bill Nabors. I've used him twice and he is thorough.

Chimney Inspector/Cleaner (if applicable) - Kieth Perry - 964-877-3521

Home Cleaning Service (the house we bid on is FILTHY!) - Arm & Hammer

Titel Insurance Co - I think the atty will do this for you.

Survey Company

Appraiser - If you finance it, the bank will choose.
Roofer (if you ended up needing repairs)

Plumber (if you needed replairs) - Plumbco Services - Joe Covello - 864-968-0520 - owner/operator - hands down the best!

If you did and demo - did you dispose of whatever by yourself or rent a dumpster - if the later, who you used.

Anything else you can think of.

If anyone can think of anyone or any other service they may have used, please mention it - I could easily be forgetting something. Any tips or suggestions are GREATLY appreciated.

THANKS![/quote]

I hope you know what you are doing! I can't imagine that now is the time to be buying junk properties if you have zero experience or contacts. The days of fix, flip and make money no matter what you do are over for a while. Good Luck!

[Eldemila]

Thanks for the info.

Not looking to flip, but to live in this house, so getting the right people is important and since I'm not from the area, hard to know who to turn to, so hoping people will give me their honest opinions.

Arm & Hammer will end up with one less arm if they tried to clean the house first go around - will have someone else do the first time before anything at all is done, second time after demo and then I'll clean it MY way!

House will be nice when all is said and done - just have to hope the bank picks us!

Thanks!

[MT Man]

Originally Posted by Eldemila

Thanks for the info.

Not looking to flip, but to live in this house, so getting the right people is important and since I'm not from the area, hard to know who to turn to, so hoping people will give me their honest opinions.

Arm & Hammer will end up with one less arm if they tried to clean the house first go around - will have someone else do the first time before anything at all is done, second time after demo and then I'll clean it MY way!

House will be nice when all is said and done - just have to hope the bank picks us!

Thanks!

I'm glad you're not trying to join the flipping market at this time. That makes me feel better about your success! I wish you all the best.

I know this may tick some people off, but I kid you not, every single person that did work in my house that mentioned God did a horrible job. I was astonished that they would talk about going to church and try and sell me their religion and then leave their projects undone, 1/2 done, or with crappy craftsmanship. I tell all my friends, if they pull in with a Jesus fish on their truck, I'm not letting them in my house anymore. While I don't know the religious affiliations of the people I suggested, they all did quality work.

Also, if you are coming from the north, I think you may find a lower level of craftmanship here in the south. I've heard this from more than a few people in the construction business that have worked on crews in the north and crews in the south.

[grannynancy]

I would have to agree that the level of craftsmanship is TERRIBLE

Also, don't know how you feel about Radon but this is a high radon area so you may want that checked. Homes before 1993 were not required to be built with a mitigation system.

[Eldemila]

Thanks for the heads-up. If someone starts preaching religion to me thinking that will get them a job, they'll be far from getting it. I don't discuss religion OR politics, nor do they impress me in thinking someone would do superior work over someone who doesn't talk about it. That's why I ask for recommendations from others, and will ask to see proof of past work.

I'm coming from FL, so if someone can speak English, they've scored the first point. If you think the workmanship in SC is bad, well, at least you had someone show up - I can't get past trying to find someone who speaks English to come out to do repairs. I'm a minority down there, in more ways than one. Gosh, I can't WAIT to move!

I've heard about radon and we are most definitely going to make sure to have the house tested for it, as with mold and other potential problems.

Recommendations for someone who does kitchen remodeling, may think about refacing, but possible entire do-over (that is if we get this particular home) Best place for granite (or similar) countertops?

Again, I doubt I'll get this house, but in time, I will buy a home and need any helpful information I can get. I do appreciate any and all information given from those who reply.

Thanks again!