Craigslist- Buyer beware

Craigslist has been a great free avenue for people to post items to sell, housing for sale, job opportunities in the metro, ways to find people that you can relate to and so much more.  I have purchased several items from craigslist and had mostly successes.  I have purchased everything from appliances to a pool rack to a riding mower (husband purchased).  While I have had success I have heard some horror stories such as people selling items that do not work, not showing up for appointments, and not getting what you paid for.  While there are some negatives it’s a great place to get items for the home at a discount. You can re-purpose the purchased items as I have shown in a previous post, be creative.  Not every item posted is bad, there some good people selling great quality items at a discount. During some of my searches on craigslist for specific items, I have come across some interesting finds to say the least, enjoy:
By far the best find to date. How would you like that hanging on your wall? Probably a piece I would recommend taking down before selling your home.  $150 what a steal? Not sure how I came across this ad, I have never searched for this specifically.

I found the next two ads under the free section.  While most of the items under the free section are "junk" in my opinion there are a bunch of free firewood ads which is awesome. However, not all of them are particularly "good" for use as firewood.  In the Overland Park ad they had to add an arrow so you know which "free" wood you are cutting down.  Both tress are super tiny.  If you cut it up it would be more like twigs. While this would add some fuel for an outdoor bond fire, its not going to keep your house warm.  I feel the ad is more of a please cut and haul this away I have zero tools.



I have found a bunch of appliance ads that should have been re-titled, "SCRAP METAL" due to the condition.  I am not sure if people are joking when they place these ads or if they have nothing to do during the day, they are a bit odd. In the Independence ad they didnt even clean the fridge, they added verbiage to bottom of the add will clean for full price.  Really... you are willing to clean it if you get full price?

Again not sure if people have too much time on their hands to take the time to post these. 

In this photo it looks like they are using a furnace temperature gauge box on the stove....

Another ad under the free section, judging by the other photos the double wide is not salvageable... but free to anyone who will move!

One of the most entertaining internet sites I have been on over the years is www.DontEvenReply.com.  If you have some spare time it’s worth checking out. You will fall out of your seat laughing, its hysterical.  They use a lot of craigslist ads to mess around with people. Let me know what you think of the site!

Home Inspections- Protecting your Investment

Home inspections are a must in my book on every type of home, no matter what the purchase price is or what the seller’s disclosure reveals about the home. You want to make sure your investment in a home purchase is not a costly mistake. Inspections range from 300-400+ dollars depending on the size of the home and location. You can save a ton of money if the house has issues you might not have noticed and get out of the contract without losing very much money or use the inspection as a negotiating tool to lower the price or get the items fixed before closing. With today’s market and all the bank owned properties for sale, buyers are not given a sellers disclosure to view to show the history of the home while the sellers have owned the property, they state "as is". In this situation an inspection can help fill the gaps and give the buyer more details on some of the unknowns. Home inspections are also a good tool for sellers who have an inspection performed before their house goes on the market. This could help insure buyers the home they are viewing is "sound" or a good buy. This also could save a buyer some money if they choose not to perform their own inspection, another plus or reason to consider your home over others on the market.

A home inspection performed by a qualified inspector shows the buyer a detailed analysis about the condition of the home both benefits and detriments. When a home inspector performs an inspection they are looking at major mechanicals, plumbing, electrical, roofing, decks, foundation, overall condition, safety issues, potential/future problems, code violations, mold, radon(additional cost to check), termites (additional cost) and much more. After the inspection takes place the inspector will write up a detailed report with photos that entails everything the inspector saw, deficiencies with possible ways to fix or re-mediate the problem, possible contractors or companies the inspector recommends to complete the work and possible estimations on costs to fix, and provide typical life expectancies on appliances, roofs, furnace, and a/c. Although inspections are a good tool to get an idea on the condition of the home, inspections do not reveal everything. If you are unsure on some of the issues found during the inspection or feel you need further information on specifics, you can have a specialist perform inspections to give you a second opinion.