Based on the current market, and weighing the cost against the potential benefits, it is a wise investment to purchase an owner’s title insurance policy with every real estate transaction.

Industry Insider Scott K.

Most people are scared away by lengthy documents with lots of terms and conditions. But the truth is that the terms and conditions are there for a reason...It’s best to have all of the terms of an agreement spelled out on the front end.

Industry Insider Scott K.

A standard home inspection does not include an inspection of the sewer line...When purchasing an older home, request the seller give proof of a sewage line inspection and find out which material was used to construct the line.

Jackie F.

Be aware of expenses beyond just repairing your home...FEMA will provide funds for relocation and will also provide funds for storage.

Mark M.

Make certain your work contract spells out clearly the remediation in place for damage to your property in the unfortunate event that it occurs.

Nate H.

The house had been listed previously without any staging and sat on the market for six months. After the restaging, traffic of potential buyers picked up and by the end of the month, the house was sold for the asking price.

Industry Insider Stacy Z.

Once our agent got involved, she streamlined the shopping process, walked us through each complicated step, and put us in touch with all the right professionals, including our mortgage broker.

Amber K.

Know what you want and don't settle for less...my agent just didn't have the knowledge we needed.

Brian R.

When buying at a foreclosure auction, be aware you will be required to pay a large sum of money down when/if you win the bid (very often $20,000). The remaining balance will be due within 24 hours.

Industry Insider Joel C.

The biggest mistake a buyer can make is not to ask for proof of the repairs or fail to have the property reinspected...If the work isn’t done adequately and you proceed to close on the property, you could now own the problem.

Industry Insider Dana B.

Ask the contractor if he or she has completed or managed this type of work before. Be specific about the individual trades involved (electrical, plumbing, tiling) and ask for references.

Nigel H.

We didn’t need permits for the kitchen remodel, but obviously this is something you’d want to check on in advance. You don’t want to remodel and then find out you can’t claim it on your insurance or that it doesn’t add to the value of your home.

Wendy T.

I spent hours researching real estate agents and pricing our home...I am convinced that our home sold in two hours because I had done my homework. The hours of research had paid off.

Scott B.

[Our real estate agent] offered to sweeten the deal by accepting a lower commission and represent both us and the buyer. Knowing what I know now, the equivalent of a submarine diving alarm should have sounded.

Curtis J.

One of my worst nightmares had just occurred. I had never experienced a house fire and I had no idea what to do next. Fortunately, our insurance company was helpful and assigned us an adjuster immediately.

Rebecca B.

Escrows for property taxes & home insurance can pack a shocking wallop in terms of what the buyers must bring to the settlement...the bank often requires the buyer to contribute to escrows that accumulate with each monthly payment.

Industry Insider John C.

Had we interviewed realtors, researched their backgrounds and made an informed decision, we would likely be in a different place right now.

Joanna H.

[Our] repairs cost us nearly $4,000...If I had to do it over again, I would have had a qualified home inspector take a really good look at the place, so I would know if there were any expensive surprises.

Cathleen V.

The next time I take on a bathroom project, I will have a better plan and the materials I need on hand from the beginning. I wasted a lot of time running back and forth to try things and return them later.

Adam S.

Originally, the job was projected to take about one week, but it slowly extended to last more than three weeks. I had to take our laundry to the laundromat. The refrigerator had to be kept in the living room...It was pretty challenging.

Stephanie C.