John LaRocca

Price Protection for the Savvy Seller

A recent associated press article reads "The states in which sales rose - Nevada, California, Arizona, Florida, Minnesota and Virginia - are places where buyers have been able to snap up foreclosed homes at a bargain. Sales more than doubled in Nevada, rose 85 percent in California, and nearly 43 percent in Arizona."

READ THAT ARTICLE HERE: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/ticker/article.aspx?Feed=AP&Date=20090212&ID=9604626&Symbol=WFC

Home sellers are receiving offers but quickly discover that in this market buyers are asking for a lot of concessions along with price reductions before the close of escrow. They almost always use their home inspection report to pressure the seller to pay for repairs or accept less money for their home.

Savvy sellers prepare for this by having their property inspected prior to listing their home for sale. The pre-listing inspection greatly reduces and in most cases stops those types of renegotiations.

The pre-listing inspection provides the seller with accurate information about deficiencies and defects with the property giving them the opportunity to repair the defect ahead of time or just advertize it as the way the house is being sold.

For example, if the house has is in generally good condition but the roof is old, the seller can put on a new roof or simply tell the buyer right up front to be aware that this is the way the house is being sold and unless their home inspector finds something substantially different, there will be no renegotiations in escrow.

There's a huge advantage for a seller who knows what the buyer's inspector will find before the home inspection even happens. And it stops the inevitable attempts by a buyer to beat the seller down on the final sale price.

This is the perfect example of knowledge being power. The one with the knowledge has the power.

By John A. LaRocca

Wow! LaRocca Inspections is celebrating it's 15th year in business in May! It's amazing how fast time flies by.

When LaRocca Inspections was first incorporated in 1994, it consisted of a few guys in a garage. Here's a company photo from way back then, that's me on the far right and my partners Bob on the left & Chris in the middle.

Since then, our little company has grown into a successful corporation with over a dozen inspectors and a full booking office and administrative staff. Here are some photos of our inspectors and our administrative staff, taken over this past holiday season.

WHAT A GOOD LOOKING GROUP OF INSPECTORS! (From left to right: Jerry Corum, Mark Harrison, Steve Nichols, Jose Diaz, Gregg Forscher, Steve Ellsworth, Stan Tabor, Garett Martell, David Hamilton, Bud Hayes, Dave Short & Joe Wood - Not Pictured: Bob Wood & Mark Phillips)

THE AMAZING ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF: (From left to right: Jason Wrightsman, Kendra Quigley, Sue Phillips, Jan Brennecke, Chris Wrightsman, myself, John Paul Bakshoian, Susan Hodge, April Kass, Rosemary Dunstan & Amy Richeson - Not Pictured: Clay Brennecke & Fawn Fayton)

I recently read that over 50% of small businesses fail within the first 5 years... so I wanted to say THANK YOU to my amazing team for their years of dedication to LaRocca Inspections. And THANKS as well to all of our clients for your business and to the real estate agents for your referrals! We look forward to working with you for the next 15 years!

My company, LaRocca Inspections, has been using a wonderful scheduling office to book our inspections for years. They are located in the same office as us and began booking our sister companies inspections a few years back as well (Mold, Chimney & Sewer Inspections.) This was so successful and so helpful to our clients that the scheduling company has decided to become a one call only Central Scheduling Office.

InspectionLink is the name of the office and they can now book a variety of inspections that may be needed or wanted either during a real estate transaction, needed for Insurance purposes or just wanted by a typical home owner.

They can currently schedule Property Inspections (Residential, Multi-Family & Commercial Properties), Certified Stone Inspections, Chimney Inspections, Drainage Inspections, Electrical Inspections, Foundation Inspections, Geological Inspections, Mold Inspections, Pool & Spa Inspections, Plumbing Inspections, Rain Leak Detection, Restoration Drycleaning Assessments, Roofing Inspections & Certifications, Sewer Inspections, Septic Inspections & Termite Inspections.

They currently cover Los Angeles County and some surrounding areas but plan to expand both their services and coverage area in 2009. Ideally they will be able to book any kind of inspection you need anywhere in Southern CA by the end of the year.

In order to schedule an inspection through inspectionLink the client or agent can call one number and tell the scheduler what time frame they plan on being at the property. InspectionLink will do the coordinating to get all of the inspectors at the property during the time frame specified so that the clients and agent do not have to drive to the property multiple times (TIME IS MONEY AFTER ALL!). This service will not cost the client a dime. (They will still be charged the normal inspection fees.)

The best thing is that InspectionLink only includes inspectors that are properly qualified. Each Inspector or Company that InspectionLink books for has to provide copies of necessary licensing, certifications, insurance, workmans comp, bonds and any other relevant certifications for their field. InspectionLink keeps these documents on file and will be happy to fax a copy as needed to any client who requests it.

So, what do you think? Would you use this service? Do you have any questions or comments? Please let me know.

John LaRocca

President - LaRocca Inspections

www.LaRoccaInspect.com (818) 951-1795

My Company, LaRocca Inspections, had a team of walkers and runners at the annual Say No to Drugs Holiday Classic 5K/10K Race. I wanted to share the info with Active Rain about the cause www.Saynotodrugsrace.org

Here are some photos of "TEAM LAROCCA" this past Sunday after the race!

GROUP SHOT (Not pictured: Stan Tabor, Pam Glazier, Sara Ambrose)

Me & our Marketing Director (and race coordinator) April Kass

What a great looking family! (Left to right: Amy Richeson & boyfried Rory Foley, Chris Richeson & girlfriend Cheryl Kinnard, Amy and Chris's parents Sue & Mark Phillips)

We had a great time at the race, it happens every December at Griffith Park in Hollywood, CA

Maybe we'll see some more Active Rainer's there next year!

John LaRocca - President LaRocca Inspections www.LaRoccaInspect.com

Hey SoCal Realtors!

The annual Realtor Expo is coming starting tomorrow (TUESDAY, OCT 14th) and going through Thursday (OCT 16th). If you've never come to a C.A.R. Expo I urge you to come by. they expect more than 10,000 realtors this year and there are hundreds of vendors and dozens of seminars to attend. this year there is also a "Green" theme and actor Ed Begley Jr. will be there to support this cause.

My company LaRocca Inspections will be exhibiting for the 3rd. year in a row. Please stop by our booth (#1545) and enter our drawing. We are drawing for gift cards to Macy's Home Depot and Starbucks. We also have a special drawing just for Office Managers or Owners.

I hope to see you there!

John LaRocca & April Kass

(818) 951-1795 www.LaRoccaInspect.com

Check out www.RealtorExpo.org for more info