Paul Campbell

We had the home we are buying in Lexington inspected this morning. I followed the inspector and was intentional about watching and talking very little as he worked. I encourage my clients to watch the home inspection and to be aware the inspector can be distracted and miss something. I beleive when buying a home following the inspector can be a very good way to really learn about the different systems of the home. If you watch and listen and are careful to not distract my experience has been the inspector will point out important details to you. This can make it much easier to understand the report.

Our inspector was very diligent and would specifically share details that were quite helpful. For instance he pointed out a place where it would be wise to add flashing. It was not an obvious place and there had not been any damage but it could become a problem if not taken care of.

What I especially appreciated about the inspector was that he sat down with me and the seller and went over the inspection detail by detail. I requested that the seller was present and he was willing. I believe having both buyer and seller is wise and creates less chance for misunderstanding. After the presentation I wrote on the inspection form exactly what I wanted fixed and he agreed. This owner is a fix it man and the home is in very good shape. However there are still some significant things needed to be fixed such as three breakers that were over amped. An overamped breaker will not trip if there is a problem and it can easily cause a fire. This is not a big expense and if I were comfortable with electricity I would do it myself. However I have working with electricity and this is something I don't want to mess with.

One thing I most appreciate about this inspector is that he sat sown and went through the inspection and then left me a binder with all of the inspection details. In Washington State the inspectors always left and then sent a detailed report via email. There was always a ton of verbage and good pictures but I had a much better understanding of the inspection by sitting down with the inspector.

Once again the whole process affirmed that the inspection process is worth much more than the money paid. I bought an older home that was in excellent shape but there still are things that need to be done that had escaped the eye of the owner. Just having a good understanding of the home systems was worth the price of the inspection. Paul

Since arriving in Lexington less than two weeks ago I have had two interesting encounters with sellers. I drove by a very desirable property that backs up to the aboretum that was a FSBO. I whipped out my cell and dialed. The owner answered and invited me into her home. She gave me a self made flyer and I immediately suspected she was way over the market price. I went back to the and was able to quickly connect with a realtor that has sold several homes in that area the past 10 years. In fact he had sold one just a few doors down this spring. He was able to describe the home to me and tell me what a market price would be. The seller is asking 25 percent more than the market can bear.

A couple of days later I was jogging in my daughters neighborhood passed a home that was for sale by owner. He was just coming home from a stroll with his boxer. I took a flyer from his FSBO tube and talked with him a moment. He had the home list for several months and now has dropped the price 6 thousand hoping to sell it himself. His price is still at least 12 percent over the market price.

How often do listing agents list homes at prices they know will not sell just to get the listing? I hope that one of my collegues would kindly persuade me or even if needed kick me in the caboose if I am not absolutely honest with the owner. In this current market listing properties 10 percent over their real value is a waste of my time and of the sellers time. There are just too many good values out there to expect buyers to foolishly throw their money away. Hoping to get even five percent over the real value in this market is akin to hoping to win a school raffle.

Both of these sellers need someone who will tell them the truth. So when do I approach them and how do I do it? I would love some feedback from people who have experience with FSBO sellers. Is there something to say to them to help them want to listen? Do I just call and say please

I would very much like some tips on how to jump start my business in my new location of Lexington, Kentucky.

I began to connect with 24 people that are friends of my son in March and have been sending them information every month. I have called them to ask for permission to keep sending info and they have been very responsive.

I also have determined to use this blog on a daily basis.

One of my goals upon moving is to build relationships with other professionals in service industries. Kathy and I will need to start from scratch with doctors, insurance agents, etc. I also want a network of skilled laborers like plumbers that can service rental properties I may buy.

If you have any ideas please give me some comments.

If the house closes when it is supposed to on June 10th my wife Kathy and I will load the POD, put a few things in the car, let the cocker jump in and begin our journey to Lexington, Kentucky.

I am an associate with Rector Hayden South in Lexington. For the past 36 years my wife Kathy and I have lived very close to our work places and also had the fortune of owning enough land to have a small organic farm. I was raised on an organic farm and eating my own food is very important to me.

So right now I am weighing the options of buying a home close to my work place. Buying a home within a couple of miles of the Lexington South office makes it very difficult to find anything with even an acre. I have found a couple of places with more than an acre within seven miles. I am torn between living on a small piece of land where I can have a small organic farm and living near my work place.

I very much want to work with buyers who are passionate about living close to their workplace and gardening. So right now I am thinking that it would be best to work with University of Kentucky employees since the universtiy is near my office. I also hope to find that many of the UK employees are passionate about growing their own food.

If you have lived or do live in Kentucky I would love your feedback.

Thanks very much! Paul