(We partnered with Travelers Insurance for this post. For more on our partnerships please visit here.)
Today, we’re thrilled to share our favorite new online tool from Travelers Insurance, which allows you to check the renovation history on a home so that you can discover the major work done in the past. First, of course, everyone needs to fall in love with a home. This is our story.
Once upon a time, we literally stumbled upon a house.
The story of how we found it is definitely a comical one. Likened to true love, next to how we met, and how our children were born, this entire chapter of our lives is one of my personal favorites.
It’s the story where we lost our ever loving minds, after waiting a year for our home to sell and pack the car on a whim to head to Disney. Our home actually sold while we were there, with a little pixie dust.Four whole days before, we lost our everlovingminds and went on vacay after waiting for one year for our current house to sell. Our house actually sold while we were there, with a little pixie dust
I’m not one to believe in destiny and fate and things that sound exclusive and cheesy, but this house was waiting for us.
And we were waiting for it.
The moment involved me being hangry and discouraged on a vacay hangover, almost not wanting to see said house. It had been a rainy day of looking. Jamin had zoned out in the back seat after a morning of searching {we’d actually been looking for a year while we waited for our home to sell, so that morning had been especially discouraging}. I reached back from the front seat with our realtor to tap his knee to make sure he was taking in the neighborhood while we drove down our soon-to-be-street. These were the kind of yards we grew up in… the kind that were hard to come by in Nashville. It was the first moment all day when something had actually snagged our attention.
And really, it all comes back to those swings in the front yard… becuase they absolutely charmed us.
I almost wrote off the house. But on a whim, I asked our realtor to take us there, after all, when she patiently pulled out the crumpled listing to review again over lunch. “Fine, I said. Let’s go see it.”
They were these pair of forgotten swings that seemed so inviting, almost like they were waiting for us to fill them with happy again.
Because when we pulled up into the drive, it had this charming, almost-forgotten feel. Never mind that the walls were literally warped, the carpet had a weird smell and there were some funky things going on in the basement… And let’s not forget, that the pool was most definitely a deep swampy green.
It made absolutely no sense at all, but this was our house. We had a vision for it, and for our family.
A bonus round for us: We didn’t even realize where we were located in the moment, but this house, out of the hundreds of houses and of school zones we could have seen that day, was the very school we’d toured a year before out of curiosity. A school where three sets of long-time college friends already sent their children, and a location that kind of blew our minds when we threw in all the variables and timing.
It’s like all the things fell into place, and we fell in love. Before we knew it we were pacing the floors, throwing our hands into the air with grand gestures, talking about what we could do… and we were all crying with excitement. This was it. This was the house.
I’ve probably said it here before, but searching for a home can feel a lot like dating.
There’s a few awkward moments and you wonder if the house is the right fit for you, when you’re looking. And then before you know it, you’re kind of smitten… even if it doesn’t really make sense.
Now that we’ve rehabbed a house of our own and are working with clients in the area to overhaul theirs, we were absolutely thrilled when we heard about this little gem of a tool we can’t wait to tell you about today.
Because if finding the perfect house is like dating, then this is the part where you go home after said date, and find out all you can about that person. {Side note: I really must say I’m glad my dating days happened when the internet still made those AOL {skeeeweeerrtttt} sounds.}
But this site is what you need… protecting you against falling in love until you find out if they stand up as soon as the airplane lands, they argue with people in celebrities instagram comments, or that they dip their fries in mayo. Deal breakers.
Jk on the mayo. I actually tried that the other day, and it was pretty good. Shhh no judging.
The fabulous Traveler’s Insurance website, Home Central, is the place to be. Because they have a great new tool, that you can find here.
So you can do a little background check before you’re all in.
This is a wonderful search tool that enables consumers to enter an address and view the info on a house they just might have fallen in love with. What are the pulled permits of the past? The dates and contractors for major roof repairs, heating and cooling, plumbing and electrical work are all listed in a free report.
Along with scores provided by property insight provider BuildFax on the condition of various aspects of the house. The open house tool includes how it compares to others in the area. You can also purchase an optional premium report, which features the complete permit descriptions as well as info on permits outside of the four key areas.
Because owners don’t always disclose that they did a little Frankenstein electrical work in the basement or that they turned the pool shed into a makeshift outhouse. A tool like OpenHouse tells you if the work was permitted, and at least you know that the owner didn’t do the work themselves. So while we say you also need to go with your gut on the next big move and what’s right with your family, it’s also important to do all the homework in the meantime, that you can.
Older homes come with a backstory, and this tool is fabulous because it helps prospective home buyers better understand the history of major work and renovation for the home they plan to buy. It’s like an additional background check when you’re ready to do the inspections and that next level of commitment.
So you simply go to their site and enter an address. It will pull up the data that they have, and you can have a little more insight.
Right now, their site is estimated to cover over 70% of homes in the United States. If your current address is not available, try it out for a previous address or a location you’re interested in. It’s really fascinating to see some of the results!
That way, you know a little more of what you’re getting into, before you take the dive, and go all in.
We hope you guys enjoy putting this one in your back pocket for future use… be sure to check out the Traveler’s Insurance website for even more useful tools that are perfect for a homeowner.
Because happy endings are what we’re all about.
Have an inspired day!
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