A home inspection can reveal critical issues—but not everything leads to negotiation. Learn what’s worth flagging, what’s considered normal aging, and how to use disclosures and visible wear to write a smart, informed offer.
If you’ve ever looked at a home survey and seen labels like “utility easement” or “sewer easement,” you may have wondered: what do these actually mean—and why should I care? In Texas, easements give the city or utility providers the legal right to access parts of your property for specific uses, even though you still own the land.
Understanding where easements are and what they permit is essential—because while they might not impact your daily life today, they can suddenly matter a lot when you’re planning to build, landscape, or even just replace a fence.
At Adam Timothy Group, we believe that transparency and education are key parts of the homebuying process. If you’re buying a home in Austin—or anywhere in Texas—there are several standard compliance forms we provide to make sure you’re informed and protected throughout the process. Here’s a brief explanation of each one you’ll come across as a buyer.
The Texas Association of Realtors (TAR) Standard Lease includes specific prohibitions that help protect both the tenant and landlord while ensuring the property is maintained properly and legally. These clauses are commonly found in most residential leases across Texas, and they are particularly important for ensuring that tenants use the property responsibly.
Pricing a property correctly from the start is one of the most critical factors in achieving a successful sale. It’s a topic that can sometimes be met with resistance from sellers, but the reality is this: there is no real benefit to overpricing a home just to “leave room to negotiate.” In fact, doing so can end up costing you more in the long run.
Home appraisals play a crucial role in real estate transactions, particularly for lenders who rely on them to assess the fair market value of a property before issuing a mortgage. While appraisals are meant to provide a neutral, data-driven valuation, they are not always final. In some cases, an appraisal can be revised mid-process, unexpectedly lowered, or even completely overturned—jeopardizing a transaction and forcing buyers, sellers, and agents to rethink their plans.