The Washington Post - 09.11.2019

11

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THE WASHINGTON POST

.

SATURDAy, NOVEMbER 9, 2019

ample entertainment options.

Houseboat residents can walk to

the Waterfront Metro stop for

commuting.

The 750-square-foot house-

boat was built in 1988. It includes

a full kitchen with granite coun-

ters, a copper sink, a full-size

refrigerator, a built-in range,

wine storage and a microwave

oven.

The houseboat also has a

breakfast area, a living room, a

sitting area, two bedrooms and

two bathrooms, including one

with a bathtub and one with a

stall shower. The houseboat has

wood floors, recessed lighting,

skylights, a cedar closet and built-

in drawers and shelves. Pets are

allowed. The houseboat has cen-

tral air conditioning and a heat

pump.

For more information about

the houseboat, contact real estate

agent Amanda Palafox with

Keller Williams Capital Proper-

ties at 202-236-4431.

Town SquareReal estate News & Notes

BY MICHELE LERNER

The median sales price for
homes in the District was
$575,000 in September, accord-
ing to Bright MLS. Thinking out-
side the box — or in this case,
outside the traditional home style
— can produce a creative solution
to affordable housing in hot
neighborhoods such as the
Southwest Waterfront.
For example, the houseboat
docked at 600 Water St. SW, Unit
Z-8, is priced at $ 350,000. Month-
ly fees are $913, which include the
homeowner association dues.
The owners report that the aver-
age monthly electrical bill is $150.
The houseboat was originally list-
ed for $400,000.
While the boat is fully opera-
tional and can be used to cruise
nearby waterways, it’s docked
among a community of house-
boats adjacent to the Wharf’s

Houseboat

at lively Wharf

is listed for

$35 0 ,0 00

BY MICHELE LERNER

A professional h ome inspection

helps home b uyers learn about t he

condition of a property before

making a purchase. But not all

home inspectors are created

equal.

We a sked Kathleen Kuhn, presi-

dent and CEO of HouseMaster, a

home inspection company, to

share her insights into how con-

sumers can pick a home inspector

who will do the best job.

“ Consumers should inspect the

inspector when shopping for a

home inspector,” K uhn wrote i n an

email.

Kuhn points out that many

states require a form of licensing

or registration for a person to per-

form h ome inspections.

“Consumers should make sure

that a home inspector has access

to ongoing technical support and

is tested every year — not just

during initial licensing — to en-

sure they stay up-to-date on in-

specting conditions in a home,”

she wrote.

Home inspectors provide a re-

port t o buyers a fter the inspection.

The report quality and features

within it are also crucial to a good

inspection, Kuhn w rote.

Buyers can request sample re-

ports from inspectors before they

hire them to see the level of detail

they can expect.

“ Home buyers should ensure

the inspector they hire includes

digital images in their reports and

offers a repair list generator fea-

ture, which i s a feature t hat allows

a consumer to pull needed repairs

directly from t he r eport and popu-

late a list of repairs to submit to

the home seller as part of their

negotiations.”

In addition, Kuhn offers a sim-

ple but important tip:

“Choose a home inspector who

encourages you to go along on the

inspection,” s he wrote.

“Your home inspection should

be an opportunity to learn about

the house directly from the home

inspector, which includes getting

a firsthand look at any conditions

or concerns identified.”

Accompanying the inspector

will allow the buyer to ask ques-

tions to clarify parts of an inspec-

tion t hat may be c onfusing or con-

cerning. “If your home inspector

insists on working alone, you

should consider hiring another

home i nspector,” s he said.

Make sure your inspector is up to snuff

B AKeR B SolUTIoNS

The 750-square-foot houseboat docked at 600 Water St. SW in

Washington has a full kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16

TH

FROM NOON-5PM

Condominium

The

GRAND

OPENING

WEEKEND

JOIN US FOR OUR

202.846.8023

LIVEATLEXICON.COM

*Disclaimer: Offer subject to change without notice and available on non-

brokered contracts. Confirm all details with the sales manager.

Here size matters — Find the

perfect place for your new city-

centric lifestyle, featuring spacious

floorplans, private outdoor spaces,

and state-of-the-art amenities

with easy access to anywhere you

want to go.

Sales Gallery: 50 Florida Ave NE, WDC 20002

forward.

relentless.

progress.

Homes from the $400,000’s