Thinking of making a foreclosure your home sweet home? Better gather up your trustees.
After the housing market skyrocketed beyond a maintainable level, it fell to a new low. One of the most noticeable consequences is the incredible number of foreclosures now on the market. But if you’re thinking of getting a low mortgage payment by becoming the owner of a recently foreclosed home, you better know what you’re getting into.
Gift Some Safety!
“Foreclosure properties are great opportunities to get into a nice home at a great price,” says Melanie Levine, owner of Mellex Title, Inc. “You’ve just got to know what you’re doing and surround yourself with people you can trust.” Who should you include in your circle of foreclosure trustees and why? You’re about to find out.
Trustee 1: Inspector
If at all possible, you should have a professional inspector check out your potential new home. While it’s always important to give your next house a good look-over, it’s even more important if your next house is a foreclosure. Because in case you didn’t get the memo, foreclosed properties aren’t always left in pristine condition.
Need Focus?
As the previous owners obviously struggled to make their mortgage, they likely got caught up in things other than home maintenance. As a result, the house may have some serious issues that become yours when you sign on the dotted line. Having a pro look it over will let you determine if you’ve got enough dough to afford buying such a cheap home.
Trustee 2: Loved Ones
Just because a house passes inspection doesn’t mean it’s the place for you. Instead of plunging into buying a foreclosure, have your loved ones check out the place as well. Ask their opinion of the home and accept their opinion for what it’s worth. They may notice issues you overlook because of the great price you’re getting.
If these issues (bad neighborhood, small or unkempt yard, 20 more minutes from work) aren’t enough to keep you moving forward with purchasing the foreclosure, then go for it. Just make sure you consider what your loved ones have to say. They are, after all, trying to look out for your best interest.
Trustee 3: Title Agent
Want to make sure your new home is your home until you’re ready to sell it? Then you need a title agent who makes sure everything is done properly on the front end. That means making sure you get title insurance and a municipal lien search on the property. And a quality title agent won’t let you get away with a hit-and-run lien search. Melanie recommends making sure your search includes code violations, open permits, past due taxes. Otherwise, you may get stuck with something you didn’t bargain for.
Mixed Martial Arts Phenom!
“I had one client who couldn’t be convinced to undergo a municipal lien search, and was so convinced she didn’t need one that she signed an affidavit to hold the title harmless,” Melanie recalls. “As a result, she got stuck with a lien from the previous owner, and it’s all because she was in such a hurry to close!”
Interested in purchasing a foreclosure and want to make sure your money and your home is protected? Contact Melanie Levine at Mellex Title at (954) 914-5858 or Melanie@MellexTitle.com, find Mellex online at www.MellexTitle.com, or follow Melanie on Twitter.
Written exclusively for The Club by none other than Daniel Brantley, chicken farmer and freelance writer and editor. Find him online, follow him on Twitter, or contact him directly. Amplification, Inc. combines the best parts of reputation management, awareness, marketing, public relations, and buzz delivered via social media. Check us out!
God's Heart
The next time you hop in your car, ask yourself if you’re safe. If you’re not sure, Autologic, Inc. will find the answer at no cost.
Whether you’re going to work, taking your kids to school, heading out on vacation, or picking up a prescription at the pharmacy, you want to be safe in your car, truck, SUV, or van. Unfortunately, there is an array of minor or major problems that could put you in harm’s way while on the road. That’s why it’s important to stay on top of any potential problems.
To help you do just that, Autologic, Inc. is here to give you the gift of safety.
“Keeping people safe on the road is a passion that I’ve been pursuing for a long time,” says Ariel Chmielarz, master mechanic who founded Autologic 32 years ago. “One way we’re doing this now is by offering a free safety check and a discount on any work done for anyone and anyone who cares about keeping their car in tip-top shape.”
Mixing Business with Pleasure
Free?
Yes. Free. There are no ifs, ands, or buts; no fine print; no tricks to force you to have work done at Autologic. Just a crew of experienced mechanics who are willing to check out your ride to make sure it’s road-worthy for the safety of you, your family, and everyone else you come across in your travels.
In the event an issue or two is found with your automobile, you’re given the diagnosis and explained what ought to be done to remedy the problems. However, there is no obligation to have your car serviced at Autologic. Just a little incentive. Because for customers who take advantage of the free safety check, Autologic is offering $50 off the first $100 worth of work. Think that $50 won’t go too far? Then you’ve never been to Autologic. With Autologic mechanics’ skill, honesty, and dedication to providing the right price, that $50 will go a long way toward getting your ride on the road, safe and sound.
Find the Focus
Make It Happen
Interested in turning your not-so-safe ride into a beacon of safety? Contact Autologic to schedule your safety inspection. Don’t have time to drive to the shop? They’ll provide free pick up and drop off within a five-mile radius of Autologic headquarters.
“We’ll do whatever it takes to encourage folks to bring their cars here,” Ariel says. “Our goal is to help people have safer automobiles, and we do it in a convenient, cost-effective way. It’s how we’ve done business from day one, and that’s not going to change.”
Once you drop off your car, truck, van, or SUV at Autologic, you can get back to life. A couple hours later, you’ll be contacted about your ride. If any issues are found, you’ll be updated on the problems, and a master mechanic will tell you the best solution. Of course, you don’t have to keep this safe-tastic deal to yourself. Have a loved one whose car needs a little work? Get them a $100 gift certificate to Autologic for only $50. Because safety is one of the few gifts that gives back every day.
From Hockey to Mixed Martial Arts
When you’re ready to find out just how safe your automobile is and what can be done to make it even safer, contact Autologic, Inc. at (954) 462-7560 to schedule your free safety inspection. Know there are some issues that need to be resolved with your car, truck, van, or SUV? Head to Autologic at 608 Southwest Flagler Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, and tell them you’d like to turn your $50 into $100 worth of work. (Limit: One $50-for-$100 discount per vehicle.) And learn more about Autologic by visiting www.autologic.com.
When Jim Pascucci needs a car, truck, van, or SUV serviced in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Autologic has him covered.
As the vice president of operations at Airstron, Inc., Jim Pascucci, Sr. was in charge of a fleet of more than 100 vehicles. Within the fleet were dozens of 3/4-ton and 1-ton service vans; a few flatbed trucks; some pick-up trucks; and a handful of SUVs, sedans, and pick-up trucks scattered across Florida.
A big part of taking care of the vehicles was finding local mechanics to perform routine maintenance and more labor-intensive work. Fortunately, when Jim was driving around town, he happened to drive by Autologic, Inc. Wanting a good mechanic who had the technology and expertise to handle any size job in a timely manner, Jim decided to drop in and check out the shop.
“I was looking for a one-stop shop close to our office, and Autologic was only five minutes away,” Jim recalls a few days into his retirement. “When I met the owner, Ariel Chmielarz, I was immediately comfortable, because he was very knowledgeable and straight-forward.”
All on a Handshake
Soon after, Autologic became Airstron’s hometown mechanic. Whenever an automobile in the local fleet needed an oil change, new spark plugs, radiator flush, differential inspection, or a new engine or transmission, Autologic took care of it. And it didn’t require anything more than a gentleman’s agreement, sealed with a handshake.
“It shouldn’t take a fancy contract to build trust, and Ariel understands that,” Jim says. “In today’s business world, everything has to be signed and notarized because people are afraid they’ll get sued. Ariel isn’t that way at all. When he says going to do something, he does it, and he does it well, so there is a mutual respect and trust between him and his customers.”
More than a Business Deal
At the same time Jim was taking his fleet of vans, trucks, and cars to Autologic, he was doing the same with his own personal automobile and those of his family. Now that he has retired, that’s not going to change. Unless he or his family moves, Jim expects his wife, children, and grandchildren will continue using Ariel and the master mechanics at Autologic for years to come, and Autologic will continue to be the local mechanic for Airstron.
“I want to deal with people who can be trusted. Ariel is one of those people,” Jim says. “He’s a great mechanic with a good crew in there with him. I’m really glad I found Autologic.”
Ready to put your ride in the hands of skilled and honest mechanics? Hop in your car, truck, van, or SUV, and head to Autologic, Inc., at 608 Southwest Flagler Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301. You can also contact owner Ariel Chmielarz and the rest of the Autologic crew at (954) 462-7560 or learn more about their high-quality, cost-efficient services by visiting www.autologicfl.com. Find them on Facebook by clicking here.
Written exclusively for The Club by Daniel Brantley, who is growing so tired of putting his car in the shop for weeks at a time that he is considering moving to Florida to get access to Autologic. E-mail Daniel, find him online, or follow him at www.twitter.com/danielkbrantley.
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