Greetings,
Buying a house is serious business. Whether a recently built estate, or a modest fixer-upper, getting the lowdown on your potential home is of extreme importance. Using a qualified home inspector is always your best bet for a thorough home evaluation. It is a good idea to have a general understanding of what to look out for when purchasing a home.
HGTV.com surveyed several of the top home inspectors in the country, which all were featured on House Detective. This was to arm you with information on what to look out for when evaluating your potential purchase.
Here is a list of things to watch out for:
Grade sloping~ (or draining) back toward the home. This could lead to damp or wet crawlspaces, foundation movement, cracking or settlement. Water wicking up the foundation could lead to rot in the walls, framing members and mold. Some indications of foundation movement include windows that are out of square; interior doors that have large, uneven gaps at the top when the door is closed; or floors visibly out of level. If you see this, know that the cost to correct this problem could add up quickly.
Stucco issues~ Homes with stucco exterior surfaces, when applied correctly, will last a lifetime. However, a major flaw we see in the field could add up to water in the living space and big bucks out of your pocket. At the base of exterior walls, where the foundation and the bottom plate (sill plate) meet, a component of a stucco-surfaced wall called a weep screed is applied. We know water can enter stucco through cracks, around unsealed light fixtures, outlets and the like. The water then hits the house wrap and sheds down to the weep screed and out the building. This is brilliant, but when concrete patios, stoops or sidewalks have been poured too high and the weep screed is buried, the system cannot work and water may enter the walls and living space. When you are walking around a house and you see the weep screed disappear into the concrete, this may one day lead to water intrusion and damage.
Roofing materials~ as ones home ages, so does the material covering the roof. This is the component of the house that keeps us and the internal workings of the house dry. As the roofing material ages, it lends itself to water intrusion and can lead to expensive repairs or even replacement. If roofing material is improperly installed, it can lead to premature aging. There are many types of roofing materials used to protect us from the elements. The most common, starting with the most economical, are asphalt shingles, wood shakes/shingles, terra cotta tile, concrete tiles and slate, just to name a few.
Asphalt shingles~ they have a life expectancy of between 15 and 40 years. With age, asphalt roof shingles will begin to cup either up or down. They will blister and have granular loss. Next, the matrix (material holding the product together) will be exposed. At this point, water becomes the main enemy, waiting patiently for the opportunity to make its move.
Wood shingles and shakes~ they will show similar symptoms as asphalt when aging. Cupping, curling, lifting, splitting, insect damage, rotting and missing sections are all possible.
Terra cotta, concrete and slate tiles~ they have life expectancies of about 20 to 100+ years. These materials are very brittle. Expansion and contraction caused by the changing seasons will cause these tiles to crack or become loose. Walking on these tiles can be deadly to the material. Cracking and the signs of aging can be difficult to see from the ground. It will usually take a good pair of binoculars and a solid ladder to get a bird's eye look at the condition of the roof. Any signs of previous substandard repairs should be a warning sign that water may have been leaking into the property.
I hope this gives you some things to think about during a home inspection. We use a wonderful company that is very thorough "Home Check Inspection Service". They do the whole house and Termite and dry rot inspection and have photos and diagrams of issues that need to be addressed, or may need attention in the years to come. After the inspection Jeremy Moody will discuss with you and your favorite realtor Lori Spohn, everything he saw. We also provide a 1 year home warranty at the end of every sale as our give to our clients. We also provide a home warranty when you list with Lori Spohn. Not many realtors that we know provide this for their clients.
We have listed below the recourses where we got some of this information if you want to do more research. If you have any additional questions feel free to call me at the office, I will be happy to help.
Lori Spohn
Realty One Group Platinum
Eugene/Springfield and surrounding areas
541-914-6920
*Information from HGTV- Consult your realtor during an inspection.
* Active Rain 2014
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