Home inspections are a challenge during the winter.
Home buyers should have a thorough home inspection regardless of the time of year. But in the winter months, home inspectors work around the ice, snow, and slippery conditions.
On the podcast, Listen Up Home Buyers! Glenn Grutta, the owner of Vector Home Inspections in Massachusetts walks us through a winter home inspection.
:33 One of the biggest challenges to doing a home inspection in winter is getting to the property to do the inspection
:52 when snow is on the ground, how do you evaluate the perimeter of the home?
1:20 start with the interior of the house to keep the property neater
2:00 snow on the roof limits the visual but there are clues
2:15 lines on the roof indicate heat loss in the home
2:45 the lines you see on the roof are the actual rafters
This indicates the need for better insulation
3:13 icicles and ice dams on a house
3:38 ice dams are often associated with water in the house but that’s not the entire story
4:15 in the attic, look at the nails in the roof for signs of heat loss
4:40 in the winter the inspector spends more time in the attic so evaluate the roof
5:00 newer homes have better insulation than old houses and are less likely to have ice dams
6:08 heat cables, what are they?
7:13 advice for homeowners in the winter
7:50 look for pipes exposed to the weather
8:03 what to do with water pickets
8:30 plumbing on exterior walls, what to do
9:07 home ownership is doing visual maintenance
9:45 look for clues while doing an exterior walkthrough
10:04 most homes are not graded properly
You want a positive grade the dirt
11:03 remember water is your enemy as a homeowner or home buyer
11:39 create your own history in a home
12:30 weather patterns have changed and there is more water sitting on properties which can cause issues for the home.
12:50 sit with a house before major remodeling projects
14:00 winter time is an opportunity to check the windows
14:32 make a list of your concerns and don’t be afraid to ask questions
15:03 as a home buyer, who inspects the house is your decision. Choose a home inspector who communicates well
15:45 interview your home inspector
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