What are the sellers thinking? I have found myself asking this several times. When introducing buyers to a new property during the first showing, I am keeping an eye out for any signs of water damage, moisture, mold, drainage problems, etc. Water is the biggest threat to the structure and function of a home (except for earth-ending meteors, nuclear explosions, or a 3-year-old).
Outside the home, water damage can be observed in several ways. One of the easiest places to see water damage is the guttering system. If the guttering system is not functioning properly or is not sealed well, water can find its way into the vulnerable places of the exterior. The purpose of the guttering system is to get water away from the home effectively. If the gutters are clogged, water overflows and gets near the foundation. If the gutters are not sealed well, the water can get between the gutter and fascia board to create wood rot.
Another significant exterior water issue is the grading angle of the ground from the foundation. The building code holds that the ground should have a down angle of 5 to 10 degrees for the first 10 feet from the house. When looking at the ground around a foundation, it is important to take note of how the rainwater flows. Does a big hill in the side yard force water near the foundation? Does the yard layout encourage a ponding effect? Are there signs of standing water around the foundation?
For the basement or crawlspace, poor exterior water management will show up. Standing water, high moisture, water stains, mud, and more can indicate that exterior water drainage is not working properly.
The last exterior issue that I consider is the roofing. Obviously, missing or raised shingles and poor or missing flashing can be a very negative sign of water damage in a home. When water enters the bottom near the foundation, the overall structure and footing of the home is in danger. When water enters the top of the house, all sorts of annoying and dangerous things can happen that may or may not affect the foundation.
When examining the interior of a house, I begin by looking at the ceiling. The ceiling is very telling of any water issues. The material used to form the ceiling and the walls does not react well to water exposure over time. Many stomp-finish or popcorn ceiling reveal any repair work easily. The more difficult ceiling pattern is the smooth-finish. Still, it is good to look closely at the thihs area.
More to come later.................
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