LEAVE THE HEAT ON!!!

When advising your clients to get a home inspection make sure they get a good inspector. There are some inspectors out there that are really lazy. Having a good inspector is especially true on foreclosure property. There are many problems that are hard to spot or take extra time to uncover and many, no most of the inspectors, just do not take the time to look that hard. Whether you are listing a property or representing a buyer be aware of the things that the cold weather may do to the property. As a home inspector I have seen many problems that could have been avoided just by keeping the house heated to a low temperature like 50 degrees. Above all remember this; many of the materials inside of a home are not meant to be frozen. Sub floors made of particleboard type material or OSB, can sometimes be damaged when frozen. The reps from some of these companies have told me that the inside of these homes trap humidity because they are usually closed up all the time. This moisture then penetrates the floors, counter tops, and other wood material and when frozen goes through the "freeze - thaw" cycle and swells or warps the wood. The wood may go through this several times in a winter and destroy the integrity of the material. If possible (and I know it's not always possible) try to convince the seller of the advantages or disadvantages of an unheated house. Also remember as far as plumbing winterization goes, a local TV investigating reporter surveyed almost 500 homes and found out that over 80% had damage to the pipes even after a professional winterized the home. There are usually low spots that just can not be drained properly and these areas are susceptible to damage. Leaving the heat on helps in both of these situations in addition to making the house easier to sell by making it more comfortable to show. Also there can be structural problems. I have seen basement walls pushed out from the concrete slab floor 2" and it was missed by a point of sale inspector and a private inspector. I can't stress the importance of getting a good inspector. Feel free to call me (612-701-9672) or visit my website at http://www.reassurancehomeinspection.com if you have any questions about a particular house. I would be glad to help out rather that have your client buy a bad house. I have been specializing in foreclosure homes for 3 years and have a lot of experience with these unique problems. These are just Good luck to all.