The afternoons have been filled with heavy rainstorms around here lately. We have being having storms with heavy thunder and lightning. Often we find the lights flickering off and on.
Yesterday, I got a call from one of my sellers letting me know that the Realtor coming to see her house had not shown up for their 2:30 showing appointment. My seller likes to leave when potential buyers arrive. “Do you think they’re still coming, with all of the rain we’re having?” “I hope so,” I told her. I would find out.
I like showing houses after a storm. (Provided the roads aren’t flooded and I am not subjecting my clients to dangerous conditions.) It can be very telling.
In looking at houses in the rain, I've seen a house where the back patio was completely underwater and it was an inch from coming into the house.
-A living room ceiling that was leaking in several places.
-A front yard that looked more like a swimming pool than a yard.
-And neighborhood streets that were barely passable by SUV.
Flooding, standing water and leaks are things a buyer may not have been aware of had they not seen a house or neighborhood in or after the rains.
When thinking of buying a house, buyers should take a drive by the house after a big storm, if possible. ( I realize this isn’t always feasible). Drive through the neighborhood. Is there standing water? Where? How much? How fast is the water dissipating? Was it a 'typical' storm that just passed through? You may not like what you see. But, in the long run, it may save you money and heartache.
