Several weeks ago, during a routine home inspection of a new home in Bryan, Texas, the inspector told my first time home buyer client that the left side of the soffit did not have vent holes, like were present on the right hand side. It became an issue of concern to my buyer...why were the vents missing from the solid, Hardi plank soffit?
One of the builder’s architect is a friend of mine, so I sent him a message asking about the missing ventilation holes. He sent me the following reply, “I'm glad you have a prospect for our house! The houses in [that subdivision] are not vented on the zero-lot-line side because of the building code. It has to be a one-hour fire-rated wall since it's on the lot line. That's why we can't have openings in the soffit.”
(Zero-Lot-Line lots are like they sound. The developer obtains permission from the City of Bryan to build a house right on the property line–typically the overhang drip line is right at the property. This is much less than the normal set-back requirement. The benefit to home buyers is that they will have less yard to maintain).
This explanation satisfied my client, so we moved one step closer to closing. My client is excited to be able to purchase the first home, which is also a brand new home. I saw the growing excitement of moving towards closing when we did the walk through. Congratulations are in order!
Among other types of home buyers, I enjoy working with first time buyers in Bryan and College Station, Texas. It is a pleasure to help them find that first home, to see the excitement in their eyes during the walk-through and then join them at the closing table.
~Nathan Cook, Realtor®
Broker Associate
Classic Realty/GMAC Real Estate
3600 HWY 6 South, STE 100
College Station, TX 77845
979-324-8844 cell
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