“The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity.”
- Amelia Earhart
Look on this effort as "fact finding" and not an inspection. The goal is to finish a walk around the outside of your home having created a mental, or, better yet, written list of easy-to-spot problems. I don’t want to leave you with the feeling that this is all about the negative, but you are “looking for problems.” Later we can catalogue the positive points of the house.
Remember, you are going to really look. No blinders, no excuses, no “I know about that.” You are going to deal with sometimes "hard to accept" issues. (They are only hard to accept because you are the one who will need to address them. Believe me, the buyer will have no problem recognizing an issue.)
Now that you have made a list of all the problems you identified while walking around the outside of your home, take a few minutes to compare your list with my list of home inspection items which I've compiled from home inspectors walking around various houses over the years.
Some of these items are trivial, e.g. screen door not closing or latching, some are a big deal, e.g. deck isn't properly secured to house, but they all contribute to the buyer’s (and home inspector’s) impression of how the house has been maintained.
Consider this: When home inspectors see that the gutters are overflowing and sagging and the downspouts are not properly moving water away from the house, they are much more inclined to pursue looking for moisture issues in the basement.
It is unlikely that you spotted all these items on your house, but I am sure you found some.
In future posts, I will deal in more detail with these and other issues found by home inspectors.
Earle Whitmore is a real estate industry authority in the dynamic Northern Virginia market, with hundreds of successful sales under her belt. Armed with an unrivaled depth of knowledge and an unsurpassed attention to detail, Earle takes joy in serving her clients with integrity and forthrightness as she leads them safely through the complexities of real estate transactions.
Ensuring that your chimney is in good condition is essential for the safety of your home. When you sell your home, you should anticipate a home inspector will check the chimney...
Not every chimney is brick and not every fireplace is wood burning. Chimneys constructed of framing and siding are not maintenance or problem free. Annual inspections are necessary to check for deteriorated or missing siding, problems with the metal crown or leaks where the roof and chimney meet...
Your roof is one of the most important parts of your home, providing protection from the elements and adding curb appeal. A well-maintained roof should last for decades, but it needs regular care to stay in top condition...
(Aka, want a higher sales price and more money
in your pocket? See what Earle says.)
Direct: 703-750-2900
Text: 703-282-2816
earle@earlehomes.com
Earle Whitmore
Long & Foster Real Estate®
3060 Williams Dr, Suite 101
Fairfax, VA 22031
