So, you decided to start you home search, but what if it’s raining? Should you wait or move forward?
Well, a rainy day can be one of the best days to look at a house. A rainy day may not give you the best perspective for curb appeal; however, a rainy day will give you real insight to a property you’re seriously considering. Lets start your rainy day search.
Lets start your search when you enter the driveway. If it’s raining really hard you can get good idea if the street is prone to flooding. Is the water flowing away from the property or into it. Look at drainage ditches and see if they are filling fast.
Is the yard flooding? Are you willing to trudge through a yard that floods when it rains? Yard flooding issues may need to be corrected by grading the yard.
Look at the gutters of the house, especially if they are overflowing or missing? Are the gutters clogged and need to be cleaned; this could be something to add to the inspection report if you’re planning on purchasing. Look at the downspouts, are they moving the water away from the house or is the water pooling in front? This can lead to foundation issues years down the road. This can possibly be corrected by downspout extensions or, as mentioned earlier, my require some yard grading.
Ok, now time to enter the house, time to look for water stains or mold on ceilings or walls. Keep in mind, It’s easy for a homeowner to try and hide possible water damage by painting over water stains but paint can start to bubble up when it gets water under it, this is especially true if its been raining a while. Look at the walls, especially around windows and the ceiling closest to the outside of the house. If you can access the attic, it is a bonus, since you should be able to see any dripping water or damp water stains from the roof.
What about basements or crawl spaces, are they collecting water? Water or dampness in these areas can lead to foundation issues years down the road, not to mention mold, fungus and wood rot. If you see seepage from the basement or crawl space walls you may be looking at the foundation walls needing sealing.
But what about the downside of looking at a house in the rain? Rain can hide potential roof discoloration which could show an ageing roof. It can also cover staining on the house, driveway or foundation which could be an indicator of a potential foundation issue.
Searching for these potential water issues can be a great start when looking at a house, but don’t over-look using a home inspector to evaluate the house. Don’t forget to let your home inspector know about these hot-spots so he can investigate these issues further.
Happy House Hunting!
