It's the Little Things That Make All The Difference
You've Received Your Inspection Report - Now What?
Your Home Inspection Report is a valuable tool - both for when you purchase your home and as a guide to maintain your home. Your Inspector is also a valuable asset. I appreciate my client's trust in hiring me for such an important job and I want to be a resource that you can call for help with any questions you may have for years to come.
When I write a report for my clients, I cover every detail of the home. Starting with the sidewalks and ending with the roof, I examine every inch to give you the information you'll need to negotiate the final cost of the home based on it's condition.
I put the "Big" things in a summary at the end – I list issues that may cost a lot of money to repair and that may be hazardous to your health and safety in RED. These are usually what are used as negotiating points by you and your Realtor to adjust the final cost. Also in the summary I list things that are important to me in BLUE because I want you to pay special attention to them. These are the "little" things that mean a lot.
So You've Closed on the Home, Now What?
Hopefully, this means that all the RED issues in your inspection report were addressed and you are happy with the final deal negotiated by your Realtor. But instead of moving in, now is a good time to review your report and pay attention to the BLUE items in the summary, while they are easy to address.
Gutters and Downspouts
This is the #1 most common issue that I discover that can have the most devastating consequences if not taken care of. Clean your gutters now and every year (if not twice a year) for as long as you own your home. I got a call from a client complaining that I didn't point out the leaks in his basement when I inspected his home last winter. Well, not to argue, but there weren't any leaks in his basement last winter! However, I did list in his report the clogged gutters and lack of downspout extensions. I check those to protect your home and investment from serious water damage. If the gutters are full of debris, water cascades like a waterfall around the perimeter of your home and will eventually find its way inside to your basement - possibly leading to mold or even structural damage. When I recommend downspout extensions, it's not because I like the way they look, it's because they work! They guide water away from your home. Please, please, take care of these things right away - don't wait for the damp basement to appear.
Your HVAC Needs Some TLC
A furnace is like a car, if you take care of it, it will last a long, long time. If you neglect it, it'll become unreliable and will break down at the most inconvenient time. Don't hesitate to get an annual contract to service all the components of your HVAC system. A good cleaning and lubrication of all the working parts will keep your home mechanically sound and can save you thousands of dollars in repairs.
Often I find issues of deferred maintenance where a homeowner just waited too long to paint and caulk. What would have been a weekend chore is now a costly repair. Use my report as a Honey-Do list and get to know the wear spots on your home and attend to the touch-up paint and caulking before they get out of control. Again it's the whole Stitch-in-Time-Saves-Nine theory. Take care of it now and spend your money on a vacation next year instead of new siding.
Bathrooms Get a Lot of Use
You start the day and end the day there. You relax in the shower and take care of all your personal needs there, so it's not hard to imagine that a little preventative maintenance can make your bathroom lasts years longer with just a little up-front care.
So caulk the corners and fix the grout.
Give all the grout a double coat of sealer and don't skimp on the quality of the paint you use in these rooms - they are expensive rooms to remodel, so let's add some years to the bathrooms you have.
Your HVAC Needs Some TLC
What Else Should You Pay Attention To?
Bathrooms Get a Lot of UseYou start the day and end the day there. You relax in the shower and take care of all your personal needs there, so it's not hard to imagine that a little preventative maintenance can make your bathroom lasts years longer with just a little up-front care.
So caulk the corners and fix the grout. Give all the grout a double coat of sealer and don't skimp on the quality of the paint you use in these rooms - they are expensive rooms to remodel, so let's add some years to the bathrooms you have.
