Statistics show that we've had the 4th wettest April since they began keeping records back in 1940! This is affecting everyone from farmers to my grandson's soccer team! They've had more cancelled games this year than ever before. Homeowners have also been affected by all this rain and that is why the City of Windsor and some local municipalities have opted to offer their residents subsidies for installing sump pumps, back-water valves and for disconnecting their downspouts from the storm drain. I have personally taken advantage of this generous offer and the process was very smooth and easy. However, I always stress to my clients while I'm doing their home inspection that water control around a home is crucial. 80% of water intrusion can be controlled by the home owner. Yet, I hear of many people who experience water in their home and they turn to a water-proofing company instead of managing the water around their home which is much less costly and relatively easy. During a home inspection, I explain to my clients that properly-aligned eaves troughs and keeping the troughs clear of debris is crucial. If you have trees near your home, you might want to consider installing leaf guards. The water run-off from downspouts should be directed at least 6 to 8 feet away from your home. I am always surprised during a home inspection how often I see downspouts with those little cement pads and all that water is collecting in one spot at the foundation. No wonder the homeowner has water penetration issues! The grade around the home is often a neglected aspect in water control. During the home inspection, we walk around the home while carefully examining the grade and keeping an eye out for dips around the home as well as improper material such as gravel which just allows the water to accumulate at the foundation and not shed away from the home. I often see sidewalks, patios and driveways slope towards the foundation and that is just inviting the water to gather at the foundation and find its way into the home. I can't help but shake my head when I'm inspecting homes and I see the sump pump drain just outside the foundation. So, this means that all the water that is being collected from around the home and into the sump pit is now being discharged to one area at the foundation. That makes no sense at all. So, you can now see how simple water control measures at the exterior of the home can help deter water from penetrating into your basement or crawl space. During a full home inspection, we discuss these, along with other measures such as window wells etc. and my clients are often baffled by the fact that they had never thought of these little things which can cause major issues in the long run. So, you can either sing Rain, Rain, Go Away, Come Again Another Day or Somwhere Over The Rainbow....it's up to you!
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As you may know, I've been doing home inspections in Windsor and Essex County for over 25 years. I'd have to say that 9 times out of 10, the homebuyer asks me "Would you buy this house?" or sometimes they phrase it as "Would you let your daughter buy this house?" If I got a dollar for every time I got asked those questions, I'd have over $10,000 because I've performed that many home inspections in Windsor! You would think that my answer to both of those questions would be the same no matter how the homebuyer phrases the question but actually my answer to each would be different. You see, if my daughter were to buy a particular home, her skills, needs, wants, likes, dislikes, budget etc are completely different than mine. Also, having built homes from the ground up prior to beginning my home inspection career puts me in a different bracket than my 24 year old daughter who works at a daycare and is a photographer. You see what I'm getting at? As a professional home inspector, I state the facts. When I discover an 'issue' during the home inspection, each home buyer processes the information differently. By the way, I put a quote around the word issue because what is an issue for one home buyer is not remotely an issue for another. What may be a stumbling block for one client is perceived as a cool weekend project for another. I always tell my clients that there is no pass or fail to a home inspection. There are just the facts. Stating the facts allows the home buyer to put everything into perspective according to their skills, wants, needs, likes, dislikes, budget etc. It educates the client on what is likely going to be their biggest investment. I've seen clients buy a home that I would never have bought and on the other hand, I've seen clients walk away from a home that I would have definitely bought. I guess my daughter could say the same thing. So, I never give a yes or no answer to the most-asked question that a Home Inspector gets. As a professional Home Inspector, I would be doing my client a disservice if I did because unless the home buyer is a repeat customer, I meet my client for the first time at the job site. I have no idea what their skills, budget, likes, lifestyle, dislikes, needs, wants etc are. In my 25 year career of inspecting homes in Windsor and Essex County, I have never had a client call me and say that they should have bought a house that they walked away from, or that they wished they had never bought the house that I inspected. Why, because I state the facts and the home buyer makes a decision that is right for THEM. By the way, I have often heard new clients say that they wished that they had never bought their house that other home inspectors had inspected, but I'll save those stories for another blog lol. |
AuthorI've come across a lot of interesting tidbits of information during my 29 year career as a home inspector. I've been told that I'm pretty meticulous and a good 'teacher', so hopefully you'll find some interesting information here.. Archives
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