Exterior Home Inspection Checklist: What To Consider
It's no secret that a home inspection gives potential buyers peace of mind that the property is in great shape. Even more, it's an essential negotiation tool during closing.
If you're a real estate agent or potential buyer looking to carry out a home inspection, here's a list of some parts of a home's exterior that you should look at to avoid getting blindsided before the deal is closed.
Windows
An inspector can look for signs of rot in a home with wood windows by poking a finger to the surface. They can also check the window frame's caulk for potential signs of impact damage or cracks. Pushing on or squeezing aluminum-clad windows can help tell if they have some signs of rot.
Roof Problems
A home inspector can identify most roof problems by leaning a ladder against the roof or walking over it. Irregularities such as severely deteriorated and curled shingles may suggest that the roof is nearing its lifespan. Other roof problems to watch out for include cracks in the shingles, patched or mismatched shingles, and missing shingles.
Siding
If the property features hardboard siding, the home inspector will look for cracks and signs of rotting to determine if the siding is in good shape. Stains below the windows suggest that a stucco siding has water intrusion problems. The same applies to stone veneer sidings, which perform like stucco sidings.
Chimney Problems
Since chimney repairs are expensive, you need to have the chimney of an older house inspected thoroughly. Minor problems such as missing mortar between the bricks can be repaired, while larger ones such as large cracks and missing bricks prove to be costly.
Water Management
The home inspector can look for water management problems in the downspouts, gutters, and downspout extensions. They can check whether the landscape slopes away from the property. Rooflines also help tell if rainwater gathers against the house every time it rains.
Decks
Some property owners tend to add a fresh coat of paint on the decks to conceal signs of rotting. This is why you should have the decks inspected from below. The inspection should look for noticeable sagging, which may suggest structural problems.
If the guardrails are wobbly when pushed on, it may suggest that the decks are not in great shape. Also, guards with aluminum balusters attached to the bottom rails must be intact to keep water from seeping into the wood.