What Home Inspectors Look For
If you’re prepping to sell your home, you’re well aware of the seemingly endless to-do list attached with getting ready to get on the market. One of the bigger steps is the home inspection – but knowing what those inspectors really look for, especially when it comes to your foundation, can feel like a total mystery, especially if you’ve never sold before or it’s been some time since you were last on the housing market. Whether you’re looking to learn for the first time, or just need a little refresher, here are some things you should be aware of what home inspectors look for when it comes to doing their job and what you can do.
Foundation “Leaks”
Often times, if your basement smells mildew-y, there may be a foundation leak or a wet space where water has managed to penetrate the foundation and is now causing issues – and potential weakness in your home’s foundation. It can be mild or serious, but regardless of the severity of the problem, if an inspector spots it, it will certainly need to be addressed. The cause may vary, but it’s almost always a result of poor drainage systems or cracks near the foundation that are allowing moisture to seep in.
What’s Up With the Gutters?
Part of those aforementioned drainage issues can certainly be gutters. Make sure your drain spouts are pointed away from the foundation, and your gutters are clear, so rainwater drains properly away from your home and foundation. You may also need to check water flow through buried drainage. This is fairly simple to do by flooding the line with a hose. If the water comes back toward you, you’ve got a clog on your hands, and need to take care of that to avoid further, and potentially detrimental, damage to your foundation.
When You’re Looking at Foundation Repairs
If there’s a problem with your foundation, chances are you’re going to be looking at foundation repair prior to getting on the market. It can be disheartening to have to put serious work into your home before you sell it, but it’s important to make sure your home is up to par and fully safe for the next family who occupies it. If you’re in a position to need foundation repairs before selling, make sure to find a company who won’t scare you into repairs you don’t really need. You want a team who will walk you through what you need to know so you feel knowledgeable every step of the way. It’s important to partner with a team you trust when it comes to foundation repair, and we at Pinnacle would love to show you what genuine care and customer service looks like, without the scare tactics.
The Consequences
If you can’t get repairs done due to budget constraints or other issues, it’s important to know that there will be consequences. The most notable is having to lower your asking price because the home value will decrease when foundation leaks are left unattended. These leaks will also need to be disclosed to any potential buyers so they know what they are truly getting and may impact the number of offers you get depending on the potential buyer’s understanding of the issue and what it might take to fix it themselves.
Foundations are easy to forget about when they are doing their job, which is why leaks and other issues can go unnoticed until an inspector comes in to check it out thoroughly. When you’re faced with foundation repairs, call the team you can trust at Pinnacle Structural Services, to get you back on track and back on market as quickly as possible.