One of the best times to go house hunting is in the rain, especially if you have narrowed down your search to four or five houses on which you would like to bid. I’m not nuts. Excessive amounts of water can be one of the most damaging things to affect a home. We know the importance and value of water as a life-giving element of our lives, but here are some downsides relating to a home.
Potential negatives include but are not limited to;
• A leaking roof
• Damage to drywall
• The cause of making wood flooring swell if it gets wet, creating gaps later as it shrinks
• Mildewed carpet if it rushes or seeps into a room
• Mold in more extreme situations.
• Flooding a basement
• Erosion outside, potential under-mining a driveway or potential a portion of your home.
• There are many other potential issues and many of them cost thousands of dollars to fix.
On the other hand, many of them can be cosmetically fixed with paint or a space heater for wet carpet that would cover up, or hide the damage to the affected area. On the outside, some new topsoil that looks great in a garden could be covering a damaged area where water flowed through it is torrents just days ago.
Knowing which way the water flows around a house or worse, into a house is very important. It could save you very large repair bills, not all of which are covered by insurance. Having to do repairs on a home can be a nuisance, especially when all of the furnishings are in place in your home. If you’ve ever had rain drip on you while you were sleeping or had to wade through soaking wet carpet in the middle of the night you can relate to the problem because these things to do happen.
Of course, the rain won’t always cooperate. If the opportunity doesn’t present itself, pay particular attention to evidence of any water damage. A stain on the ceiling may have had, or is currently having water leakage through the roof. Feel the carpet in various areas of the house if it has recently raining. If there is a musty smell in any area of the house, there made have been water problems in that area. Always pay particular attention to your home inspection and look for evidence that suggests any water damage.
House hunting in the rain isn’t the most exciting prospect, but having to face down the damage from one or more of the items listed above is even less exciting. A cozy home on a wet rainy day is a wonderful thought and this rainy day exercise might help that along.