I was interviewed this morning by a local journalist for an upcoming article about home selling/home buying, and what I would suggest to the prospective home buyer. I thought I would share some of my advice with you.
First, look past the pretty, bright flowers and the new shiny mailbox. Look carefully at the driveway and the sidewalk. Are there significant cracks? Are there uneven patches of concrete? If so, there could be large tree roots underneath pushing up….big future problems.
Look at the downspouts…where is the outflow? Is it near the foundation of the house? Be sure all roof water is being directed well away and downhill from the home and garage. Also review the property for any soggy, boggy areas, or clear evidence of heavy washout. Remember, water always flows down hill and collects in the lowest spot!
Now, the landscape. Are there any really large, old trees? If you get serious enough about this house to hire a home inspector, go one step further and hire a certified arborist to check out the health of these trees. Just because they have leaves doesn’t mean they’re healthy! If you were to have to hire a tree company for removal, you could pay $3000-$5000 per tree! Speaking of trees, how close are they planted to the house? Do you have tree branches within jumping distance of the roof? That’s a critter bridge, and them critters want IN to your attic! There’s a future expense for sure. Also, those cute little bitty trees? They’re going to grow up to be BIG trees! Is there sufficient space for that to happen? Are they planted smack dab in front of windows? Do you really want to have to turn on all the lights inside your house because it’s so dark? Trees are nature’s gift to us, but they need to be in the right place from the beginning.
Finally, how much of the plantings are deciduous? In November when all the leaves drop, will you still have plenty of evergreens to brighten up your yard? If not, you will need to plan on planting some so you don’t look bleak and dismal, and that is a future expense to consider in your offer.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just some ideas to keep in mind. Happy house hunting and if you have questions or need more information, we're always here to help!
~Deb
No Comments »
I was interviewed this morning by a local journalist for an upcoming article about home selling/home buying, and what I would suggest to the prospective home buyer. I thought I would share some of my advice with you.
First, look past the pretty, bright flowers and the new shiny mailbox. Look carefully at the driveway and the sidewalk. Are there significant cracks? Are there uneven patches of concrete? If so, there could be large tree roots underneath pushing up….big future problems.
Look at the downspouts…where is the outflow? Is it near the foundation of the house? Be sure all roof water is being directed well away and downhill from the home and garage. Also review the property for any soggy, boggy areas, or clear evidence of heavy washout. Remember, water always flows down hill and collects in the lowest spot!
Now, the landscape. Are there any really large, old trees? If you get serious enough about this house to hire a home inspector, go one step further and hire a certified arborist to check out the health of these trees. Just because they have leaves doesn’t mean they’re healthy! If you were to have to hire a tree company for removal, you could pay $3000-$5000 per tree! Speaking of trees, how close are they planted to the house? Do you have tree branches within jumping distance of the roof? That’s a critter bridge, and them critters want IN to your attic! There’s a future expense for sure. Also, those cute little bitty trees? They’re going to grow up to be BIG trees! Is there sufficient space for that to happen? Are they planted smack dab in front of windows? Do you really want to have to turn on all the lights inside your house because it’s so dark? Trees are nature’s gift to us, but they need to be in the right place from the beginning.
Finally, how much of the plantings are deciduous? In November when all the leaves drop, will you still have plenty of evergreens to brighten up your yard? If not, you will need to plan on planting some so you don’t look bleak and dismal, and that is a future expense to consider in your offer.
This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just some ideas to keep in mind. Happy house hunting and if you have questions or need more information, we're always here to help!
~Deb 
Facebook fan page
