Most home buyers concentrate on what’s within the house, but neglecting the outside might cost you. It’s easy to get tunnel vision while house hunting. Any time you fall hard and fast for a house, you may be ready to do just about anything to make it your very own. But regardless of whether you’ve found what appears to be the home of your dreams, take a closer look outside before making an offer. Any home you consider calling yours should go through a thorough exterior inspection. Read on to learn what outdoor considerations you should take into account while home shopping.
Be inventive: Exterior Considerations When House Hunting
Trees and foliage
We suggest evaluating trees and foliage first. How close are trees to the foundation of the house? When trees get too big, they can cause foundation problems. And if a mature tree is removed, the foundation can drop once the roots decay.
It may be worth contacting a foundation expert while in the inspection period. If you’re unsure of whether or not the trees are healthy, get a professional arborist to evaluate them.
It’s also quite normal for mature trees’ limbs to extend over a house. If this describes the case with your potential property, check to see if the roofing shingles are damaged. Squirrels, possums, and rodents love to use branches to gain access to homes. They will find a small opening in the soffit or fascia and set up residency in your attic.
It may also be worth asking the owner to prune foliage away from the house. Should your potential home have bushes in direct contact with the home, you could have termites or carpenter ants hiding. We advise, obtaining a termite or wood-destroying organism (WDO) inspection and treatment as well.
Foundation
Cracked concrete may appear minor, but “cracks allow moisture penetration and deterioration of the concrete, specifically in areas that [freeze in winter], we would have a contractor estimate the expense of repair, and consider that in your negotiation.
In areas that happen to be subject to foundation issues, we suggest prospective buyers consider the soil grade up against the house. Make sure that the foundation is exposed by about two inches and that there is a slope away from house, so that water doesn’t pool against the foundation.
Pool
Here are the must-ask questions if the home you’re thinking about includes a pool:
Exactly what is the age of the liner or gunite?
Has it been resurfaced?
What is the age of the equipment?
We recommend having a proper inspection done by a swimming pool company.
Find an issue?
Just because you may have discovered an issue or two with the exterior grounds of your potential house doesn’t mean your dream home has disappeared forever.
Once inspection reports are completed, make a list with the issues obtained in your landscape inspection and request for the sellers to complete the repairs, or offer compensation to have them done after buying the house.
Or pass with flying colors?
Even if your landscaping inspection report shows zero issues, keep in mind future maintenance care for the exterior of your house.
Keep foliage pruned, and monitor insects around bushes that come in direct contact with the home.
Confirm that you are aware of the actual kind of grass you have, and water accordingly.
Regularly check your landscaping irrigation systems and watering timers.
Regularly evaluate your landscaping lighting.
Remember, too, that regional considerations vary. If you live in dry, desert areas, considering potential wildfire hazards is critical.
Curb appeal goes past a pretty mailbox
Curb appeal isn’t just about updated flower boxes and shutters. Sure, the yard may have a picturesque tree and tire swing fit for a postcard, but what you see isn’t always what you get. Don’t skip out on having expert inspectors assess the exterior elements of your potential home. And in case you find something, know that there’s usually a way to negotiate the fixes.