Have Your Real Estate Agent Take You Home Shopping in the Rain – It Could Save You Money!

Looking for a New Home on a Rainy Day is a Good Idea

In what kind of weather would you typically go looking for a home? You would probably prefer nice, sunny day, right? Actually, though it won’t be fun getting wet, looking at homes when it’s rainy is a really great time to conduct your search. Reason being, you may find out some things about the homes you’re looking at that will save you quite a few expensive repairs in the long run.

The number one cause of foundation issues is drainage problems, and, if you have an issue with the foundation of your home, it will more than likely be quite costly to repair. So, be on the lookout for signs of trouble.

If the home you’re considering has a crawl space, be sure you check whether or not it’s dry on a rainy day. If you happen to be looking at the home on a sunny day, be sure to check anyway looking closely for signs of moisture.

Next, check the gutters; make sure the gutters are clean and free of any debris, and that the water flowing through them is directed away from the house. Any water standing close to and around the foundation will eventually penetrate and deteriorate the soil holding the foundation in place; shifting of the foundation will cause cracks on the interior of the home.

If you are unable to investigate a prospective home on a rainy day, you should look for evidence of previous water problems and leaks. If you see white, powdery lines on the concrete walls of the basement or foundation, it usually means that water has gotten in and left minerals behind as it’s evaporated or has drained. This should be sufficient cause for further investigation.

Be sure, as well, to have your inspector take note of cracks that he or she sees in the concrete under the home. The property inspector is not an expert on foundations, so the report will likely say that an “appropriate professional” should look into the situation that has caused the cracking. Though it may be rather costly, it is always a good idea to have a professional foundation expert take a look at any and all cracks to determine the extent of the damage and whether or not the issue is solvable.

So, if you’re looking at homes this spring, don’t be discouraged by rain – go! You may be glad you did!