This winter was pretty brutal. Now that warm weather is finally here, it’s a good time for a DIY exterior home inspection.
Inspecting the exterior of your home from time to time is a good idea. Especially after the kind of winter we had this year! Here is a simple list of things that you can inspect on your home’s exterior:
- Check your gutters and downspouts for any blockages, and make sure your gutter leads extend at least 5′ from the foundation.
- While you’re up on that ladder, take a look at the roof. You want to look for anything that sticks out (cracks, missing or curling shingles, any signs of rot on the soffit, trim, etc.)
- After a heavy rain, walk around your property and look for any drainage issues
- Check the siding for any signs of rot or discoloration.
- Inspect the sill and the foundation. Look for cracks and bulges, or any signs of rot or insects.
- Look for any cracks in the hardscaping around the home (driveways, walkways, porches and patios etc.)
- Inspect wood porches and decks for any signs of wood rot, loose or cracked boards, sagging ceilings, etc.
Ok, so you walked the exterior of your home and checked these things out. Now what? If you have found issues, it’s a good idea to consult a professional about what needs to be done about them. Some are cosmetic, and may not be worth addressing. Others may need to be addressed to prevent further damage.
A good contractor can tell you what the root cause of any issues are, and what options are available to fix them. The good news is that if you conduct an exterior home inspection now, you have plenty of warm months ahead to remedy any issues you find!
If you would like to chat about exterior home inspections, or if you have conducted one and need some guidance, I always love to help! Give me a call anytime at 571-305-2405, or you can email me at lsagatov@kw.com
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