Charles H. Spurgeon
At first dreams seem impossible, then improbable, then inevitable.
— Christopher Reeve (1952-2004) American Actor
Home Inspections and Selling Your Home
Let's face it, home inspections are to sellers what the holiday's are to those of us watching our weight. One surprise after another, never knowing what to expect, and never really knowing how it's going to affect us. That is, unless you're the seller who's savvy enough to make the unknown, known.
After all, the seller who takes the initiative to have their own inspection is not replacing the buyer's inspection. Instead, the seller who has their own report now knows in advance if there are any defects that can possibly become deal breakers once they have a contract on their home.
As a seller, you want to know what your buyer's inspection is going to find. Once you know what defects are possible deal breakers, the seller now enjoys the luxury of having time available to correct those defects. Think about it, if a seller is forced to react to a buyer's inspection and correct problems within a defined time frame, are they going to get the best price from a contractor? Are they going to have the ability to get multiple quotes?
No, of course they're not. They are going to have to react quickly to remedy the defects, because after all, they don't want to lose their buyer, right? It just makes more sense to be proactive in a market that has more listing than buyers, doesn't it? If this makes sense to you too, then by all means, call me to help you.
You can reach me at 402.661.0535, or by email at frank.cawley@brickkicker.com. A call or an email won't cost you anything, but it may give you some peace of mind. Remember, your buyer is going to find out what you don't know. Why not make selling your home easier by doing it on your own terms?
From the edge of the yard, this deck looks like most others in this neighborhood just south of Omaha. It's size, and location where it's attached to the home, is very typical. But upon further inspection, this deck is an accident waiting to happen.
Questions about Home Inspections?
This particular deck is actually well past it's expected life span. When built approximately 20 years ago, it was the perfect solution for the home. It's construction methods were up to the standard methods of the time, and it's cedar wood was an excellent choice for durability, function and beauty. So what can be wrong with this deck? Let's look at it as though we were selling the home, or more importantly, buying the home.
Don't let this happen to your deck!
Inspection of the deck today shows that it's suffered the insult of "no maintenance". It appears to have been treated with a wood preservative, or stain, at some point in time, and that's good, right? Unfortuantely, this was not a regular practice. But even without regualar maintenence, this deck is made from cedar. Cedar lasts forever, doensn't it?
Unfortunately, no, cedar does not last forever. It does, in fact, last a very long time, but not forever. The main culprit that's doomed this once beautiful structure is decay. So what causes wood to decay to the point where this deck is no longer safe? Let's look at a few of the problems.
Avoid Surprises When Buying or Selling!
Like so many things in life, something that's good, can also be bad. This deck is shaded by two very large oak trees. But isn't shade is a good thing, especially on the southern exposure of a home? Well, in this case, the shade seldom allowed this deck to dry out after years of being exposed to the elements.
More importantly, inspection of the untreated ends of lumber on the railing system shows they have degraded to the point of no return. There's not much that can be done to bring this once beautiful feature of this home back to life. So now that we know we can't save this deck,the decision to build a new one seems inevitable.
So whether you're selling or buying a home, remember, decks are going to be a big part of backyard enjoyment. If you have any questions, are selling your house, or are buying your next home, call me at 402-661-0535 today! I'll be happy to help you! Maybe when it's all said and done, your new deck will look like this one!
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BrickKicker professional home inspectors are trained and certified to provide a qualified opinion on the home's present condition, operation and function. Radon Testing. ASHI member.
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