Sep 08

Do an Annual Inspection

Remind Your Clients: Do an Annual Inspection

 

Remind Your Clients: Do an Annual Inspection.Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Remind Your Clients: Do an Annual Inspection.Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 

Do your buyers think that once the home inspection is over and the concessions have been negotiated, they’re done? Remind them that their own annual inspection can save them a bundle by preventing headaches and spotting problems while they’re still minor.

Outside the house, they can use binoculars to get a good look at the status of high walls, the chimney, and the roof line. Make sure everything is level and looks solid. There shouldn’t be any crumbling in masonry or rot in wood. Also, look for crags and clogs around gutters and downspouts, cracked or peeling paint, and blockages or cracks around the chimney. The roof might be missing shingles, or tree branches might provide a path for pests to enter the house. Anything that lets water in can be a particular source of long-term problems.

Lower down, they should keep an eye on the grade around the foundation, check the driveway and garage for loose or cracked asphalt, examine caulk and other seals around windows, and check above and below stairs, decks, and porches for problems.

Inside, a flashlight comes in handy even in well-lit areas to help highlight small flaws. Check walls and ceilings for stains that suggest mildew or mold, kitchen backsplashes and seals for open spaces that let moisture in, tub surrounds for entry points for water, stairs and railings for solid structures, and other features to prevent long-term deterioration.

Finally, turn on hot and cold water at every faucet to look for leaks; start the heating and cooling systems to find loose pipes and listen for irregular sounds; and check boilers and heaters for problems. Doing this regularly ensures that your customers understand what normal is like so they can spot anything not normal as soon as possible.

And remind them that knowing their house inside and out gives them not only a solid home but also a line on a good market price and the comfort of knowing the home should receive a good inspection when it finally does go on the market.

Source: “How to Do Your Own Yearly Home Inspection,” Lifehacker.com (Sept. 2, 2015)

admin

For all of your Real Estate needs, place yourself in the competent hands of a career Realtor who is a Philadelphia native and Delaware County resident. Skilled, smart and enthusiastic about his work and his life, Anthony DiDonato has the appealing combination of business sense and people skills gives him an edge in an industry that demands both.

Educated at Drexel University with a dual major in accounting and finance and minors in management and psychology Anthony DiDonato offers over 25 years of experience in the real estate industry. He has been a real estate investor since 1985 and a member of H.A.P.C.O. (Landlord Association). He became a licensed Realtor in 1992 and a member of the Local, Pennsylvania and National Associations of Realtors. Anthony DiDonato is also a member of the Computerized Multiple Listings, (MLS) and Internet Marketing Programs. In 1997 Anthony DiDonato became Century 21 All-Elite, Inc. Corporate Secretary.

Anthony DiDonato believes in taking his profession to the highest level of quality service. He is known for finding that “perfect” property in Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania for his buyers and helping his sellers prepare their properties so they sell quickly and efficiently.

When it comes time to negotiate the terms of a contract, Anthony DiDonato has the knowledge, experience, and professionalism applied to meeting – or exceeding – his clients’ expectations. His service to his clients is second to none. His honesty and integrity have been his claim to fame.

For Superior Real Estate Representation in the Delaware Valley, Philadelphia, Delaware County, Chester County, Montgomery County and surrounding areas in Pennsylvania… call Anthony DiDonato.