Rainy Day Activities for Home Buyers and Sellers

Wet weather doesn’t have to dampen your spirits about buying or selling a home.

We know it’s tempting to skip inspections when the rain is pouring down but hidden secrets about a home can often be uncovered in less than favourable weather. Before you cancel that open home inspection, think about the following:

• There will be less competition at the Open Home as other prospective buyers opt to stay high and dry.
• When inspecting the property, keep an eye out for drips, leaks and areas of pooling water and moisture on the walls. This in an indication of insufficient drainage and could’ve easily gone undetected in drier weather.
• Take note of the odour in the house. Heavy rainfall can lead to damp or musty odours in homes that don’t have proper circulation, leading to mould or rot in the future.
• Turn the lights off. Overcast weather is often the best showcase of a home’s natural lighting.
• Make sure to inspect the outside of the property. In particular the gardens and gutter to make sure there is no water pooling or overflowing.

For homeowners there are a few simple ways you can make sure that your home can withstand the wet weather:

• Regularly check the roof for signs of damage. Cracked, worn or missing shingles make it easier for water to infiltrate the interior of your house.
• Designed to collect rain that falls on the roof and direct it away from the foundation, it’s extremely important to keep your gutters clear. When your gutters are clogged, it is likely that rain will drain along the sides of the house and directly against the foundation. This will in time affect the structural integrity of the foundation.
• Top up the amount of soil around your property. After time, rainfall can erode the soil around the foundation of your home making it easier for water to penetrate the basement.
• If sinks and toilets start draining slowly, you may need to check your drainage and pumps for clogs.
• Any leaks, especially around windows, can lead to water damage and eventually mould spores. To combat this, ensure you are regularly checking your windows for any signs of cracked seals.
• Give the branches and trees near your property a trim. Heavy storms can cause branches to break and fall on your home, causing significant damage. Similarly, strong winds can blow debris into gutter causing blockages.

Source: Flood Response