Six Things To Focus On When Evaluating The Exterior Of A House You Want To Buy
Buying a house is one of the most expensive investments most people make, so you need to ensure you are not throwing away your hard-earned money. One way to do this is to inspect every inch of the property – including its exterior. Here are some of the things to focus on during the inspection of the exterior:
Building Extensions
If the house you are interested in has sections that were added to the original house, then you should confirm that those sections were legally added. This is necessary because, if you buy a house with an illegal addition, you will be responsible for bringing it up to code or even paying any requisite fines.
Roof Integrity
The roof is one of the most expensive and important parts of the house, it protects the house from external damages, including weather-related damage. Therefore, watch out for signs of roof damage including discolored sections of the roof, missing shingles, curling shingles, cracked shingles, and sliding tiles.
Siding Condition
A typical siding doesn't experience much damage; unless the house is extremely old and battered, the siding will still be in a good condition. Still, you should watch out for signs of serious siding damage such as rotten or warped siding, loose siding, holes in the siding, and signs of dry rot, among other things.
Outside Plumbing
You should also inspect the condition and nature of the outdoor plumbing fixtures. Things like downspouts, outdoor faucets, and sprinkler systems should all be in good working conditions. Don't forget that problems with outdoor plumbing can sometimes find their way indoors and mess up your indoor plumbing system too.
Outside HVAC Unit
The outside HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning unit) unit, also called the condenser unit, is an integral part of the HVAC system, and it can't function without it. Here are some of the signs of a good condenser unit:
- It is elevated above the ground (to avoid flooding)
- It is shielded from weather and wind by a barrier that isn't too close to interfere with air circulation
- The condenser fins are not bent or damaged
House Orientation
The orientation of the house in relation to the lot on which it sits should also be one of your concerns. A good orientation should not let too much direct sunlight into the house; that may interfere with energy efficiency and even damage the house's furnishings. However, it should still allow a reasonable level of sunlight to illuminate the house.