• Plantings. Since landscapers and landscape architects charge more than you expect, the presence of good plantings can save you money later on. If landscaping is inadequate and you plan to invest in it to fix up a property for sale, budget it into your overall planning.
• Trees overhanging the house. The most common way for squirrels, raccoons, and other vermin to enter a house is from trees that are too close to a roof or exterior walls. If such trees exist around the structure you are inspecting, make sure to check the attic and roof for holes or signs that animals have entered.
• Exterior walls of the building. If they are brick walls, are there cracks in the bricks themselves, or between them? Is mortar missing? If walls are made of wooden clapboards, are they in good condition? If wooden exterior walls and paint are in poor condition, what will you do to improve them? Pay special attention to vinyl or aluminum siding. Yes, it looks good, but its presence makes it difficult to assess the condition of the walls underneath. If you can, find a long uninterrupted run of siding on the lowest level of siding on the building. Gently pull its bottom edge away from the building and look underneath. You should see that the building was adequately sealed with plastic sheeting called underlayment before the siding was put on. If you see that siding was installed directly over cracked or rough wooden clapboards, you may be looking at a rushed cosmetic fix-up performed with the aim of making money fast.
Keep on Walking!
Floors that feel soft or spongy underfoot, whether on a porch or inside a house, are a major cause of concern. They indicate water damage or insect damage. If you find them, walk on to the next property you want to consider.
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