At the beginning of my Real Estate career, three repair items found by Home Inspectors caused my clients and me a little anxiety. The three items felt like a deal-breaker to buyers and sellers alike. After 15 years and thousands of Real Estate transactions, I come to refer to these items as just “The Common Three.” The Common Three are foundation repairs, roof replacements, and termites treatments. A few maintenance activities and knowledge can save you from potentially needing to install piers, pay for a roof replacement, or have to treat for termites.
Foundation:
Foundation problems discovered during a Home or Structural Inspection are commonly solved by installing piers to firm up the foundation. Oklahoma soil is composed of Port Silt Loam, which is sand, silt, and clay. Port Silt Loam consists of tiny particles; heavy rains with poor drainage around the property can wash away the particles, while arid conditions can cause the moisture-rich ground to “pull away” from the foundation. A simple home maintenance routine of ensuring water drains away from the property or keeping the soil around the home moist during dry periods may prevent potential expensive foundation repairs.
Roof:
It is not uncommon to assume hail damage is the roof obstacle to overcome when selling or buying a home in Oklahoma. Hail damage roof replacements are pretty easy to work through with insurance companies. Inadequate ventilation is the roof killer. When a roof has insufficient ventilation, significant problems can develop that may not be covered by your Homeowners insurance, such as premature aging of the roof or blistering or bridle shingles. Not sure if you have the proper amount of ventilation for your roof? Not a problem; many roofers will evaluate your roof free of charge to determine if you require additional ventilation.
Termites
Let’s talk termites. There is a common saying amongst Termite Inspectors that goes, “There are two types of homes: those that have had termites and those that will.” Statistically, every acre in Oklahoma has an average of three termite colonies. The number one cause of termites entering a home is from wood-to-ground contact, including wood decks, garage door framing, and stacked firewood on the side of homes. Typically whole-home termite treatment costs around $1,200, whereas a Termite inspection costs $100 with a 1-year warranty. Following the termite inspectors’ recommendations can save you the cost of treatment and termite damage repairs.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to work with great companies and inspectors that offer free to low-cost inspections. If you would like to find out if you may be susceptible to any of the above repair items, please email me at Peter@Levinsonteam.com.