Why is Rain Your Friend When House Hunting?

January 23, 2017

Sure, when it’s 80 degrees outside and not a cloud in the sky, it may seem like a great time to go house hunting. However, you’re better off heading to the beach and waiting for a rainy day; as long as you have a realtor with rain boots.

The rain should never keep you from going to a showing or an open house. In fact, it should send you out ready to do some serious house hunting. Whether it’s dark and stormy or just a regular rain storm, the rain can be your friend when you’re looking for a home.

Not only does the rain help you and your realtor, but it can also help the home inspector. There are several reasons why the rain can be a great help when you’re looking for a new home. Here are just a few of the best reasons why rainy days should be saved for house hunting, whenever possible.

Easily Spot Roof Issues

It doesn’t matter if you’re looking at a bottom-dollar home or a million-dollar estate, buying a home with a bad roof means you’ll put money into is very quickly. When it rains, you’ll be able to see if the roof leaks due to age, poor installation or for any other reason. Even a newer roof could have leaks due to poor installation.

During the rain, you will be able to see if the roof leaks just by going up into the attic. Sometimes, you don’t even have to go this far if it’s really bad. When you go up into the attic, look for active leaks, water on the wood, wet insulation and dark stains on the wood. If you see any of these, it could be a sign of a leaky roof. Of course, you want to look out for mold, too.

If you cannot tell of any issues in the attic, you may have to actually get on the roof. However, you should leave this to a professional, as it can be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.

House hunting during the rain will help you to see if the home has a leaky roof or it hasn’t been installed correctly. Even a few minor issues will show up during a good rain storm, if there are issues with the home’s roof.

Helps Show you Any Drainage Problems

When it rains, it’s easier to see if the home has drainage issues. Where does the rain puddle up? Does it all end up near the foundation? If the water does puddle in areas where it shouldn’t be, you will be able to find out if drainage has been set up already.

As you get a feel for the outside of the home, a rainy day will help you to see if the grassy areas become soft and muddy or if they stay firm. If the home doesn’t have good drainage through the soil, this could be bad for the foundation.

Rain Exposes Basement and Crawlspace Issues

While homes with basements are rare in South Florida, they do exist. When it rains, you’ll be able to see if the basement floods, leaks or has other issues. It won’t be hard to figure out if the basement has issues during a good storm.

Make sure you look for any wet spots on the carpet, unfinished concrete or any other area of the basement. You may want to look for mold, as well. Check for a dehumidifier running on high in the basement, as this can be a sign of issues with moisture, as well.

Exposes Bad Gutters/Downspouts

When it rains, the gutters and downspouts need to do their job. They need to move water from the roof away from the home to protect your home from the rain. While too much rain can easily overwhelm some gutters, if they are functioning well, the gutters won’t overflow or leak. Instead, they will do their job and move water away from the home.

You want to look at the gutters and make sure they are in the proper places, first. Then, you want to make sure they are secured to the house property and they are not full of leaves and other debris. Check to make sure the downspouts are connected, as well. It’s also a good idea to figure out where the downspouts take the water.

Related: Top 10 Things your Realtor Wishes You Knew

The rain isn’t a horrible thing when you’re out house hunting. Instead, it’s a great way to show if the home has any flaws; minor or major. You’ll get a better look at the roof, the gutters, the basement (if the home has one) and the entire home. If you want to make sure you’re buying a home that can withstand the weather, go house hunting during or right after a good storm.