If you own your home or any investment properties, it’s likely that these are your most valuable assets, so it makes sense to take good care of them. One way to do so is to get periodic inspections, many of the very same ones you got when you first purchased the property. Although some problems are obvious, others can remain hidden unless you look for them. And it’s better to discover problems while they are still small and easy to deal with rather than waiting until they are too big to ignore and a lot more expensive to remedy.
Whole-House Inspection
I suggest getting a whole-house inspection about every five years—more often if your property is in poor repair or more than 40 years old, less often if you have a newer property in good repair. This type of inspection reviews all the major systems such as plumbing, roofing, electrical, and heating/air conditioning. It also reviews basic structural integrity (making note of any worrisome cracks in the foundation), ventilation, and evidence of standing water (either because it’s wet or there’s a white, chalky substance on the foundation walls).
If you’ve had a fire or other major disruptions such as a significant plumbing leak or electrical problems, I’d definitely schedule a whole-house inspection. Based on the inspection results, you can plan for repairs throughout the year. Some work may have to wait for sunny weather; other work can happen right away, depending on your budget. If you need a new roof or other work that requires a contractor and good weather, call now to get on his list for spring or summer. Good contractors book much of their work far in advance.
Moving Toward Electric
Even if your appliances are in decent repair, you may need to replace them in the years to come. In California, there’s a push afoot to move away from gas appliances. If you have a gas-powered clothes dryer, water heater, stove-top, and/or heating/ventilation/air conditioning unit and you’d like to change to electric, now would be a time to ask an electrician to assess your home, particularly its electrical capacity. Many older homes were built with 100-amp electrical supplies, and converting appliances from gas to electric may overtax your system. If you’re thinking about buying an electric car and charging it at home, you’ll almost certainly want to upgrade your electrical system.
New Plumbing Material
If your whole-house inspection reveals a need for new plumbing, there’s a new material that has revolutionized the industry. Pex is flexible plastic tubing that can be used for both hot and cold water. It is cheaper to install and works better than prior industry-standard materials. You don’t have to drill perfectly aligned holes through studs when plumbing (or re-plumbing) because Pex can bend, and there’s no need for welded connections. I know replumbing a whole house is a huge undertaking, but springing a leak and dealing with the aftermath can be worse.
Other Inspections
While a whole-house inspection will cover a lot, there are a few other inspections to consider: well capacity, water quality, septic, HVAC, and pest and fungus to name a few. A pest and fungus inspection can find evidence of termites, powder post beetles, carpenter bees, and other pests that would otherwise remain invisible until significant structural damage occurred. Same goes for fungus or mold problems which often begin out of sight, such as under the house near kitchen and bathroom pipes. Small, slow leaks can have disastrous impacts if left unrepaired.
Speaking of leaks, now would be a good time to tape a note to the water supply lines connected to your washing machine with the dates they were installed so you can replace them every five years. While your insurance will cover the damage of a broken pipe or supply line, the inconvenience of having your home flooded is massive.
Getting inspections and staying ahead on home maintenance will allow you to keep things in good repair, which is good for you, and it makes your insurance agent happier. At a time when many homeowner’s insurance policies are being cancelled, it’s wise to demonstrate to your insurance company that you are keen to reduce their liability.
If you have questions about property management or real estate, please contact me at rselzer@selzerrealty.com or call (707) 462-4000. If you have an idea for a future column, share it with me and if I use it, I’ll send you a $25 gift certificate to Schat’s Bakery.