Ask the Metro Jackson Home Inspector

All exterior wood surfaces should be protected from the weather especially the Soffit and Fascia Boards. Often times, these areas are neglected and not properly maintained to prevent moisture damage. Common places to look for are areas where caulking in missing and painted finishes that are peeling or chipping away. These overlooked areas will rapidily allow moisture to penetrate into the bare wood causing irreversible wood damage.

All wood surfaces on the exterior of the home should be sealed properly to provided adaquate protection from the weather. The lower sections of all exterior support post for porches and overhangs should be routinely checked for signs of paint peeling and flaking so additional protection can be added.

Common roofing problems can often be seen visually from the ground without the use of binoculars or from a ladder at the eaves. The broken Asphalt shingles in the photo below were the result of either the home owners ladder or from a fallen tree limbs. Broken or mis-placed shingles similar as these should be replaced to help prevent moisture penetration into the fascia boards.       

That’s a question that thousands of homeowners ask each year. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that as many as 69 million gallons of paint are left over annually in the United States.   
 
Here are some ideas when pondering what to do with those last few cans.
 
First, consider donating the paint for reuse. Some organizations will accept paint that’s in good condition (defined as uncontaminated paint still with a smooth consistency). The paint must be donated in a labeled container. You can check for donation options locally by clicking on “Paint donation” at www.earth911.org.

Recycle it. Water-based, or latex, paint can be recycled into new paint or used to create other products. Again, check www.earth911.org for recycling options.
 
Each municipality has different requirements, depending on whether the paint is oil- or water-based.

According to the website govlink.org, latex paint (water-based) can be included in curbside trash.  Their suggestions include solidifying paint by:

Mixing in absorbent material such as cat litter, sawdust or shredded newspaper into paint and allow mixture to dry thoroughly or Let the paint dry out by removing the lid and setting the paint can in a well-ventilated area or Pour thin layers into a disposable pie plate or cardboard box lined with plastic and allow the paint to dray one layer at a time. 

Once your paint is dry, you can leave the lid off the can and place the cans in your your regular trash. And remember, recycle any cans made of steel.

Oil-based paint, lead paint and paint thinner contain flammable and toxic solvents. For information about disposal of these products, call Earth911 for more information at  800-253-2687. Keep in mind that each municipality has different requirements. Additional information regarding paint storage and disposal as well as painting tips can also be found by visiting http://www.paintquality.com/index.html

First, cover the opening with plastic wrap and then make sure the lid fits securely so the paint doesn’t leak.  Then store the paint can upside down. This will create a tight seal around the lid and keep the paint fresh. Additional information regarding Paint Storage and Disposal as well as painting tips can also be found by visiting http://www.paintquality.com/index.html

At Magnolia Home Inspections we understand that many times the inspection process is time sensitive and essential for an expedient closing. That is why we have prepared this pre-inspection checklist so that we can do our job efficiently.

First, we would like to answer some of the commonly asked questions about our service: 

What is a home inspection?
 
We are a real estate support service that evaluates the overall structural, mechanical and electrical condition of the home. We examine nearly all-visible construction components and evaluate whether these items are still serviceable. We make notations of items that may need attention to help preserve their long-term integrity. We also give our client helpful advice on general home maintenance. 

Is this a building code compliance inspection?

No. Many homes were built before building codes were ever established. When building codes were established, many counties adopted (or enforced) their own version of these building codes. It would be impossible to verify the governing code for every time period in every county and make a compliance type inspection.

We inspect residential resells for function and safety.  In other words do the systems and components of the house function properly and are there safety hazards present.

Home sellers, please do the following:

Confirm that all utilities are on and pilot flames are ignited. 
Please provide keys for all doors & gates.
Please make sure that all domestic animals are secured. 
Change or clean dirty A/C filters. Clean range exhaust filter if there is a greasy build up. (fire hazard)
Check batteries in smoke detector.
Free windows that have been painted shut. 
Replace torn weather stripping around exterior doors. 
Replace any missing switch or receptacle covers.
Clean gutters and down spouts.
Trim back any tree limbs that may be touching the roof of the house.
Keep foundation vents open. (except in frigid weather)
Have your HVAC system serviced if it has been over a year since the last service. 
Call Magnolia Home Inspections @ (601-454-4073) if you have any questions about how to prepare your house for inspection.

Some manufacturers recommend replacement after 5 years. If you don’t have the manufacturer’s information and your smoke alarms are 10 years old or older, it’s time to replace them with new ones. Since smoke alarms can become desensitized over time, replacement is strongly advised.

If possible, replace old smoke alarms with interconnected alarms. These alarms are linked together so if one alarm is activated, all alarms will sound. In the event of a fire, this gives you extra time to help get family members to safety. You may also want to consider a monitored smoke/heat detector installed by a home security company.

Test smoke alarms once a month and change the batteries in your smoke alarm at least twice per year. Also, be sure there is at least one working smoke alarm on every level of your home and inside or near sleeping areas. In addition, only purchase alarms certified by Underwriters Laboratories (U.L.), an independent testing organization that sets quality and use standards for electronic and consumer products.

Making the decision to sell Your home is a huge step for most homeowners.  But once the decision is made to sell, then making your home Marketable should be your number one goal! 

We understand the emotional attachment You have to your home but you must be realistic about the home as well.  No home is perfect and as soon as you realize THAT you are on your way to making your home more Marketable.  And remember, making your home the most marketable it can be should be your number one goal!

Potential home buyers want to purchase a home that is in tip-top shape, no matter the age of the home.  That’s why having a Pre-Listing Inspection make complete sense.  Also:

a) Having a home inspection before you put your house on the market will allow you to understand any current or potential problem areas with the home that can be resolved before the buyers arrive.  Therefore, your home will be in better condition for viewing, making it more marketable and this will help you attain the maximum selling price for the home.

b) Resolving problems prior to the buyer’s inspection will save you money in two other ways as well.  First, when you know what needs to be repaired in advance of the sale you can obtain multiple bids for the work that needs to be done and select the best contractor at the best price.  Secondly, the work can be done by the contractor in a time frame that fits his schedule as well thereby avoiding the “Rush Charges” to get the work completed.

c) Finally, there is one secret all Sellers need to know.  Buyers make their decision to purchase a home based on emotion and justify that decision with logic.  And another thing is equally true:  Buyer’s can fall out of love with a home just as quickly as the fell in love it.  So why let the Buyer’s Inspector develop a long list of items needing repair thereby jeopardizing your sale?   Making the repairs in advance of the sale will save you tons of frustration and disappointment!

So let’s review the facts:  Having your home inspected before the first buyer shows up will help you to sell the home for more money, reduce the cost of the needed repairs, and minimize your frustration with the entire sales process.  Where’s the down side to getting a Pre-Listing Inspection?

Fiberboard Siding (often referred to as Hardboard Planking) was manufactured by several companies including Louisiana-Pacific®, Masonite®, Weyerhaeuser® and Georgia Pacific®.

While this type of siding was made by numerous manufacturers, each company’s fiberboard siding is made in roughly the same manner and tends to have the same issues.

After this siding has been installed for some length of time, it tends to expand slightly. This causes the area around the nail heads to become damaged.  This in turn allows moisture to penetrate into the siding and deteriorate it.

As the moisture level increases, the siding’s edges tend to expand. This expansion breaks the paint, which, in turn, allows rainwater to be absorbed by the siding causing a breakdown of the glue holding the wood fibers together. Deterioration of the siding increases as the moisture content of the siding rises.

Fiberboard siding also tends to expand and contract along its length, thus breaking the seal where the boards’ join together.  This contraction breaks down the caulk that was applied during installation, again leaving the siding vulnerable to water penetration.

It is critical that the caulking on this type siding be maintained in good condition. Also, regular repainting of the siding is an absolute must.  Hand painting of the bottom of each course of the siding with a brush is the only way to ensure that the exposed fibers of the siding get sealed. 

It may be possible to slow down the deterioration of fiberboard siding by regular painting and caulking; however, home owners should be aware that there will be problems with their siding in the future.