Get In The Gutter of That Real Estate for Sale
People selling their home know the value of curb appeal. As a buyer, you need to be able to look past the staged home to see the real property. One way to do this is to look at the details. In this case, we are talking about the gutters.
Why gutters? Well, they are not the soul of the home by any stretch of the imagination, but they play an important practical role. They are key to moving water off of the home and away from the foundation.
Gutters obviously are there to move water off the roof in an orderly manner. Most people do not realize they have a second purpose as well. They also must take that water and move it away from the foundation of the structure.
When looking at gutters, start with the basics. How basic? Well, what type of gutters are there? The choices are usually wood, metal or plastic. The prominence of one type or another depends on the part of the country you live in.
The older the home you are looking at, the more likely wood gutters will have been used. The will fall apart if not maintained well. If you are looking at an older home that has older wood gutters in good shape, the house has been maintained well.
Metal gutters were the standard bearer for a long time. Again, it was an odd choice given that water and metal is also not a good mix. Treated metal will last a bit, but rust is going to be a problem sooner or later.
As with many items these days, plastic is the king when it comes to gutters. It does not rot or rust, so it is ideal. Unfortunately, plastic gutters do not tell us much about how the homeowners treated the home before deciding to sell it.
Gutters are actually one part of a two part systems. Capturing water off a roof is great and all, but not if you fail to do something with it. Specifically, a gutter system needs downspouts if it is going to be effective.
Assuming there are downspouts, look for a turn at the bottom of them. This turn should keep the water from hitting the ground at a vertical angle. It should also send the water in the direction that moves it away from the home such as along a curb.
If you live in an area that gets snow, the placement of gutters is also an issue. They should be back up under the edge of the roof, not sticking out. If they stick out, snow will accumulate and rip them off the home.
It can be hard to evaluate a home that has been buffed out by a seller in anticipation of listing it. The truth is found in the details. Get in the gutter and you should be able to tell what you have on your hands.
