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Then, you noticed that the exterior was stucco,
and it had been formed into the most amazing
shapes. Most exterior materials are simple, but
stucco can be applied to the exterior of a home
with rich, ornate detail. While stucco in its
various forms has been around for centuries,
today’s stucco is an excellent material for
finishing the exterior of a home.
When selecting a stucco home to purchase,
you need to make sure that a thorough stucco
inspection has been performed. Many sellers will
have an inspection done prior to putting their
home on the market, while others will have one
performed at the time of the sale to determine
needed repairs. You may feel more comfortable
hiring your own inspector to protect your
interests as buying a home is a major
investment. The bottom line is to make sure that
an inspection is conducted before your closing.
While a beautiful and versatile material,
depending on the application, stucco may have
inherent problems. The goal of an inspector is
to identify if there is any moisture behind the
stucco that has caused a breakdown in the
integrity of the sheathing underneath. You want
to know the condition of the stucco because
moisture behind the walls is a breeding ground
for termite infestation and toxic molds.
If you have selected a professional stucco
inspector to perform an inspection for you, then
arrange a time with the homeowner, either
yourself or through your real estate agent, for
the inspection to take place. On the day of the
inspection, the inspector will arrive with a
list of tasks to accomplish to determine the
material’s condition. You may wish to be present
to see the extent of any damage and talk with
the inspector about potential remedies and
costs, or you may choose to not to attend.
Although being present is preferable, the
inspector will provide you with a full report
concerning the property.
While all stucco inspectors will not do
things in the same order, there are basic
elements to every inspector’s process. They will
usually photograph the exterior walls of the
home for his report. They do this so when they
prepare the report for you, they will be able to
show exact locations of damage. This is most
helpful as you will be able to go directly to
that area and locate what they are describing.
As the inspector walks around the house, he or
she will take notes and make sketches of his or
her work.
Usually, they will make a visual inspection
of the property to see if any problems are
immediately evident. Then, they will use an
instrument to check the level of moisture behind
the walls at various points along the exterior.
There is an acceptable amount of moisture. If
there are any signs of damage, the areas will be
included in the report. The inspector will test
around doors and windows and in areas where
large quantities of water are shed from the
roof. They will also make tests along the
ground, which holds moisture, and make sure that
the stucco was applied properly so that ground
level moisture can not penetrate. An inspector
will also check for small cracks that appear in
stucco over time to make sure that they have not
created a problem area. Most small cracks can be
repaired at little cost to the homeowner and
will not have created a major breach in the
integrity of the stucco coat.
Once the stucco inspector has found an area
of high moisture content, he or she will then
determine the size of the affected area with
further testing. The inspector will check to see
if the sheathing material underneath is rotted.
They will try to do this with minimal
invasiveness; however, if signs of mold or pests
become evident, then the inspector will explore
further. Any areas that have been penetrated
will be filled by the inspector to seal the
hole, careful not to create a future problem.
Also, ask the inspector about the type of stucco
used on the house. Some types have more problems
than others and usually an inspector will tell
you that durable, hard coat stucco is the best
application.
After the
report has been prepared for you, make sure you
discuss each area of concern with the inspector,
making a list of repairs and their potential
costs. Get a recommendation as to the repairs.
Ask about the inspector’s opinion of the home
and for a future forecast on any problem areas.
There are cases where an inspector will tell you
not to purchase the home, and hopefully, the
current homeowner will make the necessary
repairs before returning the home to the market.
But that should be at their expense. If you are
comfortable with the condition of the property
and are ready to proceed with the sale, then
make sure the homeowner has made the necessary
repairs prior to closing.
If a homeowner is
marketing their home honestly, many times they
will have already hired an inspector and will
provide you with a copy of their report along
with a receipt showing that the recommended
repairs have been made. If you choose to have a
home inspected that has not already had a
current inspection performed, you should ask the
homeowner to pay for it. If they provide you
with a current report, but you would feel more
comfortable with a second opinion, then you
should expect to pay the inspection fee. It
depends upon the particular situation. If a
homeowner refuses an inspection, then you need
to refuse to buy. |
