Snow, ice, and harsh temperatures can make you second guess scheduling a home inspection, but these conditions may actually increase the effectiveness of an inspection. While some special considerations may need to be made to accommodate for the wintery conditions, the weather may reveal flaws that might be difficult to notice otherwise. Let’s discuss why winter is a great time for a home inspection and how to ensure things run smoothly.
The Benefit of a Home Inspection in Winter
Closing on real estate can happen at any time, regardless of the weather outside. Winter won’t impact your purchase or sale, and it can also give you a few valuable insights. Some of the benefits of doing a home inspection in winter include:
- Testing a Home’s Resilience: Freezing temperatures, heavy snowfall, and ice can place a lot of stress on a house’s infrastructure. Performing a home inspection under these conditions can test the performance of the plumbing and HVAC system.
- Determining Framing Stability: Heavy snow and ice will put a lot of strain on the house’s framing and foundation. This allows a home inspector to more accurately determine if there will be any potential structural problems in the future.
- Detecting Drafts: It’s easier to feel a draft and identify areas with poor insulation when it’s cold outside.
A winter home inspection allows inspectors to look at concerns that would most influence the homeowners during the more difficult months of the year.
Preparing for a Winter Home Inspection
If you want to achieve the most success with your home inspection in winter, there are a few guidelines you can follow. Since there isn’t a lot of daylight in winter, you want to schedule your appointment early in the morning to ensure the home inspector has enough light to see all the home’s exterior flaws. Also, as a seller, you want to clear your entryways, windows, and outdoor plumbing of excessive snow, icicles, and ice dams. De-icing your windows so that they can open is also helpful. You should also perform regular pre-inspection preparation, such as decluttering your home and gathering relevant documents.
While winter is a great time for a home inspection, every season uniquely affects a home, so there’s never really a bad time to schedule. With the right professional, your home inspector should be able to uncover any flaws, regardless of the season. At Homeinex Corporation, we’ll ensure your prospective home can weather the elements with our home inspection service. If you need an experienced home inspector to inspect your property this season, contact us today.