Selling Your Home: Here’s What a Buyer’s Inspector Will Flag on Your Vinyl Siding
Go Back To Previous PageWhen selling your home in Moncton, Canada, vinyl siding can become a concern for the buyer’s home inspector. They conduct thorough exterior inspections and, in some cases, find
problems with the vinyl siding. While some problems are minor and can be overlooked, others are serious. They can even bring down the home’s selling price before negotiation begins.
What are the things that a home inspector looks for?
A Canadian home inspector documents the visible condition of your home. The report goes to the buyer’s agent, and anything flagged becomes a point of negotiation. When it comes to vinyl siding, here are the things that most commonly appear in the report:
- Warped, cracked, and missing panels are among the most common problems in vinyl siding. Moncton’s winters and freeze-thaw cycles are hard on vinyl. The stress shows as warped edges, hairline cracks, or missing panels. Water seepage is a common problem through the cracked panels. It can damage the underlying structure. The cracks also let pests in. According to experts offering vinyl siding services in Moncton, replacing cracked or buckled panels is the best option.
- Flashing problems are a major source of moisture seepage in siding systems. Small installation errors around window and door frames and at corners cause water seepage. The siding has to be properly sealed and terminated. If not done properly, the gaps widen, and wind-driven rain easily seeps into the siding and walls.
- Another major problem, particularly in old Moncton homes, is that the siding is installed too close to the ground. The siding should not touch the ground or be installed directly against hard surfaces like driveways and patios. There must be a minimum clearance between the ground and siding to prevent moisture absorption and protect the panel’s lower edges.
- During the summer months, Moncton’s humidity is high, which is tough on exterior surfaces. Vinyl does not rot. However, mold and mildew are growing, particularly on north-facing walls where direct sunlight does not reach. There might be a coat of green or black streaking along the lower panel in the siding. Though cleaning can remove the surface growth, persistent moisture behind the panels can deteriorate interior finishes and framing.
What must you fix before listing?
Experts from companies like Artisanroofing.ca say there are certain things you must fix before listing your property for sale. Fix the visibly warped sections, cracked or broken panels, missing or damaged flashing around doors and windows, and siding that sits against the soil. Clean the mold and mildew staining. Disclose the problems to the inspector.
Wrapping it up
In Moncton, buyers prefer to conduct inspections as a genuine decision-making tool. The inspector’s report plays a major role. Get the siding of your property right to avoid issues with the home inspector and get a fair price for your home. For this, you need to contact a reliable service provider to help you properly fix the siding. Ask your friends to recommend an expert. You can also search online to find out who the leading experts in the city are.
Georges has been working in Wall Street for the last 16 years trading derivatives with hedge funds. He has been an active real estate investor for over a decade. Georges graduated from HEC Business School in Paris and holds a master in Finance from ESADE Barcelona.
