Get Insight Into A Home For Sale Through The Gutters

Posted by Mike Gibson

October 21, 2008

by Mike Gibson

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.

The reason why gutters merit a look is their very nature. When a person stages their home to sell it, they do all kinds of things to make it look good. Gutters are almost always overlooked. This means they provide evidence of the true condition of the home.

Most people understand the basic idea of getting water off the roof, but miss this second point. If the water is just allowed to site at the base of the home, it is going to cause subsidence and foundation problems. Good gutters prevent this.

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.

Wood gutters are very rare these days. Wood and water is a bad mix. No matter how the wood is treated, the water will eventually penetrate it and cause rot. Water created the Grand Canyon, so wood has no chance against it.

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.

The days of plastic gutters are upon us. They are becoming more and more popular for a singular reason. Water cannot damage them, so they last. Alas, they do not tell us much about how a homeowner has cared for a property.

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 a part of the country that gets snow, the gutters can tell you a lot. If they ride out over the edge of the roof, they are new. How can you tell? The weight of snow will pull them off the home. Since they are up, they are new.

This may seem like far more information than you ever wanted to know about gutters. It probably is, but such information can give you insight to whether a home has been maintained correctly. Such insight is invaluable.

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