Winter Home Inspections
Although winter time retreat shopping can afford many positives like reduced
prices and motivated sellers, there can also be a few downsides as well. While
purchasing your retreat during the winter, especially when there is a considerable
amount of snow on the ground, extra care must be taken during your inspection
period. Many surprises may await you when the spring thaw arrives. Among them
may be hidden trash and slash piles that will have to burned or removed, road
grading and repair work, downed frost free spigots, fencing repairs, vegetation
removal and major grounds keeping issues that are hidden under the snow. That
nice rock flowerbed may be a heap when the snow melts due to falling ice/snow
off the roof. Also, varmints and pest infiltration can be a major issue especially
in unoccupied dwellings. On a side note a recent home inspection report here
stated “The woodpeckers appear to have mounted an attack on the front
porch eve”. Funny? Absolutely! But not to the new owner. Beware of unoccupied
dwellings for sale, especially in the winter. Snow hides many maintenance items
that may need to be addressed and could be quite costly. Asking the seller
to plow the driveway may be one thing but asking them to remove the snow load
all the way around the house and each out building so the inspector can complete
a thorough inspection may be an issue, especially with upwards of three solid
frozen feet of snow on the ground here in the mid-range elevations of northern
Idaho. This cost may range upwards of over a thousand dollars and sellers who
have had their property overpriced and on the market for a while will not be
motivated to incur such costs unless you release some earnest money to pay
for it, and the fee reimbursed should you actually purchase the property. Why?
Who knows, it makes no sense to me, but some sellers are very stubborn, to
their own detriment.
Here is a list of items to make sure are working and not damaged during a
winter time purchase: Well and well pump(s), all water lines (have they burst?),
septic
lines and tank, any generators and off grid solar components (have the batteries
been neglected or are they due for replacement or upgrade?), wood decking (has
the snow cracked or otherwise damaged the decks/railings/steps), wood stoves
and piping/flues (creosote build-up or other deferred maintenance like loose
flashing at the roof seal?), roofing (has the snow load loosened or ripped
off any shingles?)--a good reason to have metal roof (for fire protection as
well), any appearance of water intrusion into the basement or crawl space in
winter is really going to be an issue in the spring. It is recommended that
the buyer be present at the home inspection and normally a good inspector will
let the buyer follow them around the home for most of the inspection. Most
inspectors will be happy to let you tag along, as you’re paying them
and they will explain certain details of demerit or merit, as you go.
If the retreat you’re buying has been on the market for a while, then
your agent should have visited the property during the summer/fall months and
therefore
should be aware of any issues regarding road, vegetation, downed timber, and
landscaping issues that wouldn't be obvious under snow cover. This is one more
reason to seek out a qualified retreat real estate agent in
your desired locale.
Survival Supplies Storage
Once you have closed escrow, the work begins at your new retreat. As I have
stated before several times, before TEOTWAWKI the
threat of fire will be either first or second on the
list
of major threats, next to theft.
Speaking with a client this morning I was very specific that they should store
their supplies ‘assuming’ that
the retreat was going to burn down. Yes, having just spent a bunch of money
on a retreat one may feel a bit annoyed, but storing expensive supplies under
the house or hidden in walled over closets and crawl spaces is at best mediocre
and dangerous at worst. If there is not a full concrete built basement under
the house where a bunker can be walled off to survive a fire and water damage
then an alternatively located underground bunker must be built, period. It
would be better to put a bit less cash down on the property and save $15,000
for building a self contained storage bunker than to lose it all during fire
season, or worse yet from a small propane heater malfunction-- the heater that
must be
left on during the winter in order to keep your water pipes from freezing while
the place is not attended. Not living at your retreat full time has its
issues, none of which cannot be overcome with a little forethought.
A simple excavated 12'x12' (finished size) underground concrete room--typically insulated concrete form (ICF) block--with proper drainage on the sides/underneath and a small CONEX container placed on top would probably be enough for anyone’s basic storage of supplies. (Clothes, storage food, medical supplies, tents, sleeping supplies, guns, and ammo). These supplies would be needed to survive if you were to find the main retreat structure just a smoking hole, upon arrival. Note that the CONEX should have a secured internal vertical entrance door leading to the shelter. [JWR Adds: in addition to a stout lock and equally stout hasp, the trapdoor should be concealed beneath something that doesn't look worth stealing, such as burlap sacks full of rags, prominently marked "Extra shop rags".] The rest of the less essential and less valuable supplies can be hidden in the retreat itself, but always have a reserve in place. Owning a retreat is a blessing, and very few have the opportunity. Just be diligent about your supplies, since storage consideration are as important as the retreat itself.
If you have any questions about retreat real estate in northern or north central Idaho, then please contact Todd Savage via e-mail at: toddsavage@meadowcrk.com
