Dry rot under new paint
Getting ready to Sell your Home? First, I want to congratulate you for least considering strategies making your home more attractive to potential home buyers. You only get to make a first impression once and the exterior of your home is the first thing a potential buyer is going to see. So if you’re painting the exterior of your home, prior to putting on the market, here’s a tip that could save you money down the road.
A reputable painting contractor will not only give you a written estimate outlining the scope work; they should also alert you to any problem areas before painting. Any wood on the exterior of your home is more vulnerable to wood destroy organisms which could include fungi and or insects. Homes in Simi Valley California often see dry rot and/or termites.
If the painting contractor you hired comes across problem areas on the exterior of your home, you should consider hiring a termite company to come out, investigate and give a written report as to the extent of the problem areas. The termite companies are completely equipped to remove and replace damaged wood and treat with chemicals to eradicate any wood destroying organisms. Any damage wood should be replaced before your painting contractor begins painting.
When the time comes to sell your property, 99% of the time, the buyer will ask for the seller to provide a termite inspection report. Typically buyers will ask sellers to pay repair for any items listed under section 1 of the Wood Destroying Organisms Report. Home sales in the Simi Valley area see this as a customary request as this type of damage to a property is seen as a deferred maintenance item. Many sellers do not realize that if they refuse a termite inspection or termite repairs, the buyer can still bring in their own termite inspector during the investigation period and cancel the purchase under the general inspection contingencies if that report reveals enough treatment and repairs to scare away the buyer. Now the Seller has a material fact with this termite inspection and will need to disclose it to all future prospective buyers.
The reason why mentioned earlier that the damaged wood should be replaced before painting is, that termite inspectors are very critical of newly painted houses. They are concerned the prior damage may be hidden behind the new paint job. Any dry rot or damaged wood under new paint is easily ferreted out during the inspection.
Sprucing up your house for a good first impression is the right thing to do. Be proactive when it comes to any issues that may pop up while you’re improving curb appeal of your home. It will save you frustration and headaches when it comes time to negotiate with a home buyer.
