Summer is one of the busiest times of year for home shopping in Michigan. The weather is nice, the landscaping is green, and homes tend to show their best.
But summer can also reveal a lot about a house that you might not notice during other times of the year.
If you’re walking through homes this summer, here are a few things worth paying extra attention to.
How Well Does the Air Conditioning Keep Up?
One of the easiest things to notice during a summer showing is how comfortable the house feels.
Does the home feel cool and consistent throughout, or are certain rooms noticeably warmer than others?
Pay attention to upstairs bedrooms, bonus rooms, additions, and rooms with a lot of windows. A room that feels significantly warmer could simply get more afternoon sun, but it could also point to insulation, airflow, window, or HVAC concerns.
You don’t need to diagnose the problem during the showing. Just make a mental note so you can ask more questions later.
Look for Drainage Around the House
Summer storms can dump a lot of water in a short period of time.
As you’re walking around the property, look at the grade around the foundation. Ideally, the ground should help direct water away from the house instead of toward it.
Also take a look at:
- Gutters and downspouts
- Low spots in the yard
- Standing water
- Washout or erosion
- Areas where mulch or landscaping may be holding water against the foundation
If it recently rained, even better. You may get a pretty good idea of how the property handles water.
Take a Good Look at the Roof
You don’t have to climb onto the roof to notice potential concerns.
From the ground, look for shingles that appear curled, missing, uneven, or heavily worn. You can also look at the gutters and rooflines for anything that doesn’t look quite right.
A roof doesn’t necessarily need to be brand new, but knowing its approximate age and condition can help you understand what expenses may be coming in the future.
This is also something your home inspector can take a much closer look at once you’re under contract.
Pay Attention to the Basement
Michigan basements and water don’t always get along.
When you’re downstairs, don’t just look at how the basement is finished. Look around the edges of the room, near windows, around the sump pump, and along foundation walls.
Keep an eye out for:
- Water stains
- Efflorescence or white residue on walls
- Musty smells
- Fresh paint in isolated areas
- Dehumidifiers running constantly
- Rust or staining around floor drains or mechanical areas
None of those automatically mean there’s a serious problem, but they’re worth asking about.
Don’t Let Pretty Landscaping Distract You
Summer landscaping can make a property look incredible, but take a closer look at what’s actually there.
Are large trees hanging over the house?
Are roots close to the foundation or driveway?
Are shrubs planted directly against the siding?
Is the landscaping something you’re realistically willing to maintain?
A beautiful yard can be a huge selling point, but it can also come with a fair amount of work.
Listen for Road Noise
This one is easy to overlook because you’re usually talking with your agent while walking through the property.
Take a minute and just listen.
If the home is near a main road, intersection, school, business, or busy neighborhood entrance, summer is a good time to get a realistic idea of the noise level.
Open a window. Step into the backyard. Stand outside for a few minutes.
Road noise that doesn’t bother you during a 20-minute showing may feel different when you’re sitting on the patio every evening.
Notice Which Rooms Get Hot in Direct Sunlight
A room full of windows can look fantastic, especially on a sunny day.
But stand in the room for a few minutes and see how it feels.
Large west-facing windows, vaulted ceilings, skylights, and certain additions can create rooms that get considerably warmer in the afternoon.
Again, that doesn’t necessarily make the home a bad choice. You may simply want to know what you’re getting into and whether window treatments, better insulation, or HVAC improvements could eventually be needed.
Summer Is a Great Time to Learn How a Home Really Lives
Every season tells you something different about a property.
Winter can show you drafts and heating performance. Spring can expose drainage problems. Summer gives you a great opportunity to see how the cooling system performs, how the property handles storms, what the landscaping requires, and how comfortable the home feels during the hottest part of the year.
When we walk through a home with a buyer, our job isn’t just to point out the pretty kitchen or big backyard. We want to help you slow down, look at the entire property, and notice the things that could affect how much you enjoy living there after closing.
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Lapeer County, Oakland County, or the surrounding areas, Ryan and Abby vandenBoogaart would be happy to help you through the process and take a closer look at the details that aren’t always obvious in the listing photos.