Home Inspection Archives - Page 2 of 25

5 steps you must take to get ready for an open house

Hosting an open house is a necessary step in the home selling process. Not only do people rarely purchase a home without spending ample time within its walls, but it also allows you to open up your house to wider market of potential buyers. If your home is inviting during this event, your chances of selling your house in a reasonable timeframe skyrocket.

Getting ready for an open house these days is a lot more than tidying up and pulling freshly baked cookies out of the oven. Not only are there more houses on the market these days, but home buyers are becoming smarter about the various tricks sellers use to draw them in. To increase your chances of finding buyers at or above your listed price, consult your real estate agent and use these tips to get ready for your open house:

"Hire a professional cleaning service."

1. Clean (or hire a professional cleaner)
One of the biggest mistakes you can make as a seller is to show off a messy, dirty home, according to Bankrate. Throwing a successful open house should involve more than just picking up toys and sweeping the floor. You need to conduct a thorough, deep clean of your home. If you're not the most talented cleaner, hire a professional cleaning service to come in the day before to make things look spotless for potential buyers.

2. Get rid of the clutter
You might love all your knickknacks and personal items, but your visitors at your open house will not. After all, how can they envision themselves living in the home if they are constantly bumping into unnecessary furniture pieces or seeing rows and rows of family photos? There is nothing inherently wrong with a comfy, cluttered home, but this is not the image you want to project to homebuyers. Consider de-cluttering and putting certain accessories and furniture into storage for a little while, Realtor.com suggested.

3. Don't forget about the exterior
You might not be a gardener, but this doesn't mean your landscape shouldn't look well-groomed. Buyers likely won't make it through the front door, if they are first greeted with peeling paint, overgrown flower beds, an unmowed lawn and other unappealing elements. Hire a landscaper to spruce up your home's exterior and consider investing in nice patio furniture for your front porch. This way, your home is as inviting from the outside as it is on the inside.

"Consider bringing in a professional home inspector."

4. Spread the word on social media
Yard signs and real estate advertisements are still solid ways to market your open house, but they shouldn't be your only choices. With the rise in modern technology, you have plenty of social media platforms and innovative online tools at your disposal to spread the word that your home is for sale. U.S. News & Word Report wrote that social media advertising for open house is a dynamic approach that may draw in many more potential buyers. Even if your friends are looking to purchase a home, they may know or reach someone who is hoping to buy.

5. Conduct a home inspection
When you have plenty of eager homebuyers at your open house, you don't want them to notice your leaky plumbing, inconsistent air conditioning or drafty windows. This occurrence could be even worse if potential buyers ask your realtor about an electrical wiring or siding problem they didn't realize you had. To avoid this embarrassment, consider bringing in a professional home inspector to go through your house and point out any potential issues. This way, you know what issues you face, and your realtor can answer your buyers' questions honesty and comprehensively.

When should you put your home on the market?

When is the ideal time to put your house on the market? If you're thinking late spring, around May 1 to 15, you would be correct, according to new analysis from Zillow. The real estate expert reported that homes across the country, on average, sell nine days faster and for 1 percent higher than the average listing during this timeframe. For most of America, home sellers who listed in April or May were the most successful.

Late spring is ideal for sellers
The research found that weather patterns and regions of the country impacted the ideal selling time. Sellers in warmer areas of the U.S., such as California or Florida, have more flexibility than those in Massachusetts or Colorado. In Baltimore, Maryland, for example, the ideal selling timeframe is April 1 through 15. These homes sell 21.5 days faster during this time at 0.9 percent above the average premium. The report also found the idea day of the week to list Maryland homes is on a Saturday.

"In Maryland, the ideal selling timeframe is April 1 through 15."

"With 3 percent fewer homes on the market than last year, 2017 is shaping up to be another competitive buying season," Zillow Chief Economist Dr. Svenja Gudell explained in a company press release. "Many home buyers who started looking for homes in the early spring will still be searching for their dream home months later. By May, some buyers may be anxious to get settled into a new home— and will be more willing to pay a premium to close the deal."

What do these home buyers want?
According to the 2016 Zillow Group Report on Consumer Housing Trends, typical buyers spend just over four months shopping for a home. When broken down by generation, millennials — who represent 42 percent of homebuyers — shop for four months, while Baby Boomers —16 percent of the home buying population—spend 18 percent more time than millennials.

The report also found that affordability and safety are still the most important factors for potential home buyers. These individuals want their homes to be in a safe neighborhood and the price tag to not range past their set budget. Meanwhile, they prefer usability and square footage in regards to interior features. Other desires home buyers may look for include close proximity to work, schools or shopping, along with being move-in ready. Here are a few strategies to help your home stand out from the pack this spring:

De-clutter and professionally clean your house before inviting over potential buyers.
Tour other model homes to get an idea of what buyers are looking at.
Pay attention to the exterior of your home and boost your curb appeal.
Hire a home inspector to check for problems or issues.

Contact someone from Alban Inspections today if you want to get your home ready to sell this spring season.

Realtors: Here are 4 ways to prepare your clients for home inspections

Buying or selling a home can be nerve-wracking for all parties involved. Yet, when it comes to the home inspection process, your clients' stress levels may go through the roof, no pun intended. As a realtor, you will work with all types of buyers and sellers during the inspection phase. To avoid potentially stress or awkward situations along the way, here are four ideal ways to prepare your clients for their home inspection:

1. Start with an honest conversation
Before you schedule any home inspection, you must first have an open and honest talk with your clients, according to Zion Realty. In this conversation, you should advise them to prepare themselves to hear that there may be potential deficiencies in their home. You also should urge them to disclose serious problems or issues they may know about. This may include past catastrophes, prior renovation work and various maintenance records, if applicable.

"Remind your clients that a home inspection is a smart move."

2. Remind them not to take the findings personally
Most homeowners are proud of their residence, which is why you should encourage them not to take any of the home inspector's comments or findings personally. It's never easy to hear that your home has a few unsightly water stains or peeling, cracked window frames. It's even more difficult to hear that you might need to replace your HVAC system or fix faulty electrical wiring in your kitchen.

Sit down with your clients and remind them that a home inspection is a smart move for them, as the American Society of Home Inspections states they "give you the opportunity to make repairs that will put the house in better selling condition." While it might be hard to hear that their beloved house is far from perfect, they'll appreciate the higher market price or easier selling process in the end.

3. Conduct a simple walkthrough beforehand
RIS Media suggests that realtors conduct a short walkthrough with their clients as another great way to prepare them for the inevitable home inspection process. Come prepared with a checklist of interior and exterior items you want to have a look at with the homeowners. This may involve anything from turning on lights to inspecting their ducts to looking at their gutters.

"Approach the topic of repairs in an easy manner."

During the walkthrough, you can gently point out potential issues they might encounter and other smaller problems they might be able to resolve themselves before the inspection. For example, if you point out a leaky faucet, instead of immediately telling them they have to fix it, wait for them to ask you first. Then, this is your chance to approach the topic of repairs in an easy manner by saying something along the lines of, "I probably would if it were my home."

4. Maintain the peace
Home inspections could get a little tense, especially if the buyers are involved in the process. As the realtor, you are responsible for not only keeping the peace in the moment, but to remind your clients before that the inspector is only doing his or her job. Meanwhile, the buyers may be as equally nervous as your clients because they want to get a good deal on their new home.

Reaffirm to your clients that you realize how important their home is to them, but simultaneously urge them to approach the situation logically and without lots of emotion. If your clients seem to be upset by a comment from a potential buyer or finding from the home inspector, take them aside and remind them why they are selling their home in the first place. Essentially, the main goal with any home inspection process is to ensure that all parties get the best deal during the buying or selling journey.

Reducing risk: 7 important fire safety and prevention tips

Home fires are a significant threat to life and property. According to statistics from the National Fire Protection Association, there were 365,500 house fires across the U.S. in the year 2015, causing an estimated $7 billion in total damage. More troubling still is the fact that around 2,650 people as a consequence of house fires in the same year. While the figures are concerning, house fires are easily preventable, and there are a number of strategies that you can implement to protect your family from injury or even death in a house fire. Read on to learn more:

Common causes of house fires
Before an examination of prevention and safety tips, it is helpful to take a closer look at the kinds of things that can cause house fires. According to Reader's Digest, they include:

Heaters
Space heaters present a notable risk of fire if they are left on to overheat or if they come into close contact with items that could catch alight – think curtains or clothes. Furthermore, faulty furnaces can increase fire risk. Be sure to keep space heaters away from other items and run them in a well ventilated room.
Electronics
Basically anything that uses electricity poses a risk of fire in the home. For example, items such as microwaves or toasters pose a threat if the wiring in the cord is damaged and frayed. Overusing extensive cords with multiple cords can also increase fire risk. If you observe any of these issues, take steps to remedy them.
Candles
Candles can become a threat if they are left unattended and near flammable objects – curtains, for example.
Poor wiring
Home wiring that has become faulty or ineffective is a common problem in older abodes. This presents a risk not only for fire, but also electric shocks. If you suspect that your home has a wiring problem – maybe your sockets have issues working – be sure to contact a professional.
Cigarettes
Unattended cigarettes and other smoking materials are a major cause of house fires nationwide. Fire can occur, for example, if a homeowner falls asleep and drops their cigarette on a flammable surface, or disposes of a lit cigarette in a trash can filled with flammable items.

Installing smoke alarms throughout your home is an important fire safety strategy.

Effective fire safety and prevention tips
The list above is by no means exhaustive. House fires can be caused by any number of things. So what are the most effective ways to reduce your risk of a fire at home and stay safe? Some of the best approaches include:

1. Develop an evacuation plan
It is important to have a plan of action in place, should a fire occur, HGTV explained. An evacuation plan will take into account all viable exits from the home, and will include safe (or safe as possible) ways to escape from each part of the house. It's not effective, however, to have just one escape plan – for example, jumping from the second floor window. An effective evacuation plan will take into account how to exit the building safely in various scenarios. The evacuation plan should also incorporate common sense measures, such as dialing 911 and leaving property behind.

2. Hold regular drills
Having a fire drill with your family can help to ensure that you and your family are as well-versed as possible on how to respond to a fire emergency. The American Red Cross advised that the drill should be conducted every year, at least two times.

3. Test smoke alarms regularly
The American Red Cross advised fitting as many smoke alarms as possible, particularly in areas vulnerable to fire such as the kitchen, as well as in bedrooms. Indeed fire alarms are perhaps the most effective tool available when it comes to saving lives in house fires. Certainly, the National Safety Council reported that, thanks to working smoke alarms, your risk of perishing in a house fire can be reduced significantly – by as much as 50 percent.

"Working fire alarms can reduce risk of death by as much as 50%."

Ensuring that you have smoke alarms is just the first step, however. It is important to ensure that the smoke alarms are in working order. This means conducting routine smoke alarm tests. The source noted that this should be done at least once every month, although it can't hurt to check more than that. When it comes to safety, it is worth the small amount of effort. Most fire alarms cease working when they run out of battery power. If changing the batteries doesn't help, then it's time to buy new smoke alarms.

4. Invest in fire extinguishers
Another line of defense against fire are extinguishers. HGTV noted that it's wise to have more than one fire extinguisher, keeping multiple throughout your home, in places such as bedrooms and hallways. They are especially vital in the kitchen. The source elaborated that, as with smoke alarms, fire extinguishers need to be inspected routinely to ensure that they are in working order.

5. Don't leave flammable items unattended
As detailed above, house fires are often caused by flammable items, such as candles or cigarettes, being left unattended. If you do opt to burn a candle inside, for example, ensure that you keep an eye on it at all times, keep it on a level surface and away from flammable object and blow it out if you leave the house, Reader's Digest advised. When it comes to smoking, it is better for your safety, and the health of your family, to do so outside. If you must smoke inside, however, it is important to take sensible precautions such as using ashtrays and keeping your cigarettes away from flammable items and surfaces, such as the furniture, Reader's Digest explained.

Consider Alban Inspections
Alban Inspections provide an array of services, including general home inspections, radon testing, home energy efficiency inspections and more. If you're looking to learn more about the safety of your home or are looking to get more information about your property before moving, contact Alban Inspections today. To learn more, click here.

7 ways to make your home more secure

Home break-ins are unfortunately very common: According to the Burglary Prevention Council, across the country, a burglary will occur roughly every 15 seconds. This kind of crime can happen in any neighborhood, so it's important for individuals to keep the risk in mind. And while it perhaps isn't possible to eliminate the risk of a break-in entirely, there are a number of strategies that can be implemented by homeowners to lower the chances of a burglary occurring.

If you are keen to learn more about the ways you can make your home more secure, read on. We've compiled a list of seven effective tips:

1. Don't hide a key
It is easy to become secure and complacent, particularly if your neighborhood experiences little crime. The age old tactic of hiding a spare key – under the mat or a potted plant, for example – is actually a risky one, Consumer Reports noted. This is for the obvious reason that burglars will often look in those places first, in a bid to secure easy entry to your home. Don't take the risk by hiding the key – give it to a friend or family member instead.

2. Install a security system
This may seem like obvious advice, but it is surprising how few homes have working alarms and/or security systems. As detailed by Money Supermarket, alarms are one of the best defenses your home can have. They range in price and scope, from basic to sophisticated, so you should be able to find something that suits your budget.

3. Use more secure locks
Home improvement store chain Lowes advised investing in deadbolt locks for your front and back doors to strengthen the protections already in place. Given that standard locks are at risk of being tampered with, deadbolt locks can serve as another line of defense against burglars, giving you peace of mind in the process.

4. Maintain your yard
While trees, bushes and shrubbery can improve your home's curb appeal, if you let it grow out of control you are providing more spaces for intruders to hide, Bankrate argued. Consequently, it helps to keep your plants trim and tidy, as well as trying your hardest to remove areas where a burglar could potentially hide.

There are many ways to make your home more secure.

5. Always keep entry points locked
According to an article from Safewise, a surprising amount of burglaries occur – some 30 percent– after a criminal accesses the home via an unlocked door or window. That's why simply ensuring that all door and windows are locked before you leave your home is so important. Indeed, don't become complacent – you may live in a safe neighborhood, and you may be tempted to leave that window open to let in a spring breeze while you run to the store, but that's a mistake, as the risk of a break in remains. After all, it's better to be safe than sorry.

6. Post signs
Having signage from a security company around your property can definitely help deter criminals. This is an effective strategy, even if you don't necessarily have a security system in place!

7. Don't publicize your absence
As advised by Money Supermarket, it is important not to advertise your travel plans. Very often burglars will live close by, and they may be attuned to your absence – whether it's for a long vacation or business trip – so it's wise to be discreet as possible. Ask trusted or neighbors or friends to check in your home while you're gone, and try not to tell too many people that you will be leaving. As the source noted, this means refraining from publicizing your travel plans in detail on social media.

4 ways to improve home value

After a number of years in a down market, homesellers may now find their listing is just one of many in the area.

A burgeoning economy and steady job creation has led to both increased home value and a splurge in selling among homeowners, The Wall Street Journal reported. While there hasn't been a better opportunity to sell a house in the last five or so years, householder's will need to do everything possible to improve their residence's value—and separate it from the competition—before hitting the open market. Here are a few ways to do so:

1. Make green-friendly improvements
LEED certification is popular among commercial building owners, but residential homes can receive recognition as well. According to the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED homes leverage safe, environmentally friendly building materials and appliances in an effort to reduce energy consumption, improve air quality and cut back on carbon emissions.

Some renovations are simple, like installing compact fluorescent lightbulbs, which trims electricity usage by up to 75 percent, Bankrate reported. Others, such as incorporating renewable energy or windows that efficiently trap heat in the home, could take more time, but are well worth it in the end.

2. Get advice from an expert
Flashy improvements can get buyers in the door, but a solid foundation prompts them to dot the i's and cross the t's. HGTV recommended getting a home inspection to identify any issues that aren't visible to the naked eye, like water leaks or termite damage.

Don't wait until the house is on the market to get an inspection—getting out ahead of any minor interior issues can be a selling point to a homebuyer trying to decide between two or more homes.

Make sure the front yard is in pristine condition.

3. Do some yard work
Buyers looking at a number of different homes might do a drive-by test to narrow down the list. If someone were to give the front of your home a quick glance, would it stand out from the crowd in a good or bad way?

Spend some time cutting the grass, trimming any trees or bushes and giving the exterior of the home a fresh new coat of paint. HGTV reported that these types of improvements are low effort, high reward. For the cost of a Saturday afternoon, you can ensure your home entices any would-be buyers to add it to their list of houses to tour.

4. Find the right price
Often times, it isn't a lack of effort on the sellers part that lowers a home's value, but instead a mistake. According to Consumer Reports, mistakes made when listing a home can cost up to 20 percent of the house's value.

Spend time vetting local real estate agents—jumping into a professional relationship with a bad company could bring on mistakes that ultimately devalue your home. Similarly, the source reported that pricing your residence well above market value could dissuade buyers, and lead realtors to stop showing your home. Conduct research on residential prices in the area and figure out what the right asking price for your place is.

5 home improvement projects perfect for winter

There's nothing better than waking up early on a Saturday during the dog days of summer to get started on a few home improvement projects, but don't discount what you can get done during winter either.

Truth is, this time of year is perfect for interior renovations, while warmer weather is better served for sprucing up the exterior. Here are a few projects you can get done even if it's snowing outside:

1. Find the leaks
Paying unusually high utility bills lately? This could be due to a couple of hidden air leaks around the home, according to U.S. News and World Report. Small holes found along your walls, especially in spots near outlets or vents, could be contributing to heat loss, which can add anywhere between a 15 and 35 percent premium to your bill, the source reported.

Grab a tube of caulk and a can of Great Stuff from your local hardware store and start hunting for those cracks. Use the foam as an insulator, apply caulk judiciously to patch up the hole, sand it down and paint over it if need be to give it the finishing touch.

2. Tackle the bathroom
You've always been saying how you want to give the tile grout a thorough cleaning—and now's your chance. Be sure to set aside some time to tackle the annual deep-cleaning bathroom tasks everyone tends to put off until they no longer can.

Grab both a stainless steel and a sponge scrub and your favorite disinfectants, then make sure you get to all of the built up mildew, dirt, dust, rust and everything in-between.

"Take advantage of material and appliance discounts during the winter."

3. Give the kitchen a new look
You don't need the warm weather to update your kitchen and spin it into a more modern design. McClurg, a design and building agency, reported that homeowners can take advantage of the discounts on materials and appliances often given in the winter—it isn't until springtime that everyone begins to make home improvements, and that's when retailers hike up the prices.

4. Clean the clutter
Why wait until spring to start cleaning? When the thermometer starts rising in temperature, you should be spending time outdoors, not digging ancient relics out of every nook and cranny. Quicken Loans recommended focusing on closets, the mudroom and other high-traffic areas.

If you plan on selling your home in the approaching months, consider going one step further and getting all of your warm-weather cleaning out of the way. As long as there isn't any snow on the ground, you should have no problem tidying up the place. With a major hurdle out of the way, you can go ahead and list it as soon as the first leaf starts to show.

5. Spice up the interior
Painting is perhaps the most fitting indoor project that can be accomplished during the winter. Give your home a brand new feel by dedicating a weekend to a room that needs a new coat, or a totally different direction in color. Painting can provide a new spin for houses of any age, and it's a fun home-improvement activity to boot.

The snowbird guide to home winterization

Every year, countless people migrate south to get away from the cold temperatures, leaving their homes in the north to face some rough winter weather.

Even if you have just one residence or multiple properties, clothes shouldn't be the only thing packed up before you leave for an extended period. Failure to winterize your house ahead of time could lead to accelerated deterioration—and a high bill to pay when you return from vacation.

Can't figure out where to begin? Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Laying the groundwork
Before you even begin thinking about what to pack up or take down, you first need to suspend most of your home services. This includes:

Forwarding mail to a post-office box or a neighbor's home.
Canceling or pausing phone, cable and internet.
Stopping the water bill.

Not only will these steps save you some money in the long run, but they help to create an appearance that someone is home to ward off would-be thieves. A pile of mail at the front door is like a red carpet for prowlers, but a clean pathway coupled with a motion sensor front door light—or one that's on a timer—deters most from trying to break in, Travelers Insurance reported.

Setting a motion sensor or timed light can help deter prowlers.

Heavy-duty work
Now that the groundwork is laid out, it's time to get your hands dirty. Remember that water service you canceled? You're not all set just because you stopped paying the bill. Now you have to flush the system.

Find the main valve where water flows into your home and turn that off, as well as the electricity to the water heater. Now you'll want to drain the system at every endpoint—sinks, toilets and appliances. Property Casualty 360 recommended contacting a professional if you don't have a great handle on how to do this. If you do it yourself, make sure you remember to fill the pipe traps with antifreeze to prevent cracking or bursting. Workshop On Wheels reported that homeowners should use the nontoxic propylene glycol mixture of antifreeze.

"Don't forget to fill the pipe traps with antifreeze."

Take time to clean your home's exterior and interior to remove any debris. Get leaves out of the gutter, seal off the flue to the chimney and trim any branches you think could put a hole in the roof during a storm. At this point, you want to be proactive with your cleaning. As Murphy's Law states, anything that could go wrong, likely will go wrong.

Since you're already in cleaning mode, this is a good chance to canvas the home for maintenance needs. This includes general cleaning, greasing door hinges and fixing anything that just needs a simple turn of the bolt to get it working again. Cold weather can exacerbate many minor repairs—especially if rust is involved.

If you're leaving your vehicles at the house, don't forget to winterize those as well. Many people forget to add fuel stabilizer before they go on an extended trip, and return to a car that won't start.

Before you set the timers
It's likely your home is looking all set to take a vacation of its own at this point, but before you lock it up one last time, there are a few last-minute tasks to do. Make sure to unplug all appliances in the household. Don't forget to defrost the freezer!

Make sure all windows are closed and locked, as well as the doors. Ensure the smoke detectors are in working order, and take one last look around the home before you head out. Making a list of everything that needs to be unplugged—there's a lot—can help put your mind at ease.

Turn on your home alarm system before you leave, then take one last look before driving to the airport to board your plane. Winterizing your home is as simple as that, and you'll give yourself a pat on the back for doing so the next time your home is inspected.

Checklist: 4 tips for fall home maintenance

Winter is coming. These aren't just words from one of the most popular shows on TV, but also the truth. Snow, ice and cold are right around the corner, and that means havoc on your home. Before the winter hits, make sure you check off these items from our fall home-maintenance list:

1. Landscape
Your landscaping can be a big help during the winter – or a serious nuisance. Therefore, it should definitely get your attention this fall. Go around your house and trim any plants, shrubs or trees. Depending on the type, you should be able to significantly cut back foliage. This has several benefits. For starters, it will keep plants healthy and help them grow back strong in the spring. Second, it makes winter cleanup easier. You'll have a better time removing snow without plants in your way. Third, it will protect your house from the snow. Too much overgrown foliage could trap snow against your home, or overgrown branches could drip moisture directly on your house.

"Put away lawn furniture, your mower, brooms and other items."

2. Stow away tools
Once outdoor maintenance is done, it's time to store all of your tools and equipment. Put away lawn furniture, your mower, brooms and other items that may live outdoors during the warmer months. You also need to disconnect your outdoor hoses, drain your faucets and turn off the water. This will prevent leaks or frozen pipes. The same can be said for built-in irrigation systems, if your home has them. Once the leaves are all taken care of, you also want to put away rakes. Finally, move your shovels to the front of your shed or garage in preparation of the coming snow.

3. Prep the house
Next up is a thorough inspection of the house itself. A few key components must be looked at before the winter:

The roof: Scan it for damaged shingles or signs of rust. If you see anything, call in a professional to take a look.
The HVAC: Have your furnace or boiler serviced before the winter.
Windows and doors: Make sure everything is sealed up tight, potentially adding additional caulk if need be.

Checking this off of your list will help lead to a warm, cozy winter.

4. Clean the gutters
Finally, make sure your gutters are free of debris. With the leaves falling this time of year, it's easy for plenty of junk to get caught up there. This will prevent water from draining away from your foundation, especially in the spring when the snow starts to melt. If you're able, safely climb a ladder and clean out your gutters, or hire a professional to do the job. Many gutters can be fitted with leaf guards, which help keep out debris. Consider having some installed if leaves are a major problem in your area.

3 tips for achieving a dry basement

A dry basement is wonderful, while a wet basement can ruin your day. Unfortunately, many homes have wet basements, from small amounts of condensation to a few inches of standing water after every rainfall. In fact, wet basements are a common problem found during a home inspection, and something you should fix as soon as possible if you spot a problem.

Check out these three tips for a dry basement to do just that:

1. Identify the cause
Basement wetness comes from two main sources: inside humidity and outside groundwater. Beyond that, there are few common culprits:

Rain, snow and groundwater runoff.
Indoor components, including dryers, vents and crawl spaces.

With this in mind, go on the hunt for the root of your problems. A popular trick is to tape aluminum foil to a basement wall and wait a day or two. If the moisture is on the outside of the foil, the issue is inside your home. If it's on the inside, the water is likely coming through the foundation. This knowledge will help you implement one of our two other tips for preventing a wet basement.

"Rainwater can easily seep inside your basement."

2. Check your drainage
The most common source of basement moisture is poor drainage around your home. Snow melt and rainwater can easily seep inside your basement, especially if your home is lacking gutters and proper landscaping.

Therefore, consider the following:

Does your home have gutters and downspouts? Are they installed correctly and well-maintained?
Does your driveway slope away from your house?
Are your basement windows and doors in good condition?

If your answer is "no" to any of these questions, then you have a possible source of basement moisture. Focus on fixing these major issues first, especially a lack of or poorly maintained gutters. A lot of water pools around your foundation if you aren't proactive, and it has to go somewhere. Same with sloping your driveway away from the home. The hard surface won't absorb much water, so instead it would flow directly at your home. With windows and doors, it's only natural that damage will make it even easier for water to get in.

The right gutter system will work wonders on a wet basement.

3. Address any interior components
If your drainage isn't the culprit, the problem could be coming from inside of your home. In that case, look at a few possible issues. First, the dryer. Humid air pours out of dryer vents, and if yours is not piped to the outside – or in poor shape – that air will be trapped in your basement. This will lead to damp walls, floors and ceilings, and eventually mold and mildew growth. Make sure your dryer is in tip-top shape. Also look at any HVAC ductwork around your basement. Cracks and leaks will also cause humid air to get stuck, leading to the same problems. Water pipes should also be insulated so condensation doesn't form.

Finally, consider coating your unfinished basement walls with waterproof masonry paint. This prevents any seepage from getting through your foundation, stopping yet another source of moisture. Some homeowners also opt to paint the floor, but at the very least you should cover a few inches away from the walls on all sides. If your basement is still humid, install a dehumidifier as another line of defense.

Overall, a dry basement is the start to well-maintained home. Moisture can create all sorts of problems, some that are cheap fixes and others that will cost a fair bit of money. Contact a trusted home inspector today to assess the quality of your basement.