You need to be very careful before committing to the purchase of a house in Columbus, Ohio or its surrounding communities. If the house has wood and brick on the exterior, you need to consider the following issues.

Wood Issues

Wood is a beautiful material, particularly when it is used on the exterior of a home. Compared to stucco and other materials, it is a wonder wood isn't used more often. The reason, of course, is wood simply doesn't hold up as well as man-made materials, even in places like Central Ohio. If you are looking at a home with a heavy emphasis on exterior wood siding, trim and so on, here are some things to watch out for when evaluating the opportunity.

1. The first thing to realize is the appearance of wood has almost no relevance to the condition. A perfectly good looking piece of wood trim may be infested with termites or rotting and you will never know by just glancing at it. When inspecting wood exteriors, never trust your eyes! I advise ALL homebuyers to make the small investment to have a reputable local company conduct a thorough insect inspection on ANY home once they are in contract to buy the home.  

2. One of the biggest issues with wood in our Central Ohio climate is degradation. When looking at particular areas, make absolutely sure you physically touch the wood. In fact, you are probably best off giving it a fairly good poke with a finger. In doing so, you should be looking for soft areas. Soft areas are indicative of rot in one form or another. Finding rot in one area should make you very concerned about finding rot throughout the structure.

3. Finding soft spots in wood can be troubling, but there is something worse. If you poke or squeeze a piece of wood and dust or bits fall off, run for the car! This type of degradation is often a sign of termite problems. Termite problems should be a huge red flag for any prospective homebuyer.

Make no mistake, wood can be very attractive on the exterior of a home in Columbus, Ohio. Just make sure you don't rely solely on a visual inspection of it when deciding on the merits of the house.

Let me help you find the right home in the Greater Columbus, Ohio area! I can help you in the home buying process as well as make sure that the wood in your future home is safe, secure, and termite free. If you need more free information about selling, buying or investing in the local real estate market feel free to contact me, Jeannie Andrews. For complete information about the Columbus and Central Ohio real estate market, including the most recent homes for sale, current property values and more, please visit the website dedicated to “Everything Real Estate in the Buckeye State” at www.scarletnrayhomes.com. Do not hesitate to contact me anytime with any of your real estate or mortgage related questions and I will be happy to answer them for you. Call me on my cell at 614-668-4400 or email me at jandrews@columbus.rr.com. Remember,

“I’m the Doctor Who Loves House Calls!”

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 Tags: Jeannie Andrews, M.D., Wood Rot, Termites, Inspection, Columbus, Ohio, Real Estate

Article's Author

Jeannie Andrews
RE/MAX Achievers
Lewis Center, OH

Contact Jeannie Andrews