Here in Auburn, we don’t get a lot of snow, so it’s truly been a winter wonderland.  When a winter storm warning occurs, Realtors® are not only nervous about their own homes, but those of their clients who are vacant.  We are hoping that the winterizing efforts of the homeowners were done properly to avoid the potential for burst water pipes and we are busy as soon as the roads clear going around to those vacant properties, checking to make sure that nothing is amiss.  We always recommend that homeowners hire a professional to winterize their home and to notify their insurance company that the home is vacant.

For those who are shopping for Auburn and Lee County foreclosures or are looking to buy any property that’s been sitting empty, it’s important to have a professional go out and inspect the plumbing prior to turning on the water in a home.  In most cases, the buyer is responsible for hiring a home inspector during the purchasing process. In order for the home inspection to be done, the water must be turned on.  If the pipes have burst over the winter, or if for some other reason the plumbing is compromised, a disaster can occur.  With the many details in the closing process, the risk of flooding may be overlooked by buyers and sellers who are inexperienced in the process. This is where the expertise of the real estate professional comes in.  We will recommend to the parties that a professional in the Auburn area be brought in to run an air pressure test on the water pipes to make sure that everything is intact and then systemically restore the water to the home.  This air pressure test is relatively inexpensive compared to the repair costs for water damage.

As a real estate professional here in Auburn, I’m familiar with the many things that must be taken into consideration when putting a property on the market such as the risks to vacant homes   Although I’m not legally responsible for the damage that may occur from improper winterization, the last thing I want to see is a flooded home. I’m here to consult with homeowners to familiarize them with the issues that can occur and I do everything I can to help them with the successful marketing of their home.

Tags: Auburn foreclosures for sale, auburn vacant homes for sale, home inspection, plumbing winterization, vacant real estate, winterization

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