Every week, the detail-oriented folks at Green Scene Home Inspections will give Daltxrealestate.com readers an education in inspection. Want to see what they see? Tune in for “Upon Closer Inspection.”
When purchasing a home, 80 percent of home buyers factor in the garage, and in Texas, well, let’s just say we love us a garage. From a home inspector’s perspective, we’re looking at safety, functionality, structure, and any equipment that might be located there. In some cases, the garage is detached and considered its own separate structure. Here are some issues we’ve come across inspecting the garage:
Coming off the Rails
You can see where the garage door has come off the track. The funny (not funny) part about this pic is that it was taken by the Inspector at his house in his own garage as he was trying to leave for the day to get to his inspection. 🤭😬 To avoid this situation, take note if your garage door is squeaking or making unusual noises. You may need to oil it annually.
Getting Around the Rules
What you see here is a garage conversion. They’ve built an extra room in the garage, and that white wall is the outer wall. Why did they leave about 8 feet of space and the garage door intact? 1) So they didn’t have to get a permit to do the work, and 2) because the neighborhood association doesn’t allow garage conversations. You could probably parallel park in that space? And look, there’s even a convenient shelving unit there. It’s still a garage!
Honey, Could You Flip the Breaker?
Nope. It’s a bad idea to have this much storage blocking your electrical panel. Especially when you’re trying to sell your house and a home inspector is coming 👍 Also, it’s a bad idea to have this much storage in the garage because of mice and rats, see the next video.
Rats in the Cradle
Most people think about rats and mice getting into their homes during the winter, but summer is high season for these vermin as well. They are looking to get out of the heat and for water and food, and your garage might be a lovely haven, if you’re not careful. Make sure you keep pet food inside and any storage neatly organized. Regularly check for evidence of droppings and any gnawing/shredding, and call pest control immediately if you see or hear signs of rodents. They are hard to get rid of once they’ve made your home their home.
