Decks and Porches Influence Home Sales

Formal building inspection is part of every home sale. But is that the only building inspection our homes have to pass? “In my experience, buyers begin ‘inspecting’ the home on the first visit,” says Eric Gordon, a real estate agent with Killer williams Realty in Nothern, VA. “And one of the first places they look is the deck or porch.” Because these outdoor structures are more exposed, she says, they are an easy target for casual scrutiny. “If the porch looks dry,” says Gordon, “it gives the impression the whole house is poorly maintained. If the railing lattice is weathered, it can reduce potential offers. Buyers assume they will have to do that maintenance themselves. And they wonder what else they'll need to do.”