Wednesday, September 9, 1992 — North Shore News - 34

Most homes purchased with little inspection

YOU ARE out to buy a home. You walk through one
place but are put off by some unpainted walls and ceilings
and the hairline cracks you see, especially around the doors

and windows.

The next place sports new paint
and wallpaper throughout, giving
it a bright clean look. You are
more inclined to put in ‘an offer
on this one.

That could be a sound move —
or a potentially expensive mistake.

“Most people spend less than
40 minutes examining a house be-
fore buying it,’’ said Ed Witzke,
of Witco Building inspection Ser-
vices. “‘They are swayed by the
emotional impact and also often
don’t know what to look for.’’

Witzke said the unpainted sur-
faces and hairline cracks are typi-
cal of things ‘‘that look bad on
the surface but really aren’t dif-
ficult to fix, replace or repair.”’

On the other hand, the new
paint and wallpaper could mask
wood rot in the structure, which
could cost from $2,000 to $80,000
to repair, he said.

The worst things Witzke has
seen in addition to wood rot in-
clude structural settlement of a
house (repairs could cost as much
as $130,000) and a poor drainage
system around the home causing
water to run into the basement or
crawl space (repair bill: $4,000 10
$28,000).

The minor problems include
squeaking floors and stairs; ver-
tical cracks tess than one-eighth
ef an inch wide in old concrete
foundation walls and similarly
-narrow cracks in old concrete

Michael

DOLLARS AND SENSE

basement or crawl space floors;
worn flooring; old kitchen and
bathroom sinks, counter tops,
cupboards and fixtures; and poor
insulation.

Witzke, whose book The Com-
plete Home Inspection Guide is
due out by the end of this year,
enlivens the talks he gives with a
large barrow overflowing with
‘texhibits’’ to illustrate what
should be inspected. Some of the
key points:
®@ Visit the neighborhood at dif-
ferent times of the day and week.
Check the design and maintenance
of the home’s features like lot

Earthquake lecture presented

WHILE WAITING for ‘‘The
Big One’’ owners of heritage
buildings are dealing with the
special problems presented by
seismic retrofit.

John Kariotis, a California
structural engineer, will speak
on the lessons learned from the
Loma Prieta earthquake that
struck California in 1989, in a
free public leture on Thursday,

TAE KWON

DO
LESSONS

Register Now
for Fall

VIEW CLASS
Mon-Fri. 5:30-8:30
Saturday 11:00-12:00

Classes for Ages 5 and up
Payment Plan Available

Sept. 11 at the Harbour Centre
campus of Simon Fraser Uni-
versity (SFU), 515 West
Hastings St. in Vancouver.

The lecture, which begins at
7:45 p.m., is part of a two-day
conference on seismic retrofit
of heritage buildings.

Seating for the lecture is
limited; phone 291-5100 to
reserve a seat.

This is your. _
invitation to spend
an hour with

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BDATE: Sat. Sept. 12/92

8 PLACE: Hyatt Regency

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Compliments of:
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[FORTUNE |

drainage, driveways, retuining
walls, fences and porches.

© Look for signs of insect in-
2 station and rotting wood which
can ser usly weaken the struc-
ture.

Use binoculars to inspect the
roof, especially the south side ex-
posed to the sun. Look for roof
sags; check the chimney, flashing,
skylights, gutters and downspouts.
® The exterior walls, windows
and doors keep the elements out.
Look for deterioration, especialiy
at corners, joints and places where
siding, trim, windows and doors
meet. Check for bulging walls.

6 The foundation supports
everything. Water penetration,
cold air leaks and rodent infesta-
tion can often be traced to a faul-
ty foundation — which in turn
can be traced to improper soil
grading, a high water table and
poor Original design and
construction.
@ Check the basement or crawl
space if there is one. {f you notice
a musty odor, find its source.
© Inspect all the inside areas:
correlate damage and defects you
find outside with any signs inside.
Turn on all the lights and open all
the blinds or curtains. Chee!
rooms from ali four sides, from
both a-standing and kneeling posi-
tion.
@ Pay particular attention to
bathrooms and kitchen, which
suffer the most wear and tear.
Have they been well built and
maintained?
@ Visit the attic. Look at
chimney, vent pipes, skylights and
the roof itself — from the inside.
Check the insulation,

If there is no attic or it’s inac-

cessibie, carefully inspect the ceil-
ings and walls of rooms directly
below the roof.

@ Look at the heating system and
ask to see ihe bills for the past 12
months. Is the house energy effi-
cient?

Check the condition of any
fireplace(s).

Inspect all chimneys and signs
of soot inside the house. What is
the condition of the hot water
heater?

@ Spend some time on both the
plumbing and electrical systems:
repair ard replacement here can
be very expensive. You can usual-
ly inspect pipes and wiring in the
basement, crawl space and attic.

@ Don’t forget to check climate
centro] devices like air condition-
ing, (de)humidifier, air filter and
so on. How effective are security

devices and smoke alarms?

“House flaws can be classified
as major, serious or minor,’’ Wit-
zke said. ‘‘Once you know the
costs of repair or replacement,
you can decide whetuer the house
is still worth buying — and if so,
whether the asking price is rea-
sonable. If you feel it’s too high,
give your reasons.””

You could ask for the repair to
be made, or lower your offer ac-
cordingly.

- Copyright 1992

Mike Grenby is a North
Shore-based columnist and in-
dependent financial adviser who
works with individuals; he will
answer your questions as space
allows — write to him c/o The
North Shore News, 1139 Lonsdale
Ave., North Vancouver V7M

units secured by

230 single family homes — minimum $25,000 CDN.
© 11% US annual interest paid monthly Sept. 1, 1992 to

Dec. 1, 1994

e Substantial dividend return upon completion
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This advertisement does not constitute an offer to sell ror solicitation to,
buy a security which only be made by offering memorandum. ;

WE’VE TAKEN A LITTLE
WALK DOWN MARINE DRIVE

For 22 years, our Ambleside Branch has been
providing West Van residents with some of the
best financial services anywhere. As a result,
so many of you have become VanCity mem-
bers, we've simply outgrown our old location!

Please join us in celebrating our new home,
one block east at 14th & Marine Drive, Sept-

ember 11 at 10:00 a.m. While you're there,
find out about our “Refer A Member Contesi”

8 7

in which you could win an exciting, three-hour
helicopter trip for four along B.C.’s spectacular
coastline, including a gourmet lunch atop one of
Whiisiler’s most breathtaking glaciers! Complete
details in branch.

WE’RE VANCEITY

vy © 7? O09 08 O

Ss,