Sometimes we sing in the rain, other times we sell in the rain. This weekend during what is predicted to be a category 5 atmospheric river slamming Marin County, there will be open houses. Realtors are like the post office: rain, snow, extreme heat, you name it we sell houses in it. Sometimes that’s not such a great thing though, especially when the houses we are selling aren’t prepared for the extreme elements.
For instance, consider the Eichler homes in Terra Linda. When the thermostat starts going over 90 and even 100 degrees in the summer it can be pretty uncomfortable doing afternoon Eichler open houses. Built without insulation or air conditioning, the heat outdoors (and cold during the winter) just goes right through the original large single pane windows and the Eichlers become hot boxes. If the weather is roasting on the weekend, it’s probably best not to do open houses and just let agents show by appointment only. However, some of these homes now have insulation, dual pane windows and even air conditioning making them quite comfortable and greatly enhancing desirability during heat waves. There’s nothing like the feeling of entering a cool home on a baking hot day.
As we move into the rainy season water becomes a major consideration. Already we’ve had several inches of rain this week, and we are expecting a lot more over the weekend. If a roof is questionable, now is when buyers and sellers will find out if there are leaks. I’ve sold homes before with roofs that have outlived their serviceable lives, and times like these you end up crossing your fingers that roofs don’t start springing leaks.
During the rain is truly the best time to buy a house because home inspectors will be able to see if there are water problems. It’s not just the roofs that are an issue, with Kenney and Tarrant built homes in Terra Linda, home inspectors crawl under the houses and can see if there is any standing water. Home inspectors always look under the house last, because it can get pretty messy and muddy down there. I’ve seen more than one home inspector emerge from crawl space caked with mud. Eichlers are built on slab foundations so there is no crawl space, whereas Kenney and Tarrant homes have raised perimeter foundations.
If you are driving around shortly before 1pm this Sunday watch for Realtors putting out signs. With the expected downpours I’m sure many of us will be soaked before we even get to our open houses. I’ve been there before, and it looks like I’ll be doing it again: selling in the rain.