What should I watch for when viewing houses in Niagara in winter?
What you can and can't see in winter
| Hard to see in winter | Easier to see in winter |
|---|---|
| Shingles under the snow | Whether the heat keeps up, room by room |
| Yard grading and drainage | Drafts around windows and doors |
| Cracks at the foundation | Condensation on windows |
| Whether the A/C works | Damp basements and water marks |
| Rot in decks and steps | Icicles and ice dams at the roof edge |
For what you can't see, ask
- When was the roof replaced, and are there receipts? Has it ever leaked, and was it fixed?
- Any water stains on ceilings or around skylights? What's under that patch of fresh paint?
- How old are the furnace and water heater, and are they owned or rented? Rented water heaters and furnaces are not unusual in Ontario, and when you buy a home you may take over the existing rental contract and its monthly payment, so ask your agent or lawyer how the agreement handles it.
- For a wood-burning fireplace, when was the chimney last inspected? Ontario advises having chimneys and fuel-burning appliances cleaned and inspected by a professional every year before the cold weather, and a house with a fireplace must have a carbon monoxide alarm, so look for one at the showing. Some insurers ask about wood-burning fireplaces, so call yours before you buy.
- If there's a creek or low ground nearby, does the basement take water during the spring melt?
For what you can see, test it
- Stand in each room and feel the temperature. Put a hand over the vents in the bedrooms and the basement.
- Feel for drafts at windows and doors. Look for condensation or dark spots on the window frames.
- In the basement, check the corners, around the furnace and under the water heater for water, stains or a musty smell.
- Look up at the eaves. Heavy, thick icicles can mean warm air is leaking into the attic, melting the snow on the roof so it refreezes at the eaves.
- Walk the back deck and stairs. Soft or wobbly boards are a sign of rot.
What Yifei has run into
No heat, and it was a panel. On some furnaces, the front panel presses a safety switch. If the panel is off or not seated, the switch opens and the furnace stops. Yifei says this happens most often after an inspection when the panel isn't put back properly. If a house feels cold at a showing, don't assume the furnace is dead; have someone check the panel.
A vacant house with the furnace off. At an empty house, a showing agent reported water on the basement floor beside the furnace. It turned out a family member had shut the furnace off. Yifei went over and turned it back on, and planned another visit. When you view a vacant house in winter, always go down to the basement.
A roof that leaked and was fixed. Yifei has had an older vacant house where the roof had leaked and been repaired, and the owner wanted to sell before the holidays. Under snow, you can't see any of that, so ask which part was fixed, when, by whom, and for the receipt.
Before one showing, Yifei wrote five questions for a buyer: was the skylight replaced and are there water marks; does the lower level take water when the nearby creek rises; what shape is the second-floor back deck in; the wood-burning fireplace and chimney; and is the water heater rented. Build your own list like that and bring it.
Winter has an upside
Yifei's view is that fewer people view houses in winter, but the ones who do are serious. The same goes for sellers who are still listed. Around Christmas in December, the house you want may have very few other buyers looking at it.
Frequently asked questions
Can a home inspector check the roof under snow?
Usually not if it's snow-covered and slippery, and the report will say so. Ask the seller for roof replacement or repair receipts, and talk to your lawyer about how to handle it in the agreement.
How do I check the air conditioning in winter?
It's usually too cold to run it safely. Ask how old it is and when it was last serviced, and read what the inspector writes about it.
Want advice for your own situation?
How old the house is, whether it has a basement and whether it's vacant all change what to look for. For your own situation, reach Yifei (RE/MAX) at efay.ai.
出处 / Sources
- https://www.ontario.ca/page/door-door-sales-and-home-service-contracts
- https://www.ontario.ca/page/carbon-monoxide-safety
- https://natural-resources.canada.ca/energy-efficiency/home-energy-efficiency/keeping-heat-section-5-roofs-attics