I recently completed another portion of my GRI (Graduate, REALTOR® Institute) certification. This class covered Residential Construction, Appraisal, and Environmental Issues.
Sounds exciting, doesn't it?!
We spent HOURS talking about soil composition, foundations, floor joists, insulation, roofing, cracks, and all sorts of things that aren't exactly my forte. But I must admit that it was pretty eye-opening!
For instance, did you know that a little bounce in a floor doesn't necessarily mean there's something wrong? Different types of floor joists—solid lumber, engineered I-joists, and floor trusses—can behave differently. Some movement can be perfectly normal, although excessive bouncing is worth investigating.
SEE? I KNOW THINGS!
And those squeaky floors? Often, it's not the boards themselves squeaking, but movement between the flooring, framing, or fasteners holding everything together. Apparently, using the right construction adhesive AND screws can help prevent those annoying squeaks.
GLUE AND SCREW IS THE CLUE! (I may have just found my new construction motto.)
Here's another tidbit. Thinking about remodeling? You might want to consider what those beautiful new materials WEIGH. Granite countertops are considerably heavier than laminate, and slate flooring can add substantially more weight than luxury vinyl plank.
Before making those upgrades, it's worth knowing whether the existing structure can properly support them.
And then there's DIRT.
Growing up on a farm, I thought I knew a thing or two about dirt. Apparently, there's more to it than whether it'll grow a good crop of corn! We spent a surprising amount of time discussing soil and foundations, and I quickly learned there's a LOT involved in making sure a house is built on a SURE foundation. Soil conditions, drainage, and especially uneven settling can all affect how well that foundation holds up over time.
We even discussed hydrostatic and hydraulic pressure and how water and soil can affect a home's foundation. Apparently, there's a lot going on beneath our feet that we never give a second thought to. Who knew DIRT could be so complicated?!
But here's what really struck me during this class.
So much of what makes a home solid, comfortable, and durable is hidden behind drywall, beneath flooring, or underground. The quality of the framing, insulation, drainage, and other construction details may never be obvious to someone walking through a house.
And here's the interesting part. A home inspector can examine visible and accessible components but can't see everything concealed behind walls or ceilings. An appraiser is determining market value, not inspecting every structural component. Even expensive hidden upgrades don't automatically translate into a higher appraisal, although documentation and market evidence can sometimes help establish their value.
So, two homes might have the same three bedrooms, two bathrooms, square footage, and year built, but that doesn't mean they're necessarily the SAME home in terms of construction quality or long-term performance.
Now, I'm not planning to become a structural engineer, and you won't find me crawling around anyone's attic counting joists! But the more I learn, the better questions I can ask when helping someone buy or sell a home.
And the next time someone mentions hydrostatic pressure or engineered floor joists, I might just nod knowingly.
Because, after all...
I KNOW THINGS!
(Just don't ask me to BUILD anything.)
Sandi Downing Real Estate/Keller Williams Greater Omaha
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