A mild climate such as what you will find on the West Coast may not require you to think much about the weather when it comes to shopping for a home. But, throughout most of the country, this is something that you will want to consider to avoid properties that may not be well-suited for the climate they are in. A tropical climate comes with lots of rain, wind, heat, and, occasionally, hurricane-like conditions. This means you should take a look at the following details when looking for real estate in a tropical climate.
Incomplete or Mismanaged Gutter System
With so much rainfall throughout the year, a home needs a complete gutter system to prevent water from pooling around the foundation. It is easy for foundation issues to arise when water is allowed to puddle up and stay that way around the edges of the home. The warning signs might show up in exterior cracks and cracks along inside walls or ceilings when the foundation leads to further settling of the home. When house hunting, you should go around the entire house while focusing on the gutter system to make sure it is in excellent condition and does not have any areas that could be leaking water every time it rains.
Hurricane-Proof Doors
Doors and windows need to be stronger than your standard ones to withstand hurricanes. A garage door is something that you will not be able to cover up with shutters, so you want to make sure the entire door will be able to withstand the strong winds to avoid damage inside the garage. It is also ideal when exterior doors, such as the entry door and back door are reinforced to withstand a hurricane. There are rating systems that determine resilience to help you decide how strong your doors need to be.
Custom Shutters Ready to Be Used
Having professionals come over to look at the windows that need shutters is something a brand-new homeowner must do after building a custom home. But you should be looking for a home that allows you to move in with custom shutters ready to be installed as soon as you get a hurricane warning. It will save you a lot of time, effort, and money by making sure this is already a feature in the home that you purchase.
Although you will want to pay attention to some extra details, making sure to cover these three while buying a home in a tropical climate should be enough to guarantee a positive outcome.
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