Journal
What a home care assessment looks at
A plain-language walk through the areas of a home that a visual care assessment covers, and what it leaves out.
Starting from the outside in
Water causes most avoidable wear on a house, so an assessment usually begins outdoors. That means roofline and gutters, downspouts and where they discharge, the slope of soil near the foundation, siding and trim, and the caulk around windows and doors.
Look for gutters that overflow, downspouts that end beside the foundation, peeling paint on trim and gaps in sealant. Any of these lets water reach places it should not.
Inside, where small things show up first
Indoors, the useful signs are subtle: staining on ceilings, soft or discolored areas under sinks, cracked grout, musty smells, sticky windows and slow drains. A handheld light and a camera are often enough to record them.
The aim is a dated record. Photos taken today make it far easier to tell next season whether something has changed.
What a visual assessment cannot do
A visual assessment does not open walls, test for concealed damage or judge code compliance. It is different from a licensed home inspection, which follows formal standards. If you are buying or selling, hire a licensed inspector.
What it does well is turn a vague sense of what to look after into a short list with priorities.