Foreclosure Inspection: Siding and Plumpness
Status of siding and its inspection
Bottom of siding should at least eight inches above the ground. If not, check for termites/wood-destroying insect damage.
No tree, plant, or shrub should be touching the walls. If not, examine carefully for early deterioration and termite damage.
Plumpness of walls
Are walls perfectly vertical and flat? (Hold your flashlight parallel to the wall (touching) to see any defect, deflection, uneven structure)
Here, you see a major structural problem: you can see from the white column how the upper floor moved to the left, severely making the column support ineffective.
You can see how the wall of the structure on the right is out of plump. Door was stuck due to this structural problem.
Are walls washed or painted recently?
-- No -- Yes. If yes, examine locations that may have not been painted (areas close to siding, soil, gutters, soffit, etc.) to detect water stains. See if this was done to cover up water problems.
Check each single wall: for -- bulging -- inward or outward leaning -- sagging. These are serious structural problems.