Inspector's check · Outside and roof
Is the paint on wood siding and trim intact, with no bare wood showing?
Look for peeling, cracked or blistered paint and gray patches of bare wood, especially low on the walls and on the sunny south and west sides. If your siding is vinyl, fiber cement or brick, just check the wood trim.
Why it matters
Bare wood soaks up rain and starts to rot. A rough scrape, prime and paint on the bad spots protects it for years; a better-looking job can wait until you sell.
If it's a problem
An inspector would write it up as “Peeling paint or bare wood on siding or trim” and rate it fix this year. Your options, with rough U.S. costs:
- DIY (usually best), $40 to $150: Scrape loose paint, prime bare wood with exterior primer and paint the spots, even if the color doesn't match perfectly.
- Handyman, $400 to $1,500: Scrape, prime and patch-paint the worst walls and trim.
- Pro, $4,000 to $12,000: Painter repaints the house exterior.
Get this on your own house's plan
DwellTended builds a seasonal plan for your actual house, shows what needs you this week with rough costs, and reminds you before things are due. Free to start, no inspection report needed.