09/16/2026
Iowa has certainly gotten its share of rain lately. ☔️
And while I’m more than ready for a few dry days, all of this rain can actually tell you quite a bit about your house.
If you’re a homeowner, this is a really good time to take a walk around your property and pay attention.
Are your gutters overflowing?
Is water pooling next to the foundation?
Is your sump pump running constantly?
Do you suddenly notice a damp smell in the basement?
Are there spots in the yard that just never seem to drain?
Those little things are worth noticing now, because water has a funny way of finding problems we didn’t know we had.
And if you’re thinking about buying a house, rainy weather isn’t necessarily a bad time to see one either. Pay attention to the basement. Look at the grading around the house. Notice where the downspouts are sending water. Ask questions about the sump pump, drainage and any history of water intrusion.
You don’t have to be a home inspector to be an observant homeowner or buyer.
One of my favorite parts of being a Realtor is helping people understand the house in front of them, not just whether the kitchen is pretty or the bedrooms are big enough.
There’s a lot more to owning a home than buying one.
And as always, you don’t have to be ready to buy or sell something to ask me a real estate question. I’m always happy to talk houses, neighborhoods, weird basement smells, sump pumps or whatever else comes up. 😊