What is a short sale? A short sale is usually a ‘pre-foreclosure’. The owner is having financial difficulties, and the home is worth less than they owe so they can’t afford to sell without some help from the bank. They try to get a contract at current market value and approach the bank (or banks if they have 2 mortgages) to see if they will take less.
Here are some of the problems involved with short sales if you are a buyer:
1. It can take 3 to 6 months to get the sale done. If you are in a hurry a short sale probably isn’t for you.
2. The list price isn’t always correct. The listing agent sets the asking price, but that doesn’t mean the bank(or banks) will accept it. Sometimes the price is set lower than it should be to get a quick offer and slow down the foreclosure process. Sometimes the price is based on relevant information but the bank still doesn’t agree. The bank will often counter back at a higher number.
The good news is that if you are not in a hurry short sales might still be an option for you. If the contract is written correctly you can continue to look for other homes and opt out of the deal if you find a foreclosure that you can buy quickly.
support posts and joists under the deck (if you can reach them), deck boards, railings and stairs.
installed where the deck and house come together, keeping moisture and debris from collecting between the house and the deck’s ledger board. Be certain the flashing is sound and firmly in place. Consider adding or replacing flashing if you notice areas that are obviously allowing water to collect.
These should be secure. Push on them to be sure there is no give. Also, check to be sure they are high enough (most codes require a 36″ high railing and usually encourage 42″ high railings) with rails no more than 4″ inches apart (measured from the inside of the rails) to keep small children and pets from squeezing through. This is especially important the higher your deck is off the ground.
Check any railings (guardrails) or handrails to be sure they are firmly held in place; check also the risers (vertical portion) and stringers (horizontal portion) to be certain they are securely attached and not decayed. Look for splits at the edge of the treads. If the area behind the stair treads is open, this opening should be no more than 4″ high to prevent a danger for small children. Also, always keep stair pathways clear of planters, décor, toys and other items that can present a tripping hazard.
Clean away any leaves and debris, since these can be slippery and promote mildew. If mildew is present or the deck coating has worn away, make time to clean and apply a new waterproofing coating. It can help prevent the split, decayed wood and loosened fasteners mentioned earlier.
steeper sloped roofs. Sometimes it is very easy to walk up the roof, but the problem occurs when you try to walk back down. Walking in the valleys is the safest place to inspect the roof. Just don’t step directly in the middle of the valley. First, go all around the outside of the roof and look at the shingles. If the shingles are curling and brittle, this is an indication the shingles need to be replaced. Look at the tops of the gables at the end ridge shingles to see if the shingles are 
broken. If they are, look for evidence of water damage in the wood at the eaves. Next, look for loose shingles. Sometimes the shingles come completely off and end up in the gutter. Loose shingles can be an indication of either improper installation or brittle shingles. In either case, repair or replacement is needed.Some of the shingles may be broken and are easily seen from the ground. Some of the shingles can be 
broken, but are very hard to see. You may need to get on a ladder or walk the roof to see them. Also, be sure to look at the shingles along the gutters. This is another case of deterioration and can be an indication that replacement is needed.If there are no obvious signs as we have discussed, you may want to look directly at the shingles. If you see large amounts of the granules missing from the shingles, this is an indication that the shingles are worn out. The granules will end 
up in the gutters. Also, look very close to the edge of the shingles. If you can see the white fiberglass mat exposed, you know it is time to bite the bullet and go ahead and replace the shingles.
