HOW TO EVALUATE THE CONDITIONS OF YOUR HOME HANDBOOK
MORNINGSIDE HOUSING REVITALIZATION STRATEGY
Authors:
Escarleth Cucurachi Ortega
Monica Guo
Peyton Jackson
Charlotte Peterson
Paige Smith
Partners:
U-SNAP-BAC
(United Streets Networking and Planning-Building a Community)
Morningside Community Organization
Michigan State University
School of Planning, Design and Construction UP894 Planning Practicum
Dr. Zenia Kotval, Ph.D., FAICP Professor and Program Director, Urban and Regional Planning MSU
Katharine Merritt, EDFP, MURP Instructor, Urban and Regional Planning MSU
April 2024
PURPOSE OF THE TUTORIAL
Purpose of the tutorial: Provide a guide that replicates the external survey process our group conducted in Morningside, census tract 5019, that can be further applied on to the remainder of the neighborhood. By providing these guidelines this could help residents in Morningside survey and check on the exterior housing conditions by themselves in order to determine necessary repairs for their homes and apply for home rehabilitation.
OVERVIEW OF ASSESSMENT CRITERIA
The assessment is based on two main categories: aesthetic and hazard concerns.
Aesthetic Assessment:
• Paint or finish condition: checking paint or finish condition outside of the house, focusing on if there is any chipping or peeling paint around the house.
• Yard maintenance: is there any abandoned cars or litter in the yard or around the house.
• Doors and windows cleanliness: checking on the outside for any dirty doors or windows.
Hazards Assessment:
• Foundation stability: checking around the house if the foundation of the house is stable. Specifically look for crumbling or sinking foundation.
• Roof integrity: check for any missing shingles or holes on the roof.
• Porch or step conditions: checking all porches and exterior steps around the house to see if any are unlevel.
• Doors and windows: are any of the doors (front/ back/ side door) and windows missing or broken.
SCORING SYSTEM FOR BOTH SECTIONS
Decide if each part of the aesthetic concerns and hazards assessment is a minor, major or extreme deterioration. Minor deterioration receives 1 point; major deterioration receives 2 points; and extreme deterioration receives 3 points.
Minor deterioration (1 point):
• Superficial cracks or weathering on foundation.
• <10% of the yard contained litter or abandoned cars.
• Dirty glass, minor chipping paint or finish around the house and windows.
• Missing some tiles.
• <10% of roof is weathering.
• <10% of the porch or steps has weathered wood or concrete.
Major deterioration (2 points):
• 50% of the foundation has cracks or is unlevel.
• 50% of the yard contained litter or abandoned cars.
• Cracked windows or missing panes.
• 50% of the structure has chipped paint or siding is warped.
• Sagging roof, 50% of material is weathered or missing.
• 50% of the porch or steps is unlevel, cracks in the wood or concrete.
Extreme deterioration (3 points):
• Fire damage, holes in walls.
• >50% of the year contained litter or abandoned cars.
• Missing windows or doors, boarded structure.
• >50% has chipped paint or places where siding has stripped.
• Hole in roof or no material.
• >50% of the porch or steps is unlevel, has holes, or missing steps.
NOW LET IS ASSESS A HOUSE TOGETHER!
We have provided step-by-step instructions on how we surveyed this home Example A mentioned in the Morningside Neighborhood Housing Revitalization report. For more information and details please refer to the Morningside Neighborhood Housing Revitalization report.
Link: https://issuu.com/escarlethcucurachiortega/docs/ morningside_housing_revitalization_strategy?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ
STEP 1: EVALUATING AESTHETIC CONCERNS
In this example, we noticed paint or finish deterioration and yard deterioration in regards to the aesthetic concerns.
• Paint or finish: this was rated as major deterioration because about 50% of the structure has chipped paint as well as chipped brick. Given this observation, the paint or finish was rated 2 points.
• Yard: this was rated for minor deterioration because less than 10% of the yard contained litter, such as empty bottles and left over trash, in the front lawn. Given this observation, the yard for this home was rated 1 point.
After adding up these points, the overall total for the aesthetic concerns of this home was 3 points.
Foundation (crumbling, sinking)
Roof (Missing shingles, holes)
Porch or steps (unlevel) Doors
STEP 2: EVALUATING HAZARDOUS CONCERNS
In this example, we noticed foundation, roof, porch or steps, and doors and window issues in regards to the hazardous concerns.
• Foundation: this was rated major deterioration because 50% of the foundation on the sides of the home contained major cracks, which could possibly lead to water damage or leakage. Given this observation, the foundation was rated 2 points.
• Roof: this was rated minor deterioration because some tiles or shingles were missing. Given this observation, the roof was rated 1 point.
• Porch or steps: this was rated major deterioration because 50% of the stairs had cracks in the concrete and had unleveled stairs. Given this observation, the porch or steps were rated 2 points.
• Doors and windows: this was rated major deterioration because >50% of the doors and windows were missing, in this case the doors and windows were boarded up. Given this observation, the doors and windows were rated 2 points.
After adding up these points, the overall total for hazardous concerns for this home was 7 points.
STEP 3: TOTALLING THE HOUSING CONCERNS
• After evaluating the aesthetic and hazardous concerns for this home, we added up the totals from the aesthetic deterioration ratings and the hazardous deterioration ratings.
• The total for this home was 10 points, meaning the housing condition was finally rated as poor.
As mentioned in the report, houses were evaluated by total points ranging from 0-4, 5-9, 10-13, and 14+.
The housing condition for this home was poor, meaning major improvement are needed in certain aspects of the home:
• Good Rating: minimal improvements necessary; safe and sound structure.
• Fair Rating: improvements appear necessary; minor structural problems.
• Poor Rating: major improvements are needed in certain aspects of the home.
• Critical Rating: major improvement or demolition appear necessary.
Thank you and we hope these instructions can provide an easier way to help you assess your home for future home repairs!