One of the most effective procedures for protecting your home from moisture damage is to inspect it when it is raining. During the next heavy rain, put on your boots and rain gear and walk around the exterior of your home a couple of times. Observe the gutters. Are they overflowing anywhere? Does water run behind them and down the side of the house? Is missing kick-out flashing at wall/roof junctures allowing water to miss the gutters and run down the sides of the house? House walls are frequently damaged when this happens. The damage is often not visible as it may be hidden by siding. When gutters are functional and working properly, no water should be visible overflowing or missing the gutters. Look at the gutter downspouts. Are they dumping next to the foundation, or do they drain 4-6 feet away from the home as desired? Downspouts dumping next to the foundation will damage the foundation and lead to moisture penetration into the basement. If the downspouts drain into drain pipes, are the pipes backing up? Verify that water is flowing away from the home at all patios, sidewalks and driveways. A great deal of water can collect on patios and driveways. It is a problem if this large volume of water is flowing toward the foundation. All exterior surfaces need to pitch away from the home. Look out for water ponding in the yard at areas near the home. Look under decks to make sure water is not collecting under them. Proper yard grading is essential for maintaining your home. Trust your common sense. If the grading allows water to flow toward the home, it needs to be repaired. Fortunately, the best grading material is the clay soil already present in the yard. You can rent sod cutters to remove the grass, so you can effectively repair the grading. This same grass can be reused. Inspect the home at the end of each season, as gutters can and will be affected by tree debris and snow loads. Think of your rain gear as another tool for protecting your home.