Author Topic: Buying a house, foundation sank (Read 3801 times)

BodyMachine · « **on:** June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM »

Inspector said house settled two inches on one side. When in the basement you can notice it on the far right. The seller a few years ago had drain tiles put in, had the grade adjusted on that side, and tuck pointed that side. Inspector feels confident that house will not settle further. What would you do? House is in a great area, big, upgraded, and on an acre of land (hard to find).

anabolicguru · « **Reply #1 on:** June 16, 2016, 06:16:20 AM »

Do NOT buy unless its a great deal, because you will not be able to sell at face value because of the foundation. Houses almost loses half its value if the foundation is sinking

drkaje · « **Reply #2 on:** June 16, 2016, 06:19:44 AM »

I'd run away screaming like a frightened child.

There's no end to what repairing the foundation would cost should the house settle more.

If you really love the house and need a reason to be scared away: Get 3 estimates and ask for a seller concession on the middle value or to have the work completed before closing.

SquidVicious · « **Reply #3 on:** June 16, 2016, 06:23:52 AM »

Depends where it is. In some places the soil is made of clay and every home will eventually settle and require foundation work. Pier and beam installation can prop up those areas of the home although the piping and drainage system disrupted by the foundation work may also require work that exceeds the cost of foundation repairs.

K-1 · « **Reply #4 on:** June 16, 2016, 06:41:28 AM »

If you like it, go for it...you only live once.

I own in the land of the mighty sinkhole.... Florida. I've lost a rental property to land becoming unsettled before....fuck it...I just kept on trucking lol

Shit can go south on just about anybody here overnight in FL and we still buy.

Get yo shit bruh!

Victor VonDoom · « **Reply #5 on:** June 16, 2016, 06:44:23 AM »

Quote from: BodyMachine on June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM

How many red flags do you need? Pass. There is always another house.

Bah!

Powerlift66 · « **Reply #6 on:** June 16, 2016, 07:30:40 AM »

Quote from: BodyMachine on June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM

1. Don't listen to inspectors

2. Never buy a house with an issue like that

Fallsview · « **Reply #7 on:** June 16, 2016, 09:09:39 AM »

Home Inspectors can only comment on what they see.

If that Home Inspector made that comment...he shouldn't be a Home Inspector.

He should have told you to hire a Structural Engineer. Only they can comment on that.

MAKE GETBIG GREAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

USMC 1371 · « **Reply #8 on:** June 16, 2016, 09:33:36 AM »

I was in the concrete world for a long time. You'd be surprised if you found out how many buildings/homes were sinking or settling. It can be fixed. There is a process using jacks and/or concrete to level the structure. They do everything from driveways/sidewalks to foundations. My church was built on a swampy area of our farm over 40 years ago and it gets done every 4/5 years. It is expensive but it is a more common than most people think. It would be wise to find out why its settling. If it's a new home it's more of a problem than if it's settled over a long period of time.

Mitch · « **Reply #9 on:** June 16, 2016, 12:17:49 PM »

Sounds fishy, don't buy.

badlad · « **Reply #10 on:** June 16, 2016, 01:53:15 PM »

As others have said inspector knows generally nothing. They only have a snapshot in time. Meaningless. It's a 50/50 call. My house is 1960's built and is built in an area renowned for drainage issues. We have reasonably wet winters and dry summers and the house probably moves about 2 inches every year - up then down and up again etc. Did extensive rennovations inside and beautifully finished inside cladding only to have it crack on some bits. Just have to live with it unfortunately. No big deal - as long as you can accept that that is what may happen every year and live with it. My wife tends to worry about it but structurally (we have a high two storey) there is no issue. Could do some furtehr underpinning/pump in subsoil levelling etc but costs alot and even then it may or may not fix the issue and would cost $20-30k which I can better spend on other things.
All I'd say is that you would probably want to know if it is a progressive issue (ie:is it continuing to drop over time rather than moving up and down. As that obviously woulden't be ideal.

vascsurgeon · « **Reply #11 on:** June 16, 2016, 01:53:45 PM »

you need a certified / registered / licensed ENGINEER
not an inspector

badlad · « **Reply #12 on:** June 16, 2016, 02:00:25 PM »

Haha - I love it when an inspector says things like they are confident this or that will or wont happen and have no liability whatsoever.
Might as well just consult the magic 8 ball. Over in my neck of the woods we have had massive leaky homes issues - huge civil claims because inspectors signed off materials and installations that were so bad the houses have literally rotted from the inside out. Went through the courts and of course everybody ran for cover and thousands of home owners left with houses that couldn't be sold unless at massive loss and sparked an entire new industry of rip off builders recladding homes (probably the same ones who built them badly in the first p-lace). viscious cycle - all 'care' and no responsibility or accountabiltity.

Primemuscle · « **Reply #13 on:** June 16, 2016, 02:00:56 PM »

Quote from: BodyMachine on June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM

Be careful, a lot of inspectors work with the seller's agent and may not have your best interests in mind.

Otherwise, if it is a good deal and you want it, go for it. You might consider having that corner jacked up if it's off kilter.

Primemuscle · « **Reply #14 on:** June 16, 2016, 02:02:08 PM »

Quote from: vascsurgeon on June 16, 2016, 01:53:45 PM

Excellent suggestion.

badlad · « **Reply #15 on:** June 16, 2016, 02:03:41 PM »

Agree with above but also would mention that just have your wits about you if dealing with both structural and geotechnical engineers. Have more faith in the former than the latter.

V Man · « **Reply #16 on:** June 16, 2016, 02:13:20 PM »

Find out how much the repair would cost if it did happen again. Allow for inflation, and deduct at least that amount off the asking price. Make a lowball offer.

Fallsview · « **Reply #17 on:** June 16, 2016, 04:52:23 PM »

Quote from: Primemuscle on June 16, 2016, 02:02:08 PM

That's what I said but you're too busy trolling for young dick on here. Not just any old Engineer dummie.

MAKE GETBIG GREAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Walter Sobchak · « **Reply #18 on:** June 16, 2016, 05:06:19 PM »

You can have the slab raised by mudjacking and it won't settle further.

Costly and unpredictable.

Without even discussing the other issues in the home the setting has caused.

Concrete isn't flexible and does not like being put in tension. The issues at that home go well beyond just an uneven basement floor.

Move on to the next house and don't look back.

Taffin · « **Reply #19 on:** June 16, 2016, 10:02:48 PM »

Quote from: Kahn.N.Singh on June 16, 2016, 07:24:23 AM

Ha ha! Excellently lateral!

This quote gets the Royal Seal of Approval by the fey young Prince Herbert himself...

Just don't let him leave the room...

NordicNerd · « **Reply #20 on:** June 17, 2016, 01:25:08 AM »

Quote from: BodyMachine on June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM

I would never buy a house with sinking foundation. The risk is too great.

NN

NordicNerd · « **Reply #21 on:** June 17, 2016, 01:27:35 AM »

Quote from: badlad on June 16, 2016, 02:00:25 PM

Good point- You will get a much more realistic and relevatn risk assessment if you go to an insurance company and ask what it will cost to insure against further sinking.

NN

DanielPaul · « **Reply #22 on:** June 17, 2016, 10:54:32 AM »

the very first thing you need to do is look at the gutters on the house, if it doesn't have any this could be a major cause and if that's so you can buy and add gutters and maybe never ha a any issues. Next look at the slope of the yard, if you are within 100 ft of any creek or body of water do not buy, but if your not then make sure the yard is draining properly. You can do this by going to any tool rental place and renting a laser level and set it at 00.00% and take grade shots across the yard. Once you've don this install some French drains and bed them in pea gravel based on how your yard falls. By taking these measures the house will never settle another inch I gaurantee. Pm me if you need more info this is kinda my field

Coffeed · « **Reply #23 on:** June 17, 2016, 11:56:23 AM »

Quote from: BodyMachine on June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM

Stay away from foundation and water issues.

You also need to understand inspectors often know shit and sometimes work closely with agents so there is a conflict of interest, despite whatever their ethics might say.

The Abdominal Snoman · « **Reply #24 on:** June 17, 2016, 08:42:51 PM »

Quote from: BodyMachine on June 16, 2016, 06:13:59 AM

The only great area in the world that it would be worth buying is if it was next door to the Great Caliper Fitness headquarters. Where you know prices are going to sky rocket when Caliper Fitness buys UFC...