It’s an overwhelming feeling when you suspect you have foundation damage. Your foundation is the base that your home is built on and is so important in maintaining the support of the rest of your house. When your foundation is in bad shape, you may encounter other issues developing in the property as well. Whether you decided to sell the house because of the foundation issues or just need to sell your home for different reasons, selling a house with foundation damage will not be easy. Here are some helpful tips on how to find signs of foundation damage and how to deal with foundation damage in Louisville when trying to sell a house.
Selling A House With Foundation Damage
Make Sure You Really Have Foundation Problems
Before you get too worried that you actually have a foundation problem, you may have something else going on besides the foundation. It’s a common misconception that foundation cracks and issues are, in fact, the foundation itself. Yes, there are some cases that the concrete can be deteriorating because the material had too much water or salty sand in it, but this is usually an issue for houses built in the 1900s.
The cause is usually from settling or simply the ground soil that is causing noticeable damage. This happens because of changes in the weather and other factors that lead to soil expanding and retracting resulting in shifting underneath your home. Shifts are normal and anticipated and shouldn’t be a cause for concern. Even though a little bit of expansion and foundation shifting is to be expected, it still can affect your home. Now that you understand that cracks in concrete and block foundations are normal, the key is to determine which are harmless and which are more serious.
Signs of Foundation Damage:
- Door or window alignment is off.
- Doors stick or jam shut, and windows are difficult to close or have cracks in the glass.
- Sloping in the floor or staircase.
- Gaps between the wall and ceiling and drywall cracks.
- A large gap in the concrete around the outside of the house.
- Cracks starting to show in ceramic tile or vinyl.
- Hardwood planks in your flooring become ajar.
- Foundation water damage in the basement or crawl space in your home.
How To Determine The Severity of Foundation Damage Signs
Since learning more about why foundation problems happen and what to look for, here are some ways to determine the severity of the issue.
- If it’s small, less than ¼ inch, these cracks are typical and occur as the home settles. Don’t worry about these too much yet.
- If it’s a hairline crack, these usually occur between the mortar in concrete and not worth losing sleepover.
- If it’s in an L shape location, these are probably shrinking cracks from a step in the foundation. Though it may not mean structural damage, the cracks should be addressed and sealed to prevent leaking.
- If it’s a masonry crack or” stair-step,” these types are more serious. And if the crack is more extensive than ¼ inch and the wall bulges out or doesn’t have a natural shape, definitely get this looked at.
- If you notice horizontal cracks, take them seriously. Usually, this indicates the foundation is broken by the soil, requiring an entirely new foundation for stability and preventing further damage.
By this point, you may know which type of foundation problem you are dealing with, and the question remains: should you sell your home as-is, or should you fix the foundation damage in Louisville and then sell?
Options for Selling a House with Foundation Damage
When it comes to selling a house with foundation damage, it’s good to look at all your options. There really are three ways to go about selling your home with foundation damage in Louisville. Let’s take a look at each to help you determine what your next move should be.
Option 1: Fix the Problem and then Sell The Property
If you go this route and think you have a potential problem at hand, start by hiring a structural engineer to come and look at the property if you plan to fix the issue before selling. This is definitely a job for a professional, not a home inspector. Getting an educated assessment from a foundation expert is important in cases like this because it’s hard to access foundation issues. By getting an appraisal you will get a good idea of the cost of repairs and what exactly is going on. Here is a general idea of what the assessment and some of these repairs may cost you.
Expert assessments cost between $300-$800 in Louisville.
If the foundation needs anchor bolts or new support piers beneath the foundation, this can cost between $5,000-$10,000.
Repairing foundation water damage or leaks can cost $2,000 to $7,000. To correct this issue, you will also need to consult with a professional about waterproofing techniques to secure the structure better. They will likely recommend sealing the foundation.
Furthermore, if issues need extensive repair or replacement, costs can quickly increase to $20,000- $40,000 depending on the scope of work and size of your home.
If you can afford to put in the work, potential buyers may be less hesitant to put an offer on your home since they know all the tough renovations, heavy lifting, and expensive repairs have been taken care of. Because of this, repairing the problems may be a good idea but could cost you a pretty penny.
Option 2: Try to Sell The House with its Foundation Issues
If you know your home needs extensive repairs, prospective buyers looking for an investment property might see this as an opportunity to provide value. On the other hand, other potential buyers will see the words “foundation issues” and automatically think “money pit.” If a prospective buyer isn’t afraid of renovations, just remember that it doesn’t mean their lender is okay with it. Lenders like the VA and HUD have strict guidelines that require the home to be structurally sound. Many buyers could be denied financing from lenders or be subject to higher interest rates, even unfavorable loan parameters, which will likely deter people away from your home. So, if you decide to sell the house as-is, just understand that many traditional buyers will not be able to qualify to buy it easily.
Option 3: Sell your Home Directly to a Cash Home Buyer
The last option is to leave the foundation as-is and sell the house to an investor like Time Worthy Property Solutions, who are prepared to make the required renovations. Because major repairs can make a large dent in anyone’s bank account, it is not always realistic to expect homeowners to repair their foundation before selling, and really it shouldn’t be expected of sellers either. Foundation damage in Louisville requires repairs with expert advice and construction services because it’s not a project to take lightly.
There have been cases in which we’ve bought houses that homeowners hired someone to repair major issues, and it turned out they made the problem worse.
By selling your house directly to Time Worthy Property Solutions, you can avoid all the hassle and commitment of fixing your foundation damage in Louisville. Besides scary foundation problems, we can handle other troublesome property issues. So if you would like to sell your home as-is, without worrying about the repairs- we can definitely help! No lending issues here since we pay in cash. We can close when it’s convenient for you as fast or as slow as you’d like.
Time Worthy Property Solutions is a local family-owned property buyer that provides win-win solutions for homeowners in the Louisville area that are dealing with sticky situations…. like foreclosure, bankruptcy, probate, major repairs, or foundation damage in Louisville. For more information about how it works and about us, please visit our website or contact us at (865) 264-0200.