The words “foundation problems” strike fear in everyone; whether you’re buying a home or trying to sell yours, that’s without a doubt one of the worst things you can hear. Fortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions surrounding cracks and issues with your home’s foundation.
Common Misconceptions
The first thing you need to know is that “foundation problems” doesn’t necessarily mean that there are issues in the actual foundation. In most cases the problem is due to the soil underneath the house, not the house itself. Soil expands and retracts in different temperatures, which is completely normal. Foundation shifts are to be expected, and shouldn’t cause concern right away! The important part is figuring out what kinds of foundation cracks are okay and which ones are harmful.
How to Spot Foundation Problems
There are several signs of foundation issues to look out for. Some are as subtle as having difficulty closing your windows or small cracks in vinyl or ceramic tiles. Other signs are a little more obvious, like sloping floors or water in your basement or crawl spaces.
If you’ve seen cracks around your home, don’t panic yet! Again, foundation shifting is completely normal. If the crack is a hairline crack (or less than ¼ of an inch) then there’s nothing to worry about yet. If there’s an L-shaped crack, that’s because the foundation is sloping downward. It’s probably just a shrinkage crack, but this is one you should get checked out. And last but not least, horizontal cracks are the ones to worry about. These are an indication that the foundation has been broken by the soil underneath it, and you may need a whole new foundation for your home.
How to Sell a Home with Foundation Problems
It may not sound like it, but selling your home with foundation problems is possible. You have several options—do your research and decide which one is best for you and your home!
The first, and possibly most obvious answer, would be to fix the foundation issues and sell the home without its issues. The most important thing to consider with this option is how severe the issues are. If they’re minor, investing in repairs would certainly lead to a higher selling price.
The next option would be to sell the house, problems and all. If your foundation problems are easily fixed, someone will buy it—for a lower price of course—and fix it themselves.
If the foundation issues in your home are too severe, or you don’t have the financial means to fix them yourself, there are buyers who want fixer-uppers. You can sell your home directly to a buyer who likes repairs!
It’s tricky business, so don’t hesitate to reach out to professionals. Contact Southern-Home Structural Specialists for more information.
