Who could I consult about whether a home’s yard makes it likely to flood?

[Anonymous]

Before putting in an offer? Like an inspector but for flood risk. This house has a yard that slopes toward the house on two sides — one of them very steeply. It looks like a flooding issue to me, but I’m not an expert at this. At all. Is there someone I can have look at it with me?

[Anonymous]

In general it’s okay to be on a slope as long as you’re not at the bottom of the slope. You will need functioning drains and a sump pump but that’s true of all houses around here.

[Anonymous]

Assumes it floods if you're at or near the bottom of the hill, and don't do it.

I'll spare you the story of how many times we tried to remediate water. After 10 years, we moved. That's the only thing that worked.

[Anonymous]

This is OP. This house is probably 3 houses from the bottom of a long hill, which is maybe ok, but the next house up the hill is VERY steeply uphill. As in, the roof of the house I’m interested in is probably level with the uphill house’s basement. It’s a steep elevation drop over just a few feet. That’s the side yard. And then the back yard is sloped toward the house, which probably isn’t good, but there are trees and other plantings, so that seems like a mitigating factor. But I’m making this up. It just LOOKS like all the rain from the whole street would pour down that hill but what do I know?

[Anonymous]

As long as you are on a hill, steep or not, and not at the bottom you are fine. You will not need a sump pump.

[Anonymous]

If it floods, then there will be evidence of moisture in the basement.

[Anonymous]

If you're on the side of the hill, it's a matter of managing the flow around your house. Is there a swale or something else to redirect the water away from your foundation?

We live on a slope, with our back and one side yard sloping towards our house, but positive drainage away from our foundation. When it rains really hard our home's an island with streams on both sides, but water never gets within about 8' of the foundation. More importantly, it never stands, either. Once every year or two I walk around during a heavy shower (one without lightning!) to see how things are holding up. I'm also very careful with keeping gutters and downspouts flowing properly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If it floods, then there will be evidence of moisture in the basement.

Or, there won't be, but everything will look new - new flooring, freshly painted.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As long as you are on a hill, steep or not, and not at the bottom you are fine. You will not need a sump pump.

This is maybe the worst advice I've seen on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As long as you are on a hill, steep or not, and not at the bottom you are fine. You will not need a sump pump.

This is maybe the worst advice I've seen on this forum.

This is OP. Yes, I am aware that was false.