If a house had foundation issues....would you walk away?

[Anonymous]

The house we love had to have new helical piers placed in 2013, there's a 10 year warranty but I'm nervous about the fact that there was an issue in the first place.

First time home buyer, perhaps I'm being too picky?

[Anonymous]

You can hire a structural engineer to evaluate the home for you. I wouldn't go with a regular home inspector -- find a structural engineer.

[Anonymous]

Run away and don't look back. If there is a problem it will be really expensive to fix.

[Anonymous]

You are being picky - do either 1021 or 1024. Personally, I'd walk away.

[Anonymous]

^ dang "you are NOT being too picky" sorry...

[Anonymous]

It depends - if this is an older house that had piers added to bring it up to modern building codes, I would not be too concerned. If you are looking at a newer home (built in the last 25 years) that required significant structural work, I would not risk it. That means the house is built on unstable land.

[Anonymous]

10:46, OP here. The house was built in 1935. It's in an historical neighborhood of DC.

[Anonymous]

Yes. No fucking way I would deal with that. There's a very real possibility that you'll have to knock it down and build a new house on that lot.

[Anonymous]

Walk away.

[Anonymous]

I'd pass.

[Anonymous]

If you love it, I'd hire a structural engineer to evaluate it. Those piers are some strong stuff. Your house might now have the strongest foundation in the neighborhood. You KNOW that a problem has been repaired in this house; yu don't know if the next house might have a problem.

Ask the seller to pay for the engineer.

[Anonymous]

I wouldn't necessarily walk away. At least you know that the foubdation was previously inspected and the owners dealt with the issue. I would have a structural engineer look at it.

[Anonymous]

I'd get a structural engineer to evaluate their reports, photos, and permits etc. The fact the money was put out is a good thing, not a bad. How many homes have piers, able to withstand an earthquake for example.

Any homeowner doing what is right in spite of the big bucks out is a homeowner who cares. It's the unknown knowns that worry me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you love it, I'd hire a structural engineer to evaluate it. Those piers are some strong stuff. Your house might now have the strongest foundation in the neighborhood. You KNOW that a problem has been repaired in this house; yu don't know if the next house might have a problem.

Ask the seller to pay for the engineer.

This. Get a structural engineer, have him look at the house and the documents pertaining to the repair. Simply walking away is completely irrational.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you love it, I'd hire a structural engineer to evaluate it. Those piers are some strong stuff. Your house might now have the strongest foundation in the neighborhood. You KNOW that a problem has been repaired in this house; yu don't know if the next house might have a problem.

Ask the seller to pay for the engineer.

After having to do my own foundation repairs, this would be my route if we ever buy again. A repaired foundation is better than problems not yet found IMO.