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Started By
Message
Buying a house with foundation issues
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:17 pm
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:17 pm
So I'm still at the point where I can push the eject button. House was built in the early 80's, sits on clay soil. Has had piers installed in the past but still has a pretty drastic slope. Olshan has the lifetime warranty and could come out and do an adjustment.
We love the house, it's on a lake, has character and we could make it our forever home, but I don't want to get myself into a money pit. Engineer says it's structurally sound. Any advice and experiences both good and bad are appreciated.
I've been told don't let foundation problems scare you away and I've been told the opposite.
We love the house, it's on a lake, has character and we could make it our forever home, but I don't want to get myself into a money pit. Engineer says it's structurally sound. Any advice and experiences both good and bad are appreciated.
I've been told don't let foundation problems scare you away and I've been told the opposite.
28
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:18 pm to Mohican
quote:
Buying a house with foundation issues
Don’t
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:20 pm to Mohican
Be afraid be very afraid.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:21 pm to Mohican
quote:
Don't buy a house with foundation issues
FIFY
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:21 pm to Mohican
Get Olshan to honor the lifetime warranty before you buy.
If they don’t honor it, demand an offsetting price commensurate with the rate to repair.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have preferred a home that had foundation work. There will be less competition among buyers due to irrational fears, and more room to bargain downward.
I’m currently living in a home that had foundation work about 10 years ago. The results are spectacular.
If they don’t honor it, demand an offsetting price commensurate with the rate to repair.
If I knew then what I know now, I would have preferred a home that had foundation work. There will be less competition among buyers due to irrational fears, and more room to bargain downward.
I’m currently living in a home that had foundation work about 10 years ago. The results are spectacular.
This post was edited on 10/26/17 at 11:23 pm
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:23 pm to Mohican
quote:
We love the house, it's on a lake
Soon to be in the lake
quote:
has character
i.e. it's old
quote:
we could make it our forever home
Says everyone who buys a house
quote:
but I don't want to get myself into a money pit.
You're going to
quote:
Engineer says it's structurally sound.
Then does it have foundation issues or not?
quote:
I've been told don't let foundation problems scare you away and I've been told the opposite.
Some people are lucky with such issues and some are very unfortunate. It's a roll of the dice. If you want to gamble with your finances and your "forever home" then go for it. I wouldn't.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:25 pm to Mohican
"issues" is very vague. Are there more details?
If it's under warranty, what are the money pit worries?
My greatest concern would be ability to resell later.
If it's under warranty, what are the money pit worries?
My greatest concern would be ability to resell later.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:31 pm to Mohican
Honestly the most important thing IS the foundation.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:31 pm to Mohican
quote:
Has had piers installed in the past but still has a pretty drastic slope. Olshan has the lifetime warranty and could come out and do an adjustment.
Why didn't the seller call up Olshan to fix the drastic slope prior to listing for sale?
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:32 pm to Powerman
quote:
Says everyone who buys a house
3rd house. Have an autistic child who will be most likely living with us the rest of his life. It's an ideal setup for our situation.
quote:
Engineer says it's structurally sound.
quote:
Then does it have foundation issues or not?
That was a quote straight from his mouth. I dunno they're so damn ambiguous and won't say anything with any certainty. Probably because they can't be certain. That was the most definitive statement he made. But he did recommend Olshan do the adjustment.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:34 pm to weadjust
quote:
Why didn't the seller call up Olshan to fix the drastic slope prior to listing for sale?
Good question.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:38 pm to Mohican
Who is olshan
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:43 pm to Mohican
I would ask it. It's possible the current slope in the foundation is in an area of the home that previously wasn't worked on by Olshan thus not covered by the lifetime warranty. If I made an offer on the house it would be under the assumption that there is no warranty for any future foundation repairs and offer accordingly.
This post was edited on 10/26/17 at 11:46 pm
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:48 pm to Mohican
What does “pretty drastic slope” mean? Is there differential settlement?
ETA:
Send me pics and I will give you an assessment tomorrow. <===@gmail.
ETA:
Send me pics and I will give you an assessment tomorrow. <===@gmail.
This post was edited on 10/26/17 at 11:51 pm
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:54 pm to AUCE05
quote:
What does “pretty drastic slope” mean? Is there differential settlement?
Yep. +3" on the SW side and -3" on the NE side. Total of 6" on a 2100 SF house.
Engineer said they could probably get it to within 3" with adjustment.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:55 pm to Mohican
Ask for the soils report. I’ll review if you want me to. I am a Geotech.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:58 pm to AUCE05
Thanks for the help. I'll email you what I have tomorrow morning.
Posted on 10/26/17 at 11:58 pm to Mohican
Basically, the subsoils are compressing under the weight of the home. I would bet the builder didn’t place the fill material to any spec. The drilled piers would need to bypass the fill and anchor into residual soil that is stable. That’s about all I can tell you minus looking at the report.
Posted on 10/27/17 at 12:02 am to AUCE05
I have been told that builders weren't required to do soil tests back then. We are definitely in the Yazoo Clay in this area.
Posted on 10/27/17 at 12:18 am to Mohican
I got my start in the construction industry doing soil testing and working within a geotech department. Even with modern testing requirements, depending where you're at, you can still end up with subpar work.
Au sounds like the right man to talk to. Hopefully you can access the original boring logs.
Au sounds like the right man to talk to. Hopefully you can access the original boring logs.
This post was edited on 10/27/17 at 1:33 am
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