Hey folks! I'm currently navigating the world of home buying for the first time and could use some wisdom from those with experience. We made an offer on a house we really like, but during the inspection, we discovered a crack in one corner of a wall. Our inspector advised us to get a foundation contractor to look into it further. We let the sellers know, and they told us that the crack was already there when they bought the place, and they had it fixed by a contractor who they called in again to assess the situation. This contractor cut out a part of the wall to see what was going on with the foundation (not just the crack) and mentioned that the wall has deflected more in the past six years. To my surprise, the sellers are now offering to pay for a structural engineer to check it out. My buyer's agent says this is a positive move and that the sellers are being accommodating. I'm really torn though—could this be a red flag or is it really a good response from the sellers? Especially since the previous fix didn't fully solve the issue if there's still deflection. I'm concerned that they might be just trying to get the engineer to downplay any problems just to close the sale. Any insights or similar stories would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
3 Answers
Honestly, it sounds like the sellers are trying to do the right thing here! It’s great they’re willing to bring in a structural engineer. Just to be safe, you might want to ask if you can choose your own engineer to ensure everything feels transparent for you.
I think it’s positive they’re looking into it! If they didn’t, they could claim ignorance next time. I’d suggest asking if you can attend the inspection. It’ll give you a chance to talk directly with the engineer and get all your questions answered.
I’d say this is definitely above and beyond what most sellers would do. Remember, structural engineers are required to be unbiased, so you should get a straightforward assessment. Plus, if they find a significant issue, the sellers will have to disclose that, which is good for you as a buyer!