I'm looking at a 20-year-old home that had some foundation problems right after it was built, and they had to pier it in the basement. During the inspection, I noticed the living room and bathroom floors are sloped over the area with a history of repairs. The general inspector didn't see any signs of current issues, but the structural engineer who checked it out mostly just talked about his experiences without doing a thorough inspection. He mentioned the slopes were normal but suggested leveling for resale reasons. Now I'm debating: should I make the sellers fix the floors, ask them to lower the price and handle it myself, or walk away? I plan to sell in a few years, and I'm worried about the resale value and potential hidden costs. Everyone seems to be downplaying the problem, and I feel a bit paranoid about it.
1 Answer
Honestly, I'd steer clear of this place. A house that has had foundation issues just 20 years in is a red flag for me. They should know better by now how to construct a solid foundation. I’d recommend negotiating a lower price instead of trying to fix it up yourself or making the sellers do it. You might end up spending more than it's worth and still have resale worries later on.
How much do you think would be reasonable to ask them to lower it by?