Foundation Failures – Promptly Addressing Problems on Fix and Flip Properties
The foundation is an extremely important part of a building structure. It is what supports and upholds the entire building. Consider the leaning tower of Pisa, which began to sink before construction was even completed due to a flawed foundation.
A home with an obvious foundation problem is not going to offer much in the way of marketplace potential. The failure of a building foundation can be a serious situation if something is not done to correct the problem promptly.
When a home foundation sinks in one area, it can affect windows, doors, and several other important elements of the property. In many cases, it is very obvious even to the untrained eye, and is certainly detrimental to the marketability of the residence.
Foundation problems can often be repaired, but a prospective buyer will see them as a huge red flag to avoid the situation altogether. That is why it is important to address the issue with all due haste as soon as it is recognized and before the property goes on the market.
Solutions for Foundation Repair
The last thing you want to do when attempting to fix a foundation problem is to address it incorrectly. A foundation might sink because of poor compaction beneath the footings, and an attempt to do anything above the problem soil will be nothing more than an unjustifiable expense. Some failures are caused by the concrete, possibly because it was poured unevenly or was inferior at the time of placement.
It is much better to have a professional contractor examine a foundation problem before investing money so you know exactly what needs to be done. It may be difficult to get an exact price for foundation repairs because the problems might not be clearly evident until work is begun, but you should be able to get a “not to exceed” cost for a set scope of work by a qualified home remodeling contractor.
Some settlement of a house is expected and a normal occurrence, but any time there is movement that can actually be measured, it’s a good bet that other parts of the home will be affected and you cannot just ignore that it has occurred.
If you suspect a foundation problem with a renovation or “fixer upper” property, consult a professional to inspect the situation at once and make necessary repairs before the home is placed on the market.
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