How to Sell a Structurally Damaged House?

Foundation is what holds the house together. When you see sagging roof lines and wide cracks, it is a sign that the structure of your home has been compromised.

It is not safe to live in a house that has foundation damage. You cannot sell such a property. Buyers will do a home inspection before signing the contract, and if they find that your home is structurally damaged, they will cancel the deal.

Fixing structural damage costs thousands of dollars if the issue remains hidden for a long time. Acting quickly can help you solve the matter for a few hundred dollars.

How to Locate Signs of Foundation Damage?

It can be difficult to find signs of foundation damage especially if the problem is not evident. Grab a torch, a level and carefully observe your property.

Check the doors.   Sticking or jammed doors and windows indicate the property structure is under-stress because of poor construction or age. Consider greasing the door joints and if the problem persists, call a structural engineer for a thorough inspection.

Look for wall and ceiling cracks.  Small cracks (<1/4^th inch) usually do not indicate a significant problem but any line appearing above the door frame or in a step shape requires your immediate attention. Do not try to cover the broader cracks with a coat of paint.

It sometimes happens with new constructions. You buy the home from a builder. After six months, you see a wide crack appearing on the interior wall. You call the builder. They send their representatives who use paint and caulk to fill that gap. It is possible that the crack was not a sign of a problem. However, let’s stay on the safe side. Get in touch with a reputable property inspector. It might be even better to call a structural engineer who can come and inspect the structure of your house.

Hairline cracks in the foundation slab are harmless. However, wider cracks narrowing in the downward direction indicate that home is sliding and might slip off its foundation. You cannot look past the foundation slab. However, grab your torch and observe the crawlspace where it connects with the foundation. Broken joints and missing bolts should not be ignored. Immediately call your property inspector or builder.

Carefully observe the roof lines. Uneven lines and sagging is a sign of roof decay.  The reason might be the removal/shifting of a load-bearing wall.  When the load bearing wall shifts, the whole structure of the house suffers and might be under severe pressure. Other reasons include aging, termite damage, and weather damage.

Similar to that, roof leaks should be treated immediately.

Presence of moisture inside a house is a warning sign.  Swollen walls, water puddles, leaky roof and presence of water inside the basement are signs of caution. If the problem persists for a longer-time, the unwanted humidity & moisture might damage the foundation.

How to Repair Foundation Damage Inside a House?

First of all, call an experienced structural engineer and a property inspector. While the property inspector will review the exterior, the structural engineer will check for problems that can lead to foundation damage.

After the review process, you will get a complete inspection report. The structural engineer will guide you regarding the solution.

Once you know the core problem, you can choose to repair the foundation damage or sell your house as-is.

How to Repair a Structurally Damaged House?

Contact at least three contractors. Ask them to provide a quotation for repairing the property. Once you get the bids, you can compare them and see if it is wise to fix the house.

If the solution requires you to spend thousands of dollars, then it is not a good idea to repair the property.

Selling a Structurally Damaged House

Even after you restore the house, there is no guarantee that the home will sell at a high price in a retail market. Buyers will require contractor’s warranty, building permits, and insurance plans to ensure that your home is safe for living in.

An easy way is to sell your home to a real estate solutions company. RE solutions companies work with buyers like you. They can guarantee a hassle-free sale of your house in as little as ten days. You can sell your home as-is for a cash price without worrying about building permits, contractor issues, money, and repairs.

You can sell your home for a fair cash price within 10 days.

Click here to get a 100% Free, Fair-Price Quote For  Your House.