Among the worst-case scenarios for any Central Ohio home buyer is discovering that your recently-bought home has a problem with the foundation. This might be revealed after a heavy rainfall or snow melt that causes water to seep inside.
While Ohio home sellers are required to disclose any defects they are aware of, you cannot rely on this for recourse if a problem occurs down the road. Nor can your home inspector always detect a problem; finished basements may hide cracks or mold that evade a visual inspection.
However, there are some rules of thumb you can follow:
1. Check the gutters and downspouts. If they are in poor condition, missing or expelling water very close to the foundation, the foundation walls could have been exposed to water and the pressures of wet soil for a number of years. In turn, this increases the odds of a crack or a moisture issue.
2. Examine the topography around the home. Does the soil appear to be very low, or slope towards the foundation? Ideally, the home should be seated at the highest point of the lot, with soil sloping away from the home to send water runoff away from the foundation.
3. Underground water tables can be high enough in some areas to cause issues. In this case, catch basins and sump pumps are the best way to draw water up and out. Your home inspector should ensure that sump pumps are tested. Back-up systems should be installed against power outages.
4. The existence of a waterproofing system isn’t necessarily a sign of a problem, but nor is it a guarantee against future issues. If you or your home inspector have any concerns about a foundation, call in an expert for a closer look. Get our free e-book, “How to Buy a Home like a Pro” for details about home inspections and how the right contractual language protects you!
As your Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we serve your best interests at all times! Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest at all times.
Understanding this distinction could literally save you thousands of dollars not only on the purchase price and terms, but also on seller concessions and home inspection issues, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner!
Contact us with your home buying questions! Remember, we are with you every step of the way…all the way home!
Andrew Show
Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, CEBA-M, MCNE, CSP, PSA,e-PRO, CREM, ABRM, AHWD
Buyer’s Resource Realty Services www.BuyersHome.com
Serving Metro Columbus, Ohio with Exclusive Buyer’s Agents
7100 North High Street, Suite 204, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-888-4110 | 888-888-4110 Toll Free | 614-839-4110 Fax
