DIYbanter - View Single Post - Crack in foundation and home buying decision

(MaxAluminum) wrote in message

Apparently those cracks were open and visible. Even in states with
disclosure rules, the fact of something open and obvious takes the
seller off the hook. On the other hand, if the cracks were hidden
that's another matter. On occasion when I inspect a home for someone I
always walk the perimeter of the basement in search of cracks, recent
repairs, painting, piles stacked up, and moisture evidence. I suggest
making a check sheet for yourself with everything you want to check
from the basement to the roof with side notes to yourself as to what
to look for. Find out all you can find before making an offer or
paying a third party inspector. A quality inspection can take more
than a couple hours, but you can disqualify many potential homes
yourself often in minutes. Don't let real estate people trot you
through homes. If you go with the wife you can be off doing your thing
while she looks in the cabinets. She should know what to look for as
well.

Best piece of advice I ever received here. Yes. Mea Culpa on not
catching the cracks myself. Usually we are very careful. Got a
little carried away in this case since we loved the house and missed
this obvious defect. Next time we will do exactly as you suggested.

-Prospectivehomebuyer