Hi everyone, saw a property come up for sale and the price is right so thought I'd take a look. Property is on a hill, great views of a large Creek and backyard accessible to a very pretty paved biking trail (about 20 miles long). it absolutely has potential but to be honest this house comes with every major disaster and worth land only, but thought I'd run it by here.
The cinder block walls in the basement are pretty screwed. one wall has a horizontal crack, probably an inch thick that runs almost the entire length of the wall. estimating about 70 ft. the adjacent wall has poles bracing it. those aren't even its biggest problems, it's the one I know the least about so looking for feedback.
I do have photos but not sure how to post here, and YT vids aren't allowed so can't share here.
thoughts?
How much of a disaster is this basement wall? When does it become too much to deal with?
byu/10minutes_late inrealestateinvesting
Posted by 10minutes_late
3 Comments
From your description, the basement walls are in serious trouble. A horizontal crack an inch thick running nearly the full 70 ft is a major structural red flag, usually caused by soil or water pressure. The adjacent wall being propped up with poles shows the foundation is under stress and temporary supports aren’t a long-term solution. Horizontal cracks and bowing walls generally need professional repair, like wall anchors, carbon fiber reinforcement, or in extreme cases, rebuilding. Costs can be significant, sometimes tens of thousands of dollars. The “land value only” marketing hints that the seller knows the basement is a serious liability. Before considering purchase, a structural engineer’s assessment is essential. Repairs may be too costly or risky depending on your budget and comfort with ongoing issues.
Yikes, that crack description alone is making me nervous. A horizontal crack that wide running 70 feet is basically the wall telling you it’s giving up on life. I’ve seen some sketchy basements during my property hunting days, but when you’re already looking at structural bracing on adjacent walls, that’s usually when I start backing away slowly.
The fact that you’re calling it “worth land only” but still considering it tells me the location must be incredible. Creek views and trail access are definitely nice selling points down the road, but foundation issues can turn into money pits real quick. I’d probably want a structural engineer to take a look before even thinking about numbers, because once you start messing with foundation repairs, costs can spiral fast. Sometimes walking away is the smartest investment move you can make.
It might just be me but anything sketchy with basement walls is an instant no. This is one of my top screening filters.
If you’re passionate about the property, I’d have a contractor, structural engineer, or foundation specialist come take a look if the seller is OK with that.
Are the basement and other issues currently factored into the listing price?