Question:
“What do you think about buying a house with a cracked slab?”
Answer:
I tell my clients there are two kinds of cracked slabs: those that ARE a problem and those that are NOT a problem.
Experts say that all house slabs have cracks in them. Drying cracks or other hairline cracks are common and not always cause for alarm. Even small cracks from minor settlement are not necessarily a problem.
You should be sure to hire a professional to inspect if…
- The two sides of the cracks are offset in height
- There’s a lot cracks (yes, “a lot” is vague)
- They run all the way across the house
- They have gotten worse over time (you may not know)
- They are wide enough to put a pencil into
- There’s other evidence of problems, like cracks in walls, or doors that stick or swing to a certain point when not closed.
- You see evidence of previous slab repairs
- The home is in an area known for settlement problems.
I don’t want to tell you not to have minor cracks checked by a pro, but I haven’t when I’ve bought real estate.
Having said all that, even if the cracked slab is on that IS a problem, if the price reflects the extent of the problem and you know what you’re getting into, you may still want to purchase the home.
DISCLAIMER: My advice is based on my 30+ years as a Realtor, but I am not a contractor, home inspector, soils expert, and/or structural engineer. Please verify my advice with one or more of those or another appropriate professional.
