Question:
“Should we have a structural engineer inspect the foundation on a home we want to buy?”
Answer:
A few years ago, I had a pain in my chest almost certainly from straining myself in the gym. I called Kaiser to set an appointment to see my doc and when they heard “chest pain” they all but demanded I come in immediately. They were doing their job.
Similarly, if anyone asks me if they should have a slab or foundation inspected, I’m all but required to advise them to do so.
What would I do if I was buying a home?
Absent any evidence of distress* or knowledge of nearby homes having slab or foundation problems, I would start with a good home inspector. If he found any evidence of structural distress, then I’d plunk down the $600+ for a structural inspection.
(*Excessive cracking, feeling of sloping floors, multiple doors or windows that stick, etc.)
That’s what I would do. But if you want to play it very safe, go ahead and get the structural inspection either way.
