Homeowners often don’t realize they have foundation issues until they notice signs like cracks, leaks, and sloping or uneven floors and walls. Other common signs of foundation issues include sticking doors or windows, leaky basements, cracks in the exterior foundation, and gaps around doors and windows.
You must disclose any work that you have done on your foundation when it is listed for sale, but if you have had your home stabilized or piered, that could be seen as an asset rather than a drawback. In areas known to have expansive clay or soil issues, having hydraulic piers installed is a solution to a problem that every homeowner in the area expects to encounter at one time or another. Fixing stability problems is a necessary investment if you want your home to perform well in the market.
Foundation inspections should be conducted by a qualified structural engineer. During the inspection, your inspector will conduct a floor elevation survey, inspect the exterior and interior of your home, and look for uneven flooring, leaning doors, poor grading, standing water, and erosion or sinking soil.