Inspection related questions on property (Dallas, West: for sale, insurance, houses)

[MovingtoDFW]

We are interested in a nice 1999 built brick home in a Las Colinas HOA. The property appears very well maintained. Apparently, there has been a hail-related roof replacement.

Couple of related Qs:

1/ Seller's disclosure answers to a Q reg. 'any flooding or water penetration' to the house as:
"2010 - slab leak caused by pin size hole in water line".
Elsewhere, under plumbing repairs, they say: "pinhole plumbing leak - family room".

We have a full home inspection scheduled, and also a free evaluation by a foundation repair company.

Are there any major concerns related to the above disclosure, and any additional inspections that may be warranted? As I mentioned, to a layperson, the home appears very well maintained.

2/ Does Dallas County / DCAD independently obtain square footage info about a home? The seller does not have a home survey to provide to us, but their listed square footage is the same as that shown on the DCAD website, and I am taking this to be independent verification of square footage? We will be doing our own survey a little later in the closing process.

Thanks for reading!

[WorldKlas]

the listing agent usually pulls square footage from DCAD and DCAD usually has the info from when the house was built, also updated to include permitted property additions.

i wouldn't be overly concerned about a slab leak. did they file an insurance claim?

[Renu.Uner]

I know many picky buyers loosing great properties on silly inspection issues.

[loves2read]

We had a slab leak under the hall in a previous house--
in order to stop it the quickest and less expensive (but not cheap) fix was to cut water to the bathroom that the leaking water line fed and run PEX from the water heater in the attic to an over head access line and reconnect--


I would ask how it was repaired because you might need to know about that in future--
we had them insulate the PEX line in the attic well because it is more susceptible to freezing than others...

[MovingtoDFW]

They indicated on the SD they filed an insurance claim for roof replacement and other hail related issues - but this is not mentioned.

Originally Posted by WorldKlas

the listing agent usually pulls square footage from DCAD and DCAD usually has the info from when the house was built, also updated to include permitted property additions.

i wouldn't be overly concerned about a slab leak. did they file an insurance claim?

[MovingtoDFW]

I take it you mean this may only be a silly inspection (actually in this case, a SD) issue?
That is what I am hoping to hear.

I know v. little about homes, and all these home maintenance terms mostly sound a like a lot of jargon to me

Originally Posted by Renu.Uner

I know many picky buyers loosing great properties on silly inspection issues.

[FalconheadWest]

A survey does not tell you the sqft of the house. An appraisal tells you the sqft, and even with that, it's one appraiser's measuring technique. You get 3 appraisers, and you'll get 3 numbers. No, DCAD doesn't verify anything. They go off paperwork that was submitted to them for permits. If things changed during the building, they don't have anything updated.

You, the buyer, are the "independent verify-er" on everything for a house you're going to buy. Like suggested above, you better verify how the leak was repaired for future issues that might come up. You should get the receipt so you have the company's information.

[MovingtoDFW]

Thanks - will definitely ask them for that info.

In the overall scheme of things, is this (slab leak) a trivial, minor or even potentially a major issue?

Originally Posted by FalconheadWest

A survey does not tell you the sqft of the house. An appraisal tells you the sqft, and even with that, it's one appraiser's measuring technique. You get 3 appraisers, and you'll get 3 numbers. No, DCAD doesn't verify anything. They go off paperwork that was submitted to them for permits. If things changed during the building, they don't have anything updated.

You, the buyer, are the "independent verify-er" on everything for a house you're going to buy. Like suggested above, you better verify how the leak was repaired for future issues that might come up. You should get the receipt so you have the company's information.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by MovingtoDFW

In the overall scheme of things, is this (slab leak) a trivial, minor or even potentially a major issue?

It's trivial. They had a small leak 4 years ago and had it repaired. It's not leaked since and probably will not.

Keep in mind we don't sell houses by the footage. As long as it appraises for sales price or higher is what matters.

[MovingtoDFW]

That is great to know - thanks!

Originally Posted by Rakin

It's trivial. They had a small leak 4 years ago and had it repaired. It's not leaked since and probably will not.

Keep in mind we don't sell houses by the footage. As long as it appraises for sales price or higher is what matters.