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Old 01-29-2012, 06:57 PM
 
2 posts, read 3,261 times
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Just had an inspection of an old house in Takoma Park. It's a great location. Apparently this house was appraised for about $80K more than our offer price. Of course there are some issues ... see the attached photos. The floor sags, due to beams that have buckled over the years in the basement. How much would it cost to fix something like this?

Also in the basement is moisture - a lot of moisture around certain walls. Does it look terrible?

What do you think? Go for it or keep looking? We want to spend under $300K and live in a safe neighborhood that's close to public transportation.
Attached Thumbnails
Buy a house in Takoma Park with foundation / water issues?-img_3362.jpg   Buy a house in Takoma Park with foundation / water issues?-img_3365.jpg   Buy a house in Takoma Park with foundation / water issues?-img_3372.jpg  
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Old 01-29-2012, 08:22 PM
 
Location: Sneads Ferry, NC
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Quote:
Originally Posted by melds28 View Post
Also in the basement is moisture - a lot of moisture around certain walls. Does it look terrible?

What do you think? Go for it or keep looking?
It looks like they already have put in French drains and a sump pump, which would be the first reaction to wet walls. I think it depends on the source of the water coming in thru the walls. If it is from groundwater or a stream on the property, I would walk away, as you can't really fix it.

If the water is dripping off the roof from clogged drains and collecting around the basement walls, it could be fixable easily. But if you have to dig up around the foundation and water-proof the outside, it could be expensive. But I have no real idea of how much it could cost.

Regarding the warped floor joists, it could be an easy fix if it just needs shims to support the floor above. But if the foundation is cracked or leaning, then it's a major problem. You may need to have it looked at by someone with better experience than the typical home inspector.

Last edited by goldenage1; 01-29-2012 at 08:36 PM..
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Old 02-01-2012, 08:27 AM
 
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Have you gotten a detailed inspection with an estimated cost of repairs? If the repairs would be, say, $25k that's different than if they'll be $100k+ or without limit. Unless you can get the seller to do all repairs (with a guarantee) you want more details. At least I would. I like Takoma Park, but older homes can be problematic.
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