A1 Foundation Crack Repair saves a lot of real estate deals. If the home inspector finds a problem with the foundation, should the buyer run like the wind? Adam explains how most problems can be permanently fixed so the deal can go through.
Narrator: It's time once again for the Crackman Podcast. This will be by A1 Foundation Crack Repair. I'm Darren Kincaid, and I'm here with the Crack Daddy himself, Adam Tracy. Adam has 20 years of experience in the construction industry, and as a civil engineer is A1 Foundation's resident engineer on staff, solving a plethora of unique foundation problems every day. This podcast provides expert basement waterproofing, concrete repair, and preventive maintenance tips for homeowners and businesses. A1 Foundation's valuable insight will help prevent the disaster of a flooded basement, health problems due to water infiltration, and protect your biggest investment, your home. The topic of today's podcast: The Home Inspector dinged my foundation for some issues. Is this a dealbreaker?
Narrator: So, Adam, you guys save a lot of real estate deals. If the home inspector finds a problem with the foundation or maybe a basement water problem, should the buyer run like the wind?
Adam: In most cases, probably not. Now, it's very important to understand what a home inspector's role is. The home inspector is to go top to bottom, bottom to top, every nook and cranny of the home to find out anything that might be out of code, dangerous, or a potential liability for the value of the home or the safety of the people living there.
They're generalists—like a general practitioner for all sorts of things related to your home. They're licensed, they have to go through training, and they must complete some hours as apprentices. So, they go through a pretty rigorous process, and for the most part, most home inspectors are very well-versed on virtually all topics related to a house. But that doesn't mean they're experts.
Their number one role is to bring attention to all sorts of issues—whether it’s an electrical panel, the temperature of the water, the roof, or of course, the foundation. Because they have to be knowledgeable about everything, they’re not truly experts in any one particular area. That’s no fault of their own—it’s just a lot to know for an entire house. But they do know how to bring up issues that are related to the foundation, whether it might be simple settling cracks, structural issues, or something much larger in scope.
A home inspector will point out everything because, at the end of the day, they want to make sure that attention is being brought to potential problems. They also have a look-back period for anyone who buys the house in case something happens, so they’re on the hook for ensuring that they raised the right flags. They’ll call out everything—from a small hairline crack to major structural deficiencies.
When you get the home inspection report, and it’s 30, 40, 60, or even 100 pages long with photos, arrows, and marked deficiencies, it’s important to understand where some of the concerns actually are—and where they are not.
With the foundation, everything is built off of that. The safety of the home really relies on the safety of the foundation. When you’re looking at these reports, it can be hard to decipher what’s what because usually, they’ll just say, “Consult a foundation expert.” But in person, they might tell you, “Hey, this looks like a settling crack,” or “Hey, this could be a structural issue,” and they’ll simply note, “Contact a foundation specialist or contractor.”
The reality is that sometimes they miss things—whether structural or non-structural. Sometimes they miss signs of water intrusion, especially if it’s a dry day and there are no visible indicators. That’s why when you get the inspector report, it’s important to work with somebody like A1 Foundation Crack Repair to decipher what’s really important.
Most times, we can look through the report—maybe your realtor or you took photos, or even the home inspector took additional photos not included in the report—and we can really dive into what you’re seeing. The inspection report ends up being the document of record for everyone involved: pricing, reductions, extensions, and work that needs to be completed prior to closing.
We use that report to help determine what’s needed. In most cases, we can assess the severity of the problem and often provide pricing. This helps you understand whether the house is worth continuing with, or if it will require significant repairs.
During the period from COVID through roughly 2025, home inspections dropped tremendously. The New England market got very hot—there were far more buyers than inventory—and to be competitive, many real estate agents advised clients to waive home inspections. Unfortunately, this led to situations where people bought unsafe houses or properties that required hundreds of thousands of dollars in foundation work.
Those situations are rare, though. Most of the issues we see are water-related or minor structural concerns. We can help you prioritize these relative to other home issues and price them out accordingly.
So, should you walk away if you’re seeing foundation deficiencies? No. What you should do is consult your real estate agent and someone like us at A1 Foundation Crack Repair to sort through what’s needed. Most times, we can give you an accurate estimate, and if it’s not something we handle directly, we can provide a rough order of magnitude and refer to trusted contractors who can bring your house up to code.
Don’t panic. Go through the items one at a time. Take photos of any issues the home inspection brings up to provide extra context. Then consult your real estate agent and a specialist like us to determine what’s important and how much it will cost.
Narrator: Thanks, Adam, for explaining how a basement water issue or foundation problem isn’t always a dealbreaker. Most problems can be permanently fixed so the deal can go through.
Narrator: If you have a basement water problem and think you need a professional, or if you'd like more information on foundation crack repair and basement waterproofing topics, please visit A1foundationcrackrepair.com or call Adam at (866) 929-3171, or you can email Adam at info@a1foundationcrackrepair.com. Thanks for listening and keep that basement dry.