A scary foundation quote in the middle of a deal can sink it fast. Knowing what you're dealing with before you list keeps you in control.

Picture this. You get an offer on your house, everything's moving along, and then the buyer's inspector flags a possible foundation issue. They bring in someone who takes one look, talks about steel piers, and hands over a scary quote. Now the whole deal is hanging by a thread over something you never saw coming.

I was just out at a potential listing that brought this exact risk to mind. The house had been sitting with a previous agent: terrible photography, drastically overpriced, and bad advice all around. And there were a few little cracks here and there, plus some separation in the expansion joints, the kind of small signs that make you wonder if there's a foundation problem underneath.

When something looks off, the smart move is to know for sure. I told the seller we really should find out, because the last thing you want is a buyer suspecting a foundation problem that may not even exist. I met a foundation specialist out there to get a real read. 

The front corner of the garage was slightly over two inches, about two and an eighth, with a slight dip from the back to the front of the house, but mostly within what's considered normal tolerances. I went ahead and got a quote to stabilize it and keep that front level, and it came in really inexpensive compared to what most people expect a foundation bid to run.

“It's better to know and disclose than to get surprised by a scary quote in the middle of a deal.”

This was a "could do it, doesn't have to" situation, and that's exactly the point. Because we looked, we know what we're dealing with. We can disclose it, talk it through with a buyer, and even fix it before closing if that's the route we go. What we won't do is get blindsided. We won't get an offer, and the whole thing will blow up over an alarming quote from a company that shows up trying to sell steel piers on the spot.

As a seller, it's always better to know and disclose than to be surprised. If you suspect something with your roof, your foundation, or anything else, get ahead of it. Work with someone experienced at thinking outside the box to build a game plan, address the issue, and still get your home sold. 

I sell houses that need foundation work all the time. Stuff happens. It's just part of the deal. Compare that to the agent who had this house overpriced on the market for six months: if an offer had come in, the whole thing likely would have blown up over this. Instead, we can make a plan, get it through closing, and get the homeowner moved on.

So check your stuff. Disclose, be upfront, and know what you're dealing with so you can play the game from a position of strength. If you'd like a recommendation for a contractor or any kind of service, or you just want to know who I use, reach out. Call or text me at 512-587-4050, email me at [email protected], or visit savvyreg.com.