Home Foundation Repair Cost California

Frequently Asked Questions

1. QUESTION:
   How much should I spend redoing my deck for it to be worth it?
   I have a small house with a small deck that is old and needs to either be sanded down 3’4″ or completely rebuilt to repair the damage it has sustained. We bought the house for 720,000 a year ago and zillow right now says it is worth 746,000. How much will the repair to the deck cost and how much would it bring back? We live in Marin County, CA.

   • ANSWER:
     You know, people ask these kind of questions all the time and they are so broad. It really depends on the ACTUAL size of the deck (small doesn’t tell us much), the type of wood now there, or what type you would replace it with, etc. You need to consult those who build decks and get estimates, then compare to the materials and labor YOU would put in to refurbish your existing deck. In other words, YOU will need to do some legwork here. Also, the type of foundation under the deck is important, as some counties and towns require a more elaborate foundation than do others. Ask a realtor what adding a new deck would add to your home value-wise. And, unless you are selling the home immediately AFTER putting on a new deck, their answer won’t be valid forever. Prices change, and decks go in and out of favor. A deck is NOT considered a permanent structure, either. It’s actually of LESS value than you probably think and if it’s small, then even more so, Also, homes usually don’t go up in value quite as much as you are stating (26,000 in one year) even in California, but perhaps yours is a special case or something. With the depressed RE market, that seems a little off.

2. QUESTION:
   can anyone name ALL of the santa anita racetrack horse vets?
   i want to know of the names can someone fill me in????

   • ANSWER:
     As far as I know all Southern California racetrack vets have access to Santa Anita’s hospital.

     quoting source

     Track Veterinarians have access to unique Southern California Equine Foundation with hospitals at Santa Anita and Hollywood Park
     By Tracy Gantz

     As Dr. Jeff Blea monitored the chestnut gelding’s breathing under anesthesia, Dr. Rick Arthur drilled a screw into the horse’s right front cannon bone to repair a fracture. They finished the procedure without complications, and expect the gelding to be able to successfully return to racing.

     The two veterinarians were working in the surgery of the Southern California Equine Foundation hospital at Santa Anita, a facility that stands ready for scheduled surgeries such as this one and emergency procedures when necessary. Because the hospital lies at one end of the racetrack’s barn area, the gelding could go to the surgical prep area directly from his stall.

     “Horses need to be operated on in their natural environments, in their homes,” said Dr. Ted Simpson, another Southern California equine veterinarian who often performs surgeries. “When we can take them right out of their stalls into the hospital, there is less stress and less trauma than having to move the horse.”

     Once the horse recovers enough to travel, he can be moved to a nearby lay-up farm.

     Arthur, Blea, and Simpson are just three of the racetrack vets who regularly use the SCEF facilities. Not only do all racetrack vets have access to Santa Anita’s hospital, which includes an X-ray room, they can get nuclear scintigraphy scans at the SCEF Nuclear Imaging Facility, located in a separate building on the Santa Anita backstretch. The SCEF also has a hospital across town at Hollywood Park, where vets can perform surgeries and order X-rays. The Hollywood Park setup includes a lab for blood work, with a daily courier to Santa Anita.

     Racetracks around the country have varied methods of taking care of injuries. Nearby privately owned equine hospitals often perform the task, but Southern California vets, racetrack management, and horsemen took the lead in the mid-1970s to establish not-for-profit hospitals right on the backstretch.

     “We provided a cooperative hospital that anyone on the racetrack can use,” said Arthur, who served as the SCEF’s president during the early 1990s. “It can provide services to owners at a very, very reasonable cost. For example, we can nuke scan for about two-thirds the cost at normal equine hospitals.”

     Arthur currently serves on the board of the Oak Tree Racing Association and is also involved with developing the Medication and Testing Consortium’s national medication policy. He was instrumental in establishing the SCEF’s Nuclear Imaging Facility in 1993.

     “The SCEF enables us to have facilities here that all of us individually would never have been able to have,” said Dr. Helmuth Von Bluecher, another former SCEF president and a longtime racetrack veterinarian. “We’ve also been able to keep ahead of diagnostic developments in such things as radiology, nuclear scintigraphy, and surgery.”

     As a not-for-profit organization, the SCEF can dedicate all of its efforts to its mission of helping the racehorse. For a fee, veterinarians can use the foundation’s surgery and diagnostic equipment for their clients’ horses.

     “We try to keep our fees as reasonable as possible,” said Karen Klawitter, the SCEF’s hospital administrator. “That way veterinarians can keep prices down for owners and trainers as well.”

     The SCEF most recently has purchased a state-of-the-art digital radiography system, the first of its kind available for equine veterinarians featuring mammography-quality images.

     “We’re still streamlining it,” said Blea, the current president of the SCEF. “Eventually, we’ll be able to e-mail the images anywhere in the world.”

     Another recent development has been Simpson’s use of Acutrak headless titanium compression screws in surgery, building on the laboratory studies of Dr. Larry Galuppo at the University of California at Davis. The SCEF and its research arm, the Dolly Green Research Foundation, funded Galuppo’s study, and Simpson joined Southern California vets Dr. Sylvia Greenman and Dr. Joseph Dowd in helping with the research.

     “Horses heal well with these screws,” Simpson said. “I actually find them preferable in slab fractures and short condylar fractures. They seem to provide more stability. They’re titanium, so they aren’t as irritating as stainless steel. They pull two pieces of bone together as they tighten, and they don’t need to come out. There is no head to irritate the soft tissue, and they don’t seem to break as easily.”

     That cooperation with U.C. Davis is even easier these days because Dr. Gregory Ferraro, the director of Davis’ Center for Equine Health, was one of the SCEF’s founders.

     continued at:
     http://www.calracing.com/press_releases.php?f=WhereHorsesBenefittheMost.html

3. QUESTION:
   why is earthquake insurance difficult to sell?

   • ANSWER:
     1. The deductible can be as high as 25% of the value of the property improvements. For many people whose homes have already survived earthquakes, it is not considered cost effective when for example the first ,000 to ,000 of damages aren’t even covered. Most houses would have to be completely destroyed before the insurance payout is effective. Insurance companies are notorious for using cost estimates that are not based on replacement cost, making the likelihood of actually getting a payout even lower.

     2. Earthquake insurers often require an inspection of the property, and require that changes be made that are quite expensive. For example they may require that your home be bolted to its foundation – a practice that wasn’t required by building codes until the early 1960s. Being forced to spend what could cost over ten thousand dollars for repairs just to be able to buy the insurance is likely to make it cost-prohibitive for many homeowners.

     3. Despite some recent rate reductions (in California) the price is still high, and could cost as much as a homeowners policy for the same dwelling. Since most homeowner’s policies have a 00 deductible, instead of what is effectively well over a ,000 deductible, it is probable that most homeowners do not consider the risk-reward ratio to be worthwhile.

     4. There is a perception problem. In my opinion, most real estate agents don’t know enough about earthquakes to make them recommend earthquake insurance, so instead they advise homeowners that it is a waste of money. To add to that perception problem, I don’t know many people who trust insurance agents, so they aren’t likely to take advice from an insurance company. The publicity of some insurance companies that still have not settled claims for events like Hurricane Katrina makes the insurance industry look like their “good hands” are only good at collecting payments.

     5. Lender’s (mortgage companies and banks) do not require earthquake insurance like they do fire insurance. Most people are forced to buy insurance by their lender and in my experience most people only buy the minimum required.

     To get quotes check here:
     http://www.earthquakeauthority.com/CEAHome2006.aspx?edate=8&pid=3

4. QUESTION:
   House Foundation Cost?
   I’m going to have my brick Foundation replaced. It’s only the back half of the house that really needs it but I’ve been told that any brick foundation should be replaced. How much should I expect to pay for a new foundation? I will also need to have the house & foundation seimic retrofitted. I’m the the Bay Area (northern California). Also, one contractor that I spoke with said that they would put a new foundation down in two sessions, the back first then the front. I thought I read somewhere that all the concrete should be poured at one time.

   • ANSWER:
     Foundations are usually concrete, even pier an beam, or crawl space homes. If your home is brick and built above the ground with brick around the perimeter of the house it is often called foundation, but a true foundation supports the house, not hides it, even in San Francisco.

     A home built with a covering of brick hiding the underside of the home is pier and beam or crawl space foundation so the brick doesn’t really support it, it just covers up what’s hidden underneath.

     The type of problem you describe is common for many homes built on piers. The mortar holding the bricks together will deteriorate over time and gradually the bricks hiding the underpinnings of your house will fall apart exposing the underside of your home to anyone who cares to look.

     This can be repaired or it can be replaced and you can do the work yourself if you don’t mind learning a new skill. If the missing brick is still around you can clean it up and get yourself some mortar mix or mix up your own with a little cement, sand and water. All it takes is time and you’ll learn how to do it best as you go.

     If the brick on your home’s foundation is all that concerns you, it can be done in stages or all at once. But, if it truly is concrete being poured, it should all be done at once to avoid weakness in the finished product and seams where it should be smooth.

     If it’s brick work and you’re willing to do it yourself, the cost can be as little as with you doing all the brick cleaning and re-mortaring, but if you hire it done this can cost several thousands of dollars, depending on the honesty and integrity of who you hire.

     No one can put a price on someone else’s work and without dimensions, height and perimeter or length of distance to cover, it would be impossible for anyone to give you an exact figure, and then only if they were doing the work.

5. QUESTION:
   If Arkansas were to get a level 7 earth quake would the whole state be toast. Link Inside.?
   http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Quake-Warning-New-Fault-Line-Capable-Of-Magnitude-7-Tremors-Discovered-in-Arkansas/Article/200901415208324?lpos=World_News_Second_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15208324_Quake_Warning%3A_New_Fault_Line_Capable_Of_Magnitude_7_Tremors_Discovered_in_Arkansas

   • ANSWER:
     yes ,i have been in a 7 magnatude quake in 1970 in california ,sanfernando valley and it realy tore things up.power out substations shorted out ,looked like an atom bomb went off it was early in the morning ant the blow out lit up the whole valley,arpoximatly 35 miles long and 25 miles wide,freeways collapsed water and gas lines broke all over the place,buildings fell down and houses shook of there foundations hyways were wrinckeled like waves on the ocean.it was aful.goverment offered BSA loans at low interest to make repairs but beverly hills brentwood ans santamonica got there money first then they ran out of money and left ordinary worling stiff out cold.but the russian imbasy offered low cost loans for anyone who needed it.after that the goverment came up with more money after all.if that fault goes in arkansas it might trigger the new madred fault along the missippi river valley and in the ozarks,it would ba an earthquake like paople havent seen in a very long time,the last quake caused the missippi river to flow backwards to fill the sunken land and it took the river 3-4 hours to fill it up.out in the west they build with yhe knowlage a quake will be hitting sooner or later,but here they dont even consider it likely so a lot of buildings that are made of concrete blocks will end up on the ground.as you know most walmart stores around here are made of concrete blocks,and even brick buildings will fall the most resistant is a regular wood framed home,it will get damaged but not likely to collapse.if one hits remember telephone poles might break or fall and electrical tension lines will likely break,gas and water pipes will rupture and gas will spew out causing a huge fire hazard.just be careful,usualy there are after shocks that are almost as bad and ther might be as many as 4

6. QUESTION:
   Motorcycles? All you know!! Most info. get 10 points!! :)?
   okay. i’m trying to convince my parents to get me a motorcycle when we move back to california. they are leaning more towards yes. butttt my mom is still worried about safety. The more i know about the dangers and parts and rule about the motorcycles the more relaxed about the idea she gets.. so plz tell me everything you know and ill give you ten points..

   -Belle (yes, im a girl soon to be 16!!)

   • ANSWER:
     okay Belle. This is not all I know, but here goes! HA HA

     Your main issue is your mom’s concern about safety…so start by voluntarily taking the motorcycle safe riding course..basic beginners course when you get to California. Do that without pressing the motorcycle issue with either your dad or mom. That will show them both some signs of maturity.

     You do not say, but are they going to pay for the bike for you? If so, then look for a part time job and save your money, until you have at least enough to do the down payment. Do not get your heart set on a brand new bike! There are many many good used bikes that dealers will give you a decent price on and a service guarantee on. Look for one that has been obviously taken care of. Good paint, chrome in good shape, and starts and runs easily and smoothly. Mileage used to be a big issue but nowadays if the bike is several years old and has low mileage, then it has sat in someones garage for a long time and not run..that is hard on a motorcycle..harder than riding it frequently. Don’t buy a used cheap bike from an individual unless your dad is willing to spend countless hours tinkering with it! If he is not mechanically inclined, a cheap bike gets expensive quickly when it has to go to the dealership to be repaired all the time.

     Consider seriously your size and strength. What size motorcycle should you have as a starter bike? Best bet there is to check with a couple of dealers, tell them your honest situation, and consider seriously their recommendations. That will help prevent you from making a mistake and getting something that you just cannot handle as a beginner.

     Now to some issues other than safety. Your mom may be a bit nervous because you are growing up and in a short time not be under her control anymore. Do not let this become an issue. Learn about safety gear…leathers, boots, gloves, and helmets…buy good ones if they let you buy the bike, and wear them…no down to the store and back with shorts and a t-shirt on…and no helmet!

     It is said that asphalt is the greatest tattoo eraser ever invented for a reason…road rash as bikers call it is not only very painful but also very scarring. Don’t take the chance. And on your clothes, you will have the opportunity to buy patches to express your feelings…but stay away from obscene, or “in your face” ones, at least until you are well away from home as an adult. Pick ones that are appropriate for who you are and who you want people to think you are.

     Obey the safety rules, ride carefully, be certain you have with you at all times your driver’s license and insurance papers. Investigate the cost of insurance for particular motorcycles considering your age and inexperience. That will help you decide what you and your parents can afford and will save them from having to gather that information…another sign of maturity.

     And finally, if your mom says no…Do not get upset and mad…Consider this, you will have laid a strong foundation for you getting a bike and if you get mad, you could say something that would unravel that entire effort. Be strong. If you accept their decision at that time and do not make a big issue of it, but continue to educate yourself and them, then in 6 months or so, you will be able to revisit the idea and they will have time to see that you are serious and not in a “rush” to get one.

     Best of luck to you and should you be successful you will have a great time!

7. QUESTION:
   dirt foundation.. house is SINKING! How to repair it!??! or PRICE to have someone repair it?!?
   I have no clue on the square footage of my house, but 3 of the 4 walls in the basement are dirt and one is cinder block with a dirt floor. I’ve been looking everywhere online and can’t find a price for this kind of foundation work. I guess what will need to be done is some new concrete pilers to be poured down there. There are already some concrete pilers down there but the dirt that they are sitting on is literally washing away every single time it rains. If there is a way for my husband and father to team up and fix this, PLEASE send me a link to a website!!!! If not, then if you would know a round about estimate please let me know. I don’t think it would be “as” expensive since it’s not a concreat foundation… but I’m afraid the house is going to just fall in!
   and also, I’ve already emailed some local places for a free estimate. .. just so curious that I can’t hardly wait for them to make an appointment and come give me a price!

   • ANSWER:
     The price for new pilers (concrete pylons) would be around 10-20k in California for a 2000 sq ft single story.
     This would be an unlikely DIY project for a homeowner, since a lot of equipment (ie jack and industrial air compressors) will need to be used with an upfront cost higher than the project cost, making it easier just to hire a contractor.

     The house will not fall in right away, it will take time. Just be careful of the weather, and please do not stay home if it is raining as the dirt walls may collapse if waterlogged.

8. QUESTION:
   My house is in very poor stractural place, the land owner is not willing to make any repairs. Please help?
   I have been renting my current home for almost 7 years now, the house’s foudations are in very bad shape, most of the first floor’s floor is tilted, as a result the entire strature of the house is in bad condition. I was wondering if under california’s law, is the land lord obligated to have such things fixed, we have been living in fear on the house falling apart just about since we moved but we simply dont have the means to move now. thanks allot for any help ;p

   • ANSWER:
     There is no law that requires a landlord to make a major alteration of his property.

     If you are not happy with the structure you need to move, you can not force the change.

     Even if he did agree to this, you would have to move out. The house has to be jacked up for a new foundation to be put into place. The cost of something like this is about 60k. I have friends doing it right now, and it has taken over 4 months already.

9. QUESTION:
   Second marriage money problem revisited?
   My first posting of this question appeared to be confusing to some people. So I am modifying it to help make it clearer. The only difference in the question is it assumes I did not pay my mortgage off, the rest is the same.

   My husband and I have been married for a few years and can’t agree on a money matter. We are both retired and when we married we both had homes with small remaining mortgages (~0K each). We decided to live in my house because it is located in a less dense area and he would rent his house. I pay the mortgage, insurance, property tax, repairs, etc on the house we live in (my house) and he pays the same on his house. We both share in our living expenses (utilities, groceries, cable, vacations, etc, but not mortgages) but since we live in my house I have no income from it while he has rental income from his. Note we both have approximately the same mortgage to pay each month on our own. I feel since he’s getting rent he should share the rent income with me since I’m share my house with him. He asked me if I want him to pay rent. I said no, but want him to share his rent income with me since I’m sharing my house with him. He said it sounds like I’m really asking him to pay rent and he felt spouses should not charge each other rent. And after all, his rental house is his, not mine. I said what if we were living in his house and I was renting mine. He said he would not ask for any money since the rent is from my house. With his type of non symmetrical thinking, I seriously thought of living in his house and renting mine since with his type of thinking I could use all of my rental income to help cover my share living expenses and thereby have extra money to enjoy.

   One option is for us to buy a house together but with California Prop 13 we have had a difficult time finding a house that cost less than either of our houses and if we buy a house that costs more we will pay much higher property taxes due to the tax laws. Also, there is the cost to sell our houses and buying a house we both own and we really like my house and would rather not move at this time.

   We are both widowed and have children from our first marriages. So the money issue also affects our children since our children will inherit our money. Many couples at our age do not combine their money if they have children from a previous marriage. It makes it very difficult to fairly distribute their assets to their children upon their death. Since we both are widowed half our money originally was our previous spouses who both wish their money to eventually go to their children, not to another woman or man and perhaps to their children. Therefore, to be fair to our previous deceased spouses, it is important to not be unfair with the use of their money or assets.

   This money problem has made it difficult for us to be sure our marriage will last since we have had little progress even after going to marriage counseling. This makes buying a house together at this time a difficult choice. Selling both our houses and buying a house together is a big decision when a marriage is not on a solid foundation. I want us to share both houses until we feel our marriage is solid enough for us to sell our houses and buy a house together.

   Any suggestions would be appreciated.

   • ANSWER:
     My ADHD just kicked in and I gotta go take my medicine then I’ll be back to help you save your marriage–wait for me?

     (THIS is the modified version?)

10. QUESTION:
    Hairline stucco cracks on exterior walls around the house?
    Hi,

    I am putting in an offer for this one foreclosure home. The house was built in 2005 here in Norther California, so it’s fairly new. The only concern I have is that there are many hairline size cracks on the exterior walls. Except for the front wall, the side and back walls has at least 8-10 hairline size cracks with length from 2 – 6 feet. There’s one crack that’s larger than most and it’s below the run horizontally below the window with the size of the 5 mm pencil lead. The house has some of its interior walls just repainted very recent (I still see the taping and the smell). Would you think these are just some sort of a cover-up from the banks? Could there be problems? Also, if I would hire the home inspections, what kinds of inspection should i be focusing on? Please help as I am very concern about this.

    Thank you very much for your help answering these!

    • ANSWER:
      Normally cracks are evidence of a stressed wall. The stress could be just thermal from excessive heating or cooling as when a mixture is put on too dry or dries out too fast, but the concern is that it will be an indication of a settling foundation.

      You have to know what kind of stucco you have on the house. If it was masonry over an expanded wire mesh I would be more concerned than if it were a thin coat over foam boards.

      For an on site inspection you might consider a general contractor or a masonry contractor. In some situations you may wish to have a foundation engineer. While the “home inspectors” I have encountered have been good at a general review of the home their individual expertise for a particular condition seems to vary. I have found that they are better at spotting conditions than saying how serious it is or the underlying causes, solutions, or cost to repair. Ultimately it is the cost to repair that you are most concerned with.

11. QUESTION:
    Rough estimate of how much it would it take to fix up this rental property?
    Link is to a detailed pdf of what a home inspector took note of. I know contractors can be expensive, do you think it could cost more then 15-20k to repair it? Any tips or advice on this would be great, I’m 22 and this will be my first real estate purchase.

    https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0BxQvCtf6ktIcODBjMGIyMzQtNGE0OS00Y2I3LTkwZjMtMzA3OTI4MGU1ZDVi&hl=en&authkey=CKLks4AM

    • ANSWER:
      Thats gruesome. I guess all of us started somewhere.

      But the foundation troubles alone gives me pause.

      In California 50K wouldn’t fix that property.

      First time buyers need cosmetic fixers; OK bones–roof, foundation, plumbing electrical.

      Old paint, appliances and fixtures — all easily replaced and provide bang for the buck.

12. QUESTION:
    Need to know : Is this thing a drain?
    I have a block foundation and it is leaking.

    One contractor came and said if this thing in the floor isn’t a drain (the floor has been tiled, before I bought it) then I need a sump pump for the drainage (which I don’t want).

    Another one I talked to said they would charge me 0 to come and see if it is a drain (but put it toward the cost of doing the job if they got it).

    It sticks up out of the basement laundry room floor about 4 inches and has a round top on it. There is a round flap in the top you can push down. It looks to be as old as the house, 40 years. I could send a photo of it for confirmation if anyone is really experienced with plumbing.
    I will gladly take a pic and send it if I know where to send it!

    • ANSWER:
      It sounds like a drain with a damper to trap any sewer gasses.
      But 4″ up from the ground?
      Yes, a picture would help.

      Edit-
      To Dennis M,
      I’ve been doing plumbing work for more than 25yrs professionally for a living.
      I’ve gone to school and taken the test to get my Contractor’s License which is is good standing with the California State Licensing Board.
      I believe I’m qualified to give “me” an educated answer to her question; unlike someone who only does his own home repairs.

13. QUESTION:
    What does is a buyer obligated to fix with a seller’s FHA loan?
    We’re selling our house and the buyer’s realtor has come up with a nice list of things that need to be fixed before the FHA appraiser comes to appraise the house. The items include fixing the paint (where we scraped it but didn’t paint it) on a window sill outside, installing GFCI outlets in a couple locations, and fixing a cracked window (which would require replacement because of the condition of the frame.)

    So – first, will the cracked window likely be flagged by an FHA appraiser (it’s a double pane, cracked on only the outside side.)

    Also, *and more importantly* what is our obligation as a seller to pay for the buyer’s FHA repairs? Obviously, they could walk away, but is it reasonable to ask them to pay for these repairs?

    Thanks!

    • ANSWER:
      Your obligation is whatever you agreed to in the purchase contract and how badly you want to sell your property. Just remember, chances are if the first buyer passes on your property so will the next buyer if you are unwilling to sell the property in a livable standard. Most FHA buyers are purchasing on a wing and a prayer. Other words, they have just enough money to purchase your home with the down payment and closing costs. They don’t have the money to make repairs.

      Cracked windows don’t have to repaired, broken window do. Here in California, hot water heaters must be strapped down.

      Required Repairs: Required repairs are limited to those repairs necessary to preserve the continued marketability of the property and to protect the health and safety of the occupants, A.K.A. the three S’s:

      Safety: protect the health and safety of the occupants

      Security: protect the security of the property (security for the FHA insured mortgage.)

      Soundness: correct physical deficiencies or conditions affecting structural integrity

      Listed below are the most common repairs or requirements noted by appraisers. These items, I noted by the appraiser, will have to be corrected prior to proceeding to settlement.

      1. Paint. Chipping, peeling paint must be scraped and painted. This includes interior, exterior, garages, sheds, fences, etc.

      2. Windows. Broken windows should be replaced.

      3. Handrails. Handrails should be installed at three or more stairs.

      4. Infestation of any kind should be exterminated and carry a 12 month warranty/ guarantee (i.e., insects, mice, bats, etc.).

      5. Exit Doors. Cracked or damaged exit doors that are otherwise inoperable.

      6. Trip Hazards. i.e. cracked or partially heaving sidewalks, poorly installed carpeting.

      7. Driveway. Lack of an all weather driveway surfaces.

      8. Countertops. Rotten or worn out counter tops.

      9. Inadequate access/ egress from bedrooms to exterior of home.

      10. Flooring. Defective floor finish or covering (worn through the finish, badly soiled carpeting, etc.)

      11. Walls. Damaged plaster, sheet rock or other wall and ceiling materials in homes constructed post- 1978.

      12. Crawl Space. If there is a crawl space, it will be the homeowner’s responsibility to make this area accessible so that it can be thoroughly inspected. All debris and trash in a crawl space has to be removed

      13. Wet Basements. The cause of Wet basements should be cured (i.e., improve drainage away from house, gutters, etc.).

      14. Structural or foundation problems must be repaired. Such as foundation damage caused by excessive settlement, bulging foundation wall or standing water against the foundation.

      15. Well/ Septic. Abandoned inoperable wells must be capped and sealed by a licensed well sealing contractor. A clean well and septic inspection can be required at the discretion of the lender.

      16. Flammable storage tanks must be removed and filler cap sealed from the inside (i.e., buried oil tank).

      17. Poor workmanship.

      18. Roof. Roof should have 2-3 years of useful life remaining and no more than 2 layers of shingles. If the home is over 10 years old, you must remove snow from a large portion of the roof for inspection by the appraiser. A roof certification may be required at the discretion of the lender. Leaking or worn out roofs (if 3 or more layers of shingles on leaking or worn out roof, all existing shingles must be removed before re-roofing).

      19. Plumbing, electrical, heating systems. Electric service must be 60 amp or greater. Electric certification may be required if 60 amp appears to be overloaded (i.e., larger than 1000 sq. feet with many major electrical appliances). Damaged or inoperable plumbing, electric and heating systems should be repaired. The appraiser will check these areas. This includes leaky faucets or running toilets. Any faulty or mechanical systems must be operable prior to settlement.

• Posted in: Uncategorized ♦ home foundation repair cost california