On average, repairs can range from $3,500 to almost $15,000. This can depend on the severity of the damage. Minor crack repair can cost approximately $1,000 while extensive slab foundation repair can cost $10,000 or even more. If you cannot afford these out-of-pocket expenses, especially if the plan is to sell the house, you can sell it as-is to a cash buyer like High Noon Home Buyers. You can make a clean exit without worrying about spending money on repairs beforehand.
Another early morning, another property to check out in Columbia. Only this time, I knew right away that something was wrong with the foundation the moment I arrived. Part of the house had buckled to the point where it seemed obvious. The homeowner, who inherited it from a deceased relative, told me that he was planning to sell the house but the foundation repair was going to cost him $20,000.
“At this point, I’d rather let this house fall apart instead of trying to sell it,” he told me. I told him that there wasn’t any need to allow that to happen. When I mentioned that he could sell his house in as-is condition, he was happy to oblige. Yes, you can sell your house in Irmo with a foundation that is cracked or is in desperate need for repair. A professional cash home buyer is the kind you need to make sure you get the cleanest exit possible.
My team and I at High Noon Home Buyers have seen houses fall apart both inside, outside, and on the foundation. So you don’t need to worry about foundation repairs costing you a small fortune. Nor do you need to worry about picky buyers that are looking for the perfect home within the Columbia housing market.
I’ve lived here in Columbia for a long time. Long enough to know that the shifting clay soil, humidity, heavy rainfall, and moisture fluctuations are enough to cause plenty of problems for homes here in the area especially with the summer climate. I’ve even seen homes built decades ago have foundation issues because of the things I’ve mentioned. Here’s the thing, when you spot warning signs that threaten your foundation, don’t dismiss them as no big thing. Because they’re going to cost you a lot in the future.
Having seen many houses in and around the Columbia area, I can tell you what the most common signs of foundation problems are. I’ve seen things like this:
I had a client in Irmo tell me that their biggest mistake was ignoring a small crack in their hallway for close to two years. It got to the point where moisture damage underneath the crawl space had been done. Several floor joists were rotted and a structural engineer said that the homeowner was looking at about $15,000 in repairs. “How could I have been so careless,” he asked me.
As one of the professional home buyers in Dentsville that won’t bat an eyelash at rotted floor joists, we’ll make sure you get a fair cash offer. It’s a lot better than having to deal with buyers who will be sorely disappointed by what they find inside and eventually kill the deal on the spot.
All right, so I think I threw out some example numbers about the average cost of foundation repair in Columbia. But if I hadn’t said it before, I’ll say it again. Minor cracks cost far less to repair compared to major ones. So I’d be at least vigilant to have someone investigate the small crack you see on the foundation rather than ignore it.
So let’s say for instance you have a hairline crack on your foundation. It’ll be roughly $500 to $1,500 on average. Such repairs prevent moisture intrusion but they don’t correct major structural movement. On the other hand, the larger cracks hint at deeper issues that go on underneath the home. Those costs rise fast when there is settling, shifting, or hydrostatic pressure discovered by a contractor.
A patch for a crack isn’t going to be your best solution moving forward. You’ll know that for sure the day you’ll notice the wall beginning to bow due to a moving foundation. It’s not just that. You also have to contend with what’s going on with the crawl space.
Another client I bought a house from had a crawl space that badly needed repairs. To the point where it could cost him about $7,000. That’s usually within the average range from $4,000 to $8,000. Anyway, I checked it out for myself and it was pretty bad to see floor joists that were rotted and quite a large amount of mold. Yes, crawl spaces do get pretty moist thanks to the humidity here in South Carolina.
That excess moisture not only causes rotting floor joists and mold growth, there’s also the sagging floors, deteriorated wood, and structural instability. And let’s not forget what is needed to repair that damage and then some. We’re talking:
Then you have slab foundation repairs that may be needed. Those are obviously the most expensive kind of foundation repairs. Because concrete slabs settle unevenly, contractors can recommend things like:
While such repairs to physically lift and stabilize the home, they can cost anywhere from $8,000 to $15,000. I’ve seen repair bills for slab foundations go a lot higher than that. $20,000 for severe structural movement? Oh yeah, that’s definitely a thing. If you are a homeowner that is struggling financially, it isn’t worth it to save up enough money to get it repaired. So selling the house could be your best option so you can start fresh with a reasonable cash offer in Columbia.
Short answer: No. Unless of course you are willing to invest in the significant amount of time and money it takes to get it done. I don’t think it makes sense to fix a foundation before selling if you don’t have the funds. If the home has substantial equity and you have available cash, then by all means, get the repairs done. But let me level with you here:
Just because you spend $12,000 on foundational repairs doesn’t mean the home’s value increases by $12,000. Of course, you’re just spending a lot of money on a home that could sit on the market for a lengthy period of time. You’ll still be spending money on property taxes, homeowners insurance, and who knows what else. If I were you, I’d consider the idea of selling it to a home buyer that will give you a cash offer in as little as 7 to 14 days.
One thing I should discuss is that a home on the traditional market that has structural damage isn’t going to do you any good. As for traditional buyers who may be interested, FHA, VA, or conventional lenders are going to say no way. Structural damage can deny a buyer that financing that is necessary for buying a home. Lenders can require structural engineering reports, clearance documentation, additional inspections, and even completed repairs.
The alternative I offer you is a no-brainer. When it comes to stage vs selling as-is, selling to a cash buyer like High Noon Home Buyers is the easiest decision you can make. Especially when the house has foundation problems. How our process works is simple: you call us and we perform a property discovery. Then we give you a cash offer that is reasonable. Simply put, this option is perfect as it shifts your mindset from “I can’t fix this” to “I’ll have someone else fix it”. And yes, we will make sure it gets fixed.
Yes. South Carolina law requires sellers to disclose known material defects. These include structural and foundation issues on the Residential Property Condition Disclosure Statement. If you try to hide it, it can lead to failed inspections and even possible legal trouble.
Absolutely. Cash buyers and investors do not rely on strict bank appraisals. When selling a house as is with foundation issues to High Noon Home Buyers, we factor the repair costs into our cash offer, allowing for a fast, guaranteed closing.
Don’t let a sinking foundation drain your savings. Contractor estimates are higher than ever before. Why spend all that money trying to get it fixed when you can sell to a home buyer that will let you get the clean exit you deserve. High Noon Home Buyers is ready to help and make sure the house is off your hands and the least of your worries. Schedule a 15 minute property discovery with us now.
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