Herndon Home Inspections

I recently completed a home inspection in Herndon, VA. My client had already purchased and moved into their home, but had encountered a few concerns that led them to contact me and schedule a home inspection.

I arrived at this Herndon home inspection and started inspecting the exterior. Several cracks in the brick veneer immediately caught my attention. The pattern of cracking, as well as the obvious settlement and heaving of these cracks was not a good sign. Without ever walking into the home, it seemed likely that there was a significant foundation issue (are foundation issues ever insignificant?).

I moved to complete the interior of this Herndon, VA home inspection. I started in the basement with the mechanical room. As I finished evaluating the water heater, I went to inspect the foundation walls and exposed slab. The continued pattern of cracks led me to believe further that there were some foundation concerns. This Herndon, VA home inspection had uncovered differential settlement between the left and right sides of the home. The results were cracking brick veneer, cracks in the foundation walls, and cracks in the slab. I had yet to inspect the upstairs levels of the home, but I was sure that there would be evidence of drywall cracks or drywall repairs as well as buckling floors, etc.

I continued to complete my Herndon, VA home inspection after taking pictures and documenting the potential foundation concerns. I moved upstairs to the area of the home above the cracking foundation and found several doors that had been filed down to allow them to open and shut completely, two areas of buckled hardwood floors, and cracked tile in the master bathroom. The paint in this area was relatively fresh, so it was hard to determine if the drywall had been repaired.

I completed the Herndon, VA home inspection and I recommended that my client consult with a foundation specialist to determine if the settlement was ongoing. If the settlement has stopped and the home owner is comfortable with the effects on livability, no repair may be necessary. Repairs and adjustments can be made inside the home to accommodate normal function. If the home is currently settling, repairs made to the interior of the home will not restore normal function because the home will settle away from the repairs.

My client scheduled the foundation consultant to complete his Herndon, VA home inspection three days later. The settlement appeared to be ongoing and a system of repairs was recommended. The estimated cost for the foundation underpinning was in excess of $20,000!

Unfortunately, this Herndon, VA home inspection was completed on a home that had been foreclosed after being offered as a short sale. That meant that the bank was not required or expected to disclose potential foundation issues as a typical seller would.

What seemed like a great opportunity for my client has turned into a nightmare. The home is certainly still livable, but they will have to disclose this foundation defect when they attempt to resell the home. Even if they complete the recommended repairs, this condition is still something that should be disclosed prior to completing the sale. This Herndon, VA home will be difficult to sell as a result.

Foreclosures and “as-is” homes can offer a great opportunity. This great opportunity, however, can quickly turn into a significant burden. It is critically important to have foreclosures and short sales completely inspected to ensure that you are completely protected. This Herndon, VA home inspection illustrates just how serious the consequences of not having a qualified home inspector assist you can be.