Expert: Hans Weber, Licensed Broker Associate - 3/5/2008

Question
"We found one house (14 yrs old) in Chesterfield, MO and we like it. We
did the inspection. There were a crack in foundation which is visible from
back side of the house. They dig the wall inside which is the the bedroom
in 98%finished basemanet. The crack is almost 10 feet vertical, in the
corner, and almost 2-3 cm wide. The seller is ready to fix it. But I am scared
for future. Will there be any problem like widening the crack, other
cracks or dampening/water leaking? Do you suggest to buy this house."  

Answer
Hello Manisha,

Thank you for your question.

Chesterfield is a nice town.

I am not an engineer, but I have been through hundres of inspection.  You said you had and engineering inspection.  What did the engineer say about the crack?  You need to listen to the inspector.

Anyway, almost anything can be fixed.  Depends on the cost.  If the owner is going to fix/seal it then have the inspector look at it again.

Inspectors usually say vertical cracks are ok.  They are from settling.  Houses usually settle in the first few years.  If they look into the crack for dust to determine if it is widening.  Horizontal cracks are bad because they are from movement sideways.

So, without me seeing it, and knowing your inspector looked at it, I would say you are ok to buy the house.  But be sure you like the house in the first place.

Then just keep an eye on it.

Hans