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Nathan Gesner, Broker / Property Manager (American West Realty and Management)

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Rainmaker
508,318
Joseph Domino 480-390-6011
HomeSmart - Scottsdale, AZ
Real Estate Made Easy

We have had this happen often here in AZ. Here, the problem is caused by the builder not properly compacting the soil before pouring the slab.  While in most cases it can be repaired, it is costly. They have to remove large sections of the slab and re-pour it.

It is also a disclosure item and that pretty much stigmitizes the property.  The value of these homes drops dramatically.

Sep 06, 2017 10:02 AM
Ambassador
5,230,113
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Yes, I JUST terminated a deal that had that very issue. The SE said that the clay soil is expanding and contracting, and the settlement crack will continue to worsen.

We even had our contractor go out to give us an estimate to repair, just in case raising the home and re-setting the foundation wasn't going to be too costly. The cost wound up being considerable and the buyers are willing to take that on.

Sep 06, 2017 08:36 PM
Rainmaker
1,525,616
Sybil Campbell
Fernandina Beach, FL
Referral Agent Amelia Island Florida

That is a real problem that probably will need to be solved by a structural engineer.

Sep 06, 2017 11:37 AM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I have seen this just a couple of times Nathan Gesner and often wondered how to deal with it properly so thank you for asking the question. I like what you said about getting it to it's maximized expanded state and then building on that... it makes sense.

Sep 06, 2017 11:19 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

wow.... since when is construction built on material that is not properly designated as load bearing.... when the ground moves, everything moves.... that's why builders use footers....

Sep 06, 2017 10:21 AM
Ambassador
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Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     We have areas with pipe clay... it cause major settling, cracks in the slab.  We have to call in a structural engineer and a contractor; they decide how to remedy it.

Sep 06, 2017 08:31 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

$$$ seems to be the solution in the answers: builder warranty?

Sep 06, 2017 07:43 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Nathan, You answered your own question.  I don't have a degree in this kind of issue, and the experts matter. A

Sep 06, 2017 07:07 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

I have no experience with clay floors - I know if it were wood subflooring I would rip it out and relay the sub floor

Sep 06, 2017 05:31 PM
Ambassador
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Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Disclose and get it fixed.

Sep 06, 2017 02:33 PM
Rainer
417,221
Caroline Gerardo
Licensed in 20 states - Newport Beach, CA
C. G. Barbeau the Loan Lady nmls 324982

To answer the question, photos of foundation type needed. I guess is slab- jack up house, cut through the slab, maybe mud jack,  core down, remove 3 or 4 feet of clay, stabilize the existing soil, underpin maybe, add re-bar and piers which will level it back, examine foundation walls under the soil level, come up with plan to make water flow away from house - and snow in your neck of the woods, could add french drains (cheap) could add sump pump could add the new electronic water measuring meters that ping your iphone, grout up seal up keep moisture out... But drought may have cause the clay change and may cause cracking in everything.  Think of a marble on the kitchen floor that rolls to the other side of the house.  If house has crawl space it's cheaper to fix. If basement more pricey. 1000 square feet general cost about $11000 if the walls don't crack when you jack it up. 

Here's the real pickle: If you disclose in contracts lender is going to want to see it cured. If you don't disclose buyer is in poor house if has other damage. 

Perhaps buy with construction loan and licensed contractors

I would stay away from DIY with a 203k loan it might cost more than the $30000 you can get with that FHA product.

All things are fixable, it's how much it costs and how long it takes to cure

Sep 06, 2017 01:20 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,409
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Not an issue in my area. I am clueless on this one!

Sep 06, 2017 12:40 PM
Rainmaker
312,495
Susan McCall - - Compass Realty Solutions
Compass Realty Solutions - Portland, OR
Listing and Buyer's Agent

We build mostly on footing and the home is not built on slab, this is probably because of the amount of rain we get in our area.  I have lived in areas where the slab is the basis of the home.  I would run away from this house because of the problems that could come up in the process that fixing the identified problem and it could excalate.  

Sep 06, 2017 12:09 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,379
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

I have no experience with this.

Sep 06, 2017 11:38 AM
Ambassador
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Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Haven't run across that issue. Ours tend to be soil movement that causes cracked slabs, etc. althugh occasionall I have head of builders not correctly compacting the soil. Will be interested to hear about the solution.

Sep 06, 2017 10:54 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

We have red clay earth here, Nathan... but this is a new one on me and I wouldn't opine in your position. A structural engineer will need to provide solutions to the floor. 

Sep 06, 2017 10:25 AM
Rainmaker
911,338
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

What is floor made out of ? Concrete? Wood? etc?

Footers should have been dug 4' to 6' deep. If they poured during dry spell, or water is getting under house and swelling up - Could be from tree roots, improper gutter / downspout configuration, no sump pump, and no drain tile under the slab, etc. Not enough soil removed before prepping slab to pour. No expansion joint around perimiter of slab.

 Most likely demo will be required, and slab replaced. Some piers might need to be dug. We usually go 4' or more deep depending on the soil tests.

Sep 06, 2017 09:58 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,554
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

We have expansive soil also, but have not had just the floor buckle, maybe because we have basements.  Would have to listen to what the engineer had to say, and the comfort level of the buyer.    

Sep 09, 2017 08:07 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

No idea.

Sep 09, 2017 04:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

After the fact, only fixing the problems as far as I know (from experience).

Sep 07, 2017 01:57 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,705
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Is it because of the weather on real wood wood climate change effects it

 

Sep 07, 2017 01:52 PM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

No experience with expansive clay. And I thought I had problems

Sep 07, 2017 12:03 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I've never heard of this problem.

Sep 07, 2017 08:36 AM
Ambassador
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Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Parked and Reading.  Interesting stuff here. 

Sep 07, 2017 06:39 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

never heard of this ?

Sep 07, 2017 03:59 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

No personal experience with this...

Sep 07, 2017 03:50 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Nathan Gesner - a few good answers here...

Sep 06, 2017 10:30 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

we mostly have red clay and crawl space homes in my market and I've never had an issue of anything buckling beyond actual flooring (hardwoods or laminate) that had been wet or installed before having time to season in the house.

Sep 06, 2017 09:12 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

I have seen the reverse happen when soil gets so dry and settles resulting in foundation settling, slippage and cracking walls. 

Sep 06, 2017 07:40 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

They have very expensive to apply type liquid cement injected into the soil that does the expanding as well as the solidifying to cure future movement. As far as grading an existing floor, I am reminded of what gophers can do under the house if left alone. They dig up the ground until all crawl space is eliminated making you have to tunnel in and re-grade to put it all back. Some people have to cut holes in existing flooring to access

Sep 06, 2017 05:58 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Never had this issue

Sep 06, 2017 05:46 PM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

We do not have expansive clay,  but do have settling issues with some homes. I have seen pilings put it as well as concrete. Cant wait to hear what your remedy ends up being

Sep 06, 2017 05:03 PM