When it comes to your home, the foundation is a big deal. It’s what holds everything up and keeps your house standing strong. When damage starts at the foundation, it can ripple through the whole structure—bringing costly repairs with it. If you’re thinking about selling a house with foundation issues, here’s what you need to know.
Common types of foundations in Boston
In Boston, houses are usually built on one of a few types of foundations:
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Slab foundation: A flat layer of concrete poured right onto the ground. This type is common in newer houses.
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Crawl space foundation: Raised off the ground, allowing easy access to pipes and wiring.
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Basement foundation: Offers extra living or storage space below the house.
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Pier and beam foundation: Uses beams and supporting piers to hold the home up, often found in historic houses.
Each foundation type has its benefits and drawbacks, depending on the local soil, weather, and building style.
What causes foundation problems?
There are a lot of reasons why you might end up with foundation damage:
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Water accumulation: Too much or too little moisture around the foundation can cause the soil to expand or shrink.
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Clay soil: Clay expands when wet and shrinks when dry, which puts pressure on your foundation.
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Plumbing leaks: Hidden plumbing issues can cause cracks that eventually lead to a serious leak in your foundation.
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Tree roots: Big trees can suck the moisture out of the soil and make it unstable.
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Floods or poor drainage: Water pooling around your home can lead to damage to the foundation.
Signs you may have foundation issues
Spotting foundation damage early can save you a lot of money. Here are some red flags to watch for:
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Foundation cracks: Cracks in walls, floors, or ceilings.
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Water in the basement: Signs of moisture can mean leaks.
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Sticking doors and windows: If they’re suddenly hard to open, it could be a sign your house is settling.
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Warped siding: If the outside of your home looks uneven, it could be a sign of structural problems.
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Sagging floor: A noticeable dip or slope in your floors could point to structural instability. Try the marble test—if it rolls on its own, your floors might not be level.
If you see any of these signs, it's a good idea to have a professional check it out.
How to fix your foundation issues
Fixing a foundation isn’t usually a DIY project. It’s smart to call in a structural engineer first to assess the situation. They’ll look for cracks, water damage, and shifts in your home’s structure. They also inspect the soil and load-bearing parts of the house.
Once they finish, you’ll know how serious the damage is and what kind of foundation repairs you might need.
After the inspection, you can get quotes from contractors. According to Angi.com, the average cost of foundation repairs in Boston is around $5,000, but more complex problems can cost much more.
Can you sell a house with foundation problems?
Selling a home with foundation problems is possible—you just need to know your options. You could:
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Fix the foundation before you sell: This can make your property easier to sell and get you a higher price, but it can be expensive.
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Sell it "as is" with concessions: You can list your house on the traditional market and offer money to buyers to help cover the cost of repairs.
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Sell your home "as is" to a direct buyer: This is where a company like We Buy Ugly Houses® comes in. When you sell to a direct home buyer like us, you won’t have to worry about fixing anything before selling.
If you’re planning on offloading a house with structural concerns without making repairs, just know that you might not get top dollar—but you’ll save time, effort, and a lot of stress.
Sell your house “as is” with We Buy Ugly Houses®
If fixing your foundation sounds like more hassle than it’s worth, We Buy Ugly Houses® can help. We specialize in buying homes that need repairs—including ones with foundation problems.
With our 3-step home-selling process, we can take you from offer to closing quickly, sometimes in as little as 3 weeks. When you sell to us, you don’t have to make repairs, clean, or deal with open houses and real estate listings. We pay typical closing costs and don’t charge commissions or hidden fees.†
One of our local property specialists will visit your home for a free, no-pressure consultation. Sometimes, we can even make you an offer on the spot. We’ve bought over 150,000 houses, and we’re proud to have a 95%* customer satisfaction rating nationwide.
If you’re ready to skip the stress of selling with repairs, contact We Buy Ugly Houses® in Boston today. We can help you move forward quickly and easily.
This blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
