People who are shopping for a home, brand-new homeowners, and those who have owned their home for years all have one thing in common: they want their home to retain its value. Simply put, homebuyers and homeowners want to protect the investment they’re making. And that means paying attention to what’s beneath the house feet — the home’s foundation.
Keeping the foundation in top shape helps your home’s value every time. So it pays to protect it and ensure it is doing its job. At Edens Structural Solutions, we believe you should feel confident in your home foundation. That’s why we have helped over 200,000 homeowners throughout the Tulsa area to restore their foundation and retain a good home value.
Here’s a closer look at the three ways the condition of your home’s foundation affects the resale value of your home.
Curb Appeal
One of the chief ways a home’s value is determined is how it appears. After all, first impressions matter. And this goes beyond the paint color and pretty flower bed to details such as your roof’s condition, proper drainage and more, because all these features add up to a home that’s safe and secure — or not. So, the attractiveness of your home, inside and out, has a strong impact on how prospective purchasers see the value of your home.
If the chimney is tilting, the front porch is sagging, or the windows and doors look ajar, visitors to your house will think less of it. Inside, cracks above doors and windows, gaps between walls and ceilings, and sloping floors can make guests or prospective buyers concerned about your dwelling’s current condition. All these visual cues are signs there may be a foundational, structural issue in need of tending.
So, take a close look at your home, inside and outside. Be honest with yourself, because if you’re seeing problems, it’s a good idea to address them and protect your investment. If you’re not sure how serious the issues are, a professional foundation inspection will reveal what your home needs.
Repair Costs
The value of your home depends in part on what issues around the house are in need of some fixing. From walls that need painting and old windows that look drab to more serious concerns like sinking floors around leaky plumbing or basements and crawl spaces that are leaky and moldy, imperfections lessen the overall appraisal of a house.
Of course, if you’re selling or buying a home right now, anything in need of repair is an immediate concern to address. It will affect the listing price, the details in the contract, and any contingencies that could make or break the deal from going through.
But even if you are happily settled in a home you’ve lived in for years and plan to keep for years more, don’t ignore signs of structural damage. Foundational issues should be addressed as soon as you notice them, because letting them sit unaddressed can lead to the issues getting worse. Foundation damage will not improve by itself, and tends to build over time.
Related Damage
Unfortunately, when your home foundation is not functioning at its best, it begins to affect other areas of your home, both structurally and aesthetically. Many homeowners don’t realize it, but the foundation’s condition can affect everything else about your dwelling.
Remember, your house is built on what is beneath it. A weakened, damaged or improperly laid foundation can impact the way doors and windows open and close, whether floors are firm or sagging, the formation of unsightly cracks in walls, tilted chimneys that prevent the fireplace from being used, leaks in basements or crawl spaces that lead to mold, mildew, and pest infestations — and a whole host of other issues that make a home uncomfortable and potentially unsafe.
Foundation damage chips away at your home value, lowering it so that you can’t capitalize on your investment as well as you should be able to.
Address Foundation Issues as Soon as Possible
There is no need to stress about your home value, as long as you take the proper steps and precautions to keep it working as it should. Regular foundation inspections, especially if you’re noticing signs of damage or are preparing to buy or sell a house, can go a long way toward preserving your home’s worth, its safety, and its beauty.
When you’re ready to learn more about your home foundation or when you need a detailed, accurate assessment of any issues and what it would take to make repairs, we are here to help. Check out our foundation slab repair options, or contact Edens Structural Solutions for a consultation — and have a home that makes you confident and proud for years to come.
