Leaky basements can lead to a whole range of other problems.
Leaky basements can spell big trouble, especially if you want to sell your home. Lying about the problem on disclosure forms or cosmetically covering it up can lead to potentially bigger problems if the new owner discovers that you intentionally deceived her on a home disclosure form. You could face a lawsuit that will make the cost of fixing the problem correctly in the first place seem like a trivial expense. To solve the problem, first discover what is causing the water leakage, then either fix it or sell the house as is, offering an allowance for the problem.
Instructions
1. Remove any standing water in the basement, thoroughly dry out the area with fans and then identify the source of the problem. A backed-up sewer drain or water backing into a basement window sill will be easy to spot. Look, too, for obvious things such as clogged gutters on the roof, which leads to improper drainage that can seep into the basement. Gutter downspouts that are not extended far enough can also cause water to pool around the foundation.
2. Step up your search for the source of the problem if a simple solution cannot be identified. If this is a recurring issue, then think back to the circumstances under which the basement has leaked in the past. Drainage issues can often be fixed by contouring the yard around the foundation or installing a French drain to allow water to flow away from the house. If the issue is something more serious, such as water penetrating the basement walls through an a crack, even though the source of the water is unknown, you still may be able to take care of the problem yourself.
3. Call in an expert for an evaluation and estimate for repairs if the problem is more serious than you thought. If water is leaking into the basement where the wall meets the floor, the problem may not be surface water from rain or melting snow. Chances are, the problem is caused by hydrostatic pressure pushing groundwater in through weak points in joints. A professional should be able to identify this problem. Check your insurance policy, but there is a good chance the problem may not be covered.
4. Search for any hidden damage caused from water leaking into your basement. Once the leakage problem is solved, you should inspect the basement for additional damage. Much of the damage can go unseen, especially if your basement is finished. Mold growing in carpet padding or in walls, structural damage caused by water to drywall and studs, flooring, electrical outlets and damage to cement and foundations from standing water are just a few of the ways that basement flooding can create serious problems.
5. Decide what your best option is for marketing your home, whether to pay for expensive repairs, if insurance will not cover the costs, or to offer the home as is with an allowance from your proceeds of the sale to give the buyer money to fix the basement, based on a contractor's bid. If you do not have the money to make the repairs, you may have no alternative but to offer an allowance. Be forewarned that buyers may be reluctant to purchase a home with a potentially serious basement problem. Unless your property boasts unique features or a location that overrides the flooding problem, you could be in for a long time on the market.
6. Prepare your seller disclosure forms with total honesty. If the problem has been fixed, say so. Keep receipts, engineering reports or any other documentation, including a warranty for the work, so that you can anticipate any buyer's concerns. Make the documentation readily available for inspection along with other information on the house and neighborhood in a "buyer's book" on the kitchen counter. Yes, the burden is on the buyer to prove that you had prior knowledge of the leakage problem, should you chose to hide the problem, but losing a lawsuit and having to pay damages can be an expensive proposition.
Tags: into basement, around foundation, damage caused, disclosure forms, home with, leakage problem, leaking into
