A man shared one tip to help prospective homebuyers avoid making the biggest mistake of their life. The answer, he says, lies in the street.
In a repost with more than 813,000 views, TikToker @ffinancial.literacy shared a video from a realtor standing on a road outside a prospective home.
The man explained, “Sometimes when I pull up to a home, I always look at the street to see kinda how it’s cracking, it’s moving… Sometimes that carries to the driveway.”
He pointed toward a crack leading up toward the garage of the home he investigated. He continued walking into the property, following the crack “right up to the foundation.”
“So technically speaking, the foundation isn’t cracked, but let me show you the recourse it can do from inside the house,” he says.
The man proceeded to show where the crack “comes” into the house. In the video, there’s a visible line from where the crack outside on the street came into the house. He showed cracks at the windows, along the chimney, and major cracks in the corners of the home.
There was one consistent crack parallel to the garage, coming straight from the street. He explained that rain, wind, erosion, and other elements from the backyard “canyon view” can eventually wear down the property and cause issues for the building.
“You have to retain that with rafters,” he said while pointing toward a descending slope in the backyard. “Retainment is super important to hold this up.”
@ffinancial.literacy This guy explains how he can see crack in the streets which trace back to fundamental problems in the house #house #cracking #inspection #didyouknow ♬ original sound – financial.literacy
What should homebuyers look for?
There’s a plethora of pitfalls for property buyers to fall through, but erosion control is often overlooked. In areas like California, erosion control is an incredibly important but sometimes overlooked factor. Cracks–on the street, in a garage, or in a home can be a serious sign that renovations need to occur.
This Old House describes the situation, saying, “Foundation cracks are fissures or breaks in a home’s foundation walls or concrete slab. They can range from minor hairline cracks to major structural issues compromising your home’s integrity. Not all cracks cause alarm, but it’s crucial to know how to identify potentially serious problems. Early detection and intervention are key to preventing further damage and costly repairs.”
The website recommends that a homeowner repair cracks that are deeper than ¼ inch. Other cracks that are only ⅛ are hairline cracks and can be fixed for cosmetic purposes. It’s important to keep track of these cracks over time. Hairline cracks can cost $250 to $800, while major foundation fixes can run up to $8,000.
One TikTok commenter joked, “Put extra frosting in the cracks. Always works on my gingerbread house,” but they weren’t far off. Hairline foundation fixes often involve filling with liquid cement.
Other TikTok commenters discussed their personal experiences getting ‘scammed’ by inspectors. One person added, “I have had [three] foundation inspections and all they want to talk about is encapsulation. NOT ONE PERSON mentioned the cracks on the driveway, garage floor, actual home, door frames, nail pops… I wish I had a true inspection.”
The Mary Sue has reached out to @ffinancial.literacy via TikTok direct message to get in touch with the original content creator.
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