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Updated about 6 years ago,
Varying recommendations on foundation work - buy or not?
Hi - we are under contract for a sfh, supposed to close on Friday. Our inspector recommended we have the foundation looked at because the kitchen is obviously unlevel. The house had 3 piers put in under the garage (opposite side of the house) in 2015, which has a lifetime transferable warranty. We had that company and a foundation company recommended by a friend come out to look at the foundation. The company with the warranty said that we do not need foundation work. The other company recommended 5 piers.
Few days later the appraiser for our mortgage company requested a structural engineer report for the foundation - we had not told them anything yet regarding foundation. I found an engineer - he recommends 7 piers and a leak test. Granted, this guy works in the "engineering department" of a foundation company. The seller's agent isn't thrilled with all of this foundation discussion and decided she wanted to get her own engineer. Lo and behold, he doesn't recommend any foundation work or a leak test.
It seems like everyone involved in this situation has incentive to come up with the results they've come up with. What should we do? You can see that the kitchen is not level just by looking at it, and we don't want this to be an issue when we try to sell. This is a house that we plan to live in for a few years, fix up, and either rent it out or sell. I would really love any guidance here!