Cracked Foundation

[Kristina Modares]

Hi everyone!

I own a rental home in Mableton, Georgia and I recently received a letter from my insurance company that said "foundation has cracking/missing foundation. Debris under screened porch" and that I have one month to address.

Is this normal? The property is livable, will all insurance companies also require to fix the foundation? I tried to get in touch with the inspector they hired but the insurance agent won't allow it. Any feedback would be appreciated, thank you! 

[Marcia Maynard]

Foundations are one of the most important components of structures. Arrange for the building to be professionally inspected and fix issues as you become aware of them. If the insurance company sees this as a risk to them, it is likely a risk to you as well. Many people live in buildings that have defects, but it is not always a good idea to do so.

About insurance companies... their requirements will vary. We insure all of our properties via a really good insurance broker who has access to many insurance products. We are able to have candid conversations with our broker and make the best selection to meet our needs. I recommend you find a good insurance broker. Safeco is the insurer for most of our holdings. We have also insured with USAA on our own.

About the issue at hand and the short time frame to remedy.... everything is negotiable, so if you find you need more time to remedy, ask for more time. Even if you use that time to find a new insurer. The easiest thing to do is to clear the debris and get a foundation specialist out there to assess the structural situation. It could be a relatively small repair that is needed, since you and your tenants haven't noticed a problem, or it may be the start of something big. Address it now. Nothing to be alarmed about. The insurance inspector may have done you a favor by catching something that really needs to be addressed.