Complicated Inspection Report Findings and Need Foundation Help

[David Y M.]

I just had an inspection report on a home, and there are some issues that worry me. The previous owner had foundation work done to home, but he has poor records and does not have documentation of it being done - easy to say probably no transferable warranty unless I call up every foundation person in the Dallas area and check; however, I'm not even sure if the foundation was repaired correctly to begin with.

Problem/Question: We sent in a lower offer, and came to agreement that no major repairs to be done. What is the best way to approach this issue to seller with findings without pissing them off? Are these red flags to warrant backing out completely?

Findings in Report

1. Weirdly Elevated Room: The structural engineer (SE) said that that 1 room in the house had a differential elevation of 3+ inches. He suspects the contractor who installed the piers did a bad job and elevated the home way too high in that corner. They remodeled the home and retextured the walls, so if we were to "fix" that corner of the home it would throw everything else out of whack and we need to essentially redo the work that was already done. However, it does not adversely impact the structural integrity of the home. It will just be annoying because the floors are uneven in that room. Should I be worried about this if I do move forward with this purchase?

SE recommended we just remove the mature trees as that would be best solution.

2. Root in Sewer Line: There is a root from a mature tree partially obstructing the sewer line next to the sidewalk. Quoted 2k to fix it. How urgent is this to be fixed? Don't want sewage coming back up into my home.

3. Other: Zinsco electrical panel, other small plumbing jobs, sealing jobs, and handyman work.