All Forum Posts by: Diana K.

thank you @Jonathan Sowinski ! i gave him a call

@David Weir 

 thanks for your response. I had also called your office during one of my visits in May and received no call back but i appreciate you responding now.

Thank you @David Stott and @Mark Del Grosso 

I need a lawyer recommendation to handle some property management issues in the Buffalo NY area. Ive been recommended David Weir but reached out to him twice already with no response. Any help is appreciated. thank you!

@Troy Owen 

 absolutely agree with all of your points, thats why i had 3 contractors come out whom i personally met with, followed by a licensed structural engineer. 

essentially it sounds like the problem was a combination of drainage issues (yes downspouts, gutters, clogged drains etc) as well as an extra rainy/wet winter.

@Bill S. 

 i purchased the property in 2012 and none of the issues existed, neither to my blind inexperienced eye nor according to my inspector. there were certainly no holes in the wall due to water damage as there are now. Which leads me to believe that the problem is still manageable and can be resolved with addressing what i listed above as well as possibly repairing the drain (for which i have to get a plumber in there to examine) 

According to the PE engineer i hired the walls do not need to be replaced as the other contractors stated to me. He said the water thats in the walls just needs to be drained. 

I just wish i could trust contractors that came in there. So far the only person who's opinion I trust is the engineer. 

Im having lots of drainage/foundation issues at one of my properties in Buffalo, NY.

Recently ive found out that due to water/drainage issues i now have water inside the concrete block that needs to be drained and on top of that the sewer trap needs to be replaced (according to results of a scoping). The scoping job was coordinated by my property manager's contractor. I didnt see any kind of report. 

My question is this: should i trust the PM contractor to do the work or should i go around the PM and get quotes from plumbers? I hate doing everything remotely without actually seeing reports or speaking with the person that does the work but at the same time my PM has proven to be pretty trustworthy with decent prices whereas every contractor only has themselves in mind when quoting you. They dont seem to understand that its an investment property and you want to spend the least amount of money, not turn your rental home into some kind of indestructible castle.

 When i had 3 "reputable" contractors come do estimates on the foundation work, i got prices ranging from 20k to 70k  (this property is worth around 40k) after which i contacted a structural engineer who basically disputed everything all of them said. 

any advice or personal experiences with this greatly appreciated!

scratch that already found one!

update

Just returned from buffalo. I obtained 3 estimates from reputable companies. Basically one thing all 3 said in common is that I need a new drainage system put in (a drain tile system and a sump pump). However they all had something different to say regarding the bowing walls. First guy said I need both side walls completely replaced. Second guy said only part of one wall, the third guy said they just need to be reinforced. Go figure! So now I want to have a non biased structural engineer come to take a look at the walls then I will decide . Anyone have any recommendations for a structural engineer by chance? My price quotes were from 10k to 70k!!!

I set up for 3 more estimates next week by companies that only do foundation /basement work.  Will be making a trip to buffalo! Sigh... 

thanks gentlemen! 

I have photos.  Most of them don't show me anything. I see slight bowing but since I'm not a foundation expert I don't really see it as severe.  I called for a second estimate already and will get a few more.