9 Things That Fail a Home Inspection

Foundation Problems

A problematic foundation can have bowing walls, horizontal cracks or sinking corners. While these may be due to age or improper installation, Saltzman finds soil and drainage issues are often to blame.

“If you have a bunch of water that pools around the foundation, that can exert a tremendous amount of pressure on the foundation,” Saltzman says. “You end up with walls bowing in, and you end up with cracks.”

Adds Towne: “Horizontal cracks are a big red flag. There’s something structurally not right if you’re getting that type of crack or that type of movement.”

While Saltzman admits it’s unusual to have to entirely rebuild a foundation, even specialized reinforcements and repairs can cost in the tens of thousands of dollars.