When in Doubt,
Hire an Inspector
Question: There is an house that I would like to purchase, but it seems like the floor of the house is not level. Evidently this is due to the soil condition. How do you think I should proceed?
Answer: Try this test. Get a large marble and drop it at one corner of a room that you think has an uneven floor. (Don't do this on carpeting.) If the floor is level, the marble should stay pretty much where you dropped it. If the floor is really uneven, the marble will roll in the downhill direction. If the floor is slanted enough to fail the marble test, you should be concerned. Even if it passes the test, but you sense an uneven floor when you walk on it or look at it, you should still check it out.
Q&A: When in doubt about tax ramifications, consult an accountant.
Uneven floors, as long as the problem is not severe, are not of themselves a great worry. Most homes do not have perfectly even floors. However, if the floor is severely uneven, it could bode ill for the future.
Possible problems include broken floor joists, cracked foundation, wet, expansive soil pushing on piers supporting the floor and more. You need a professional home inspector to look at the house and tell you exactly what's causing the problem. More important, is it stabilized, or will it get worse! For more tips on assessing a home's condition, refer to my previous book, Home Inspection Troubleshooter (1995, Dearborn) Publishers, $14.95.
Mr. Irwin has more than 25 years' experience as a Los Angeles-area real-estate broker. He is the author of more than two dozen books about real estate and is recognized as one of the most knowledgeable writers in the real-estate field. Mr. Irwin's most recent book is "Buy Your First Home," (Dearborn, 2000).
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Jerry, Annandale, Va.
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