Consider Alternatives
Before Making Risky Repairs
Question: I own a 60-year-old, two-bedroom Cape Cod with an assortment of problems. Tree roots are pushing in the foundation, the vinyl siding is buckling and I'd like to fix the old brick crawlspace, which is built directly on top of mud. Can I lift the plywood subflooring over occasional joists that may have termites and inject concrete?
In addition, the house is in need of a complete gutting and the bedroom floors are uneven and creaking. The local economy is weak, and housing prices are on the decline, so I'd like to do something as soon as possible. How should I proceed?
Wendy: I'm sorry to say that sometimes, scrapping the house is better than fixing it. From all of the problems you describe, it sounds as though this home simply has outlived its life span.
Deals That Sound Too Good to Be True Usually Are
An old brick foundation on mud is like no foundation at all. If the joists of the home are filled with termites and are only "occasional," then there's really nothing to hang on to, even if you were to try to lift it up to put a new foundation underneath.
My biggest concern is that attempting to do something with this old place might cause it to come tumbling down and injure you or someone else. For that reason, it's not worth trying.
It might be a financial hardship to bite the bullet right now and give up on this property, but in the long run, you'll save money and your health, and gain peace of mind.
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 "Power Tips for Selling a Home for More," (McGraw-Hill, 2000).
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Wendy, Lawrenceville, Ill.
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