Homeowners put their houses on the market for a lot of reasons, including moving into a bigger home or starting a new life in a different city. Once the house is on the market, homeowners usually want it to sell as quickly as possible so they can move on to the next chapter of their lives.

A foundation issue will be a major disrupter in that process. Unfortunately, foundation problems are a fact of life for many homeowners. So, if you want to sell your house anytime soon, look into the state of its foundation.

Home Inspection and Your Foundation

While a few potential homebuyers are willing to purchase a house without an official inspection, the growing trend is to hire a house inspector. Once the sale goes through, any issues with the house becomes the buyer's issues. So, to protect their financial interests, homebuyers often make a professional home inspection a contingency of the sale.

Most states don't carry licensing for home inspectors. However, professional inspectors have a checklist of items they look for. Pertinent to the foundation, they'll look for the type the house has, and they'll inspect closely for any issues. The inspectors will also look at problems, such as plumbing leaks, that can cause foundation issues in the future.

Because of the lack of licensing, home inspectors can't give a detailed analysis of foundation issues. They'll only be able to report on what they saw and make recommendations for further inspections by licensed foundation experts.

Foundation Issues and Mortgage Companies

Mortgage companies don't just take your word for how much your house is worth. When buyers apply for a mortgage, the companies often send out their own appraisers. Said appraisal will consider many factors, including lot size and recent property sales in the area. However, a major area of interest for mortgage companies is the house's state of repair.

The appraiser will look for issues related to deferred maintenance or repair items that the current homeowner has put off. While roof repairs are a major area of interest, these appraisers will also look for signs of foundation issues, such as the following:

• Uneven flooring
• Sticking windows and doors
• Jagged cracks in the walls
• Visible cracks in the foundation

Mortgage companies require that houses meet their standards for structural soundness. Foundation issues affect the house's marketability, which jeopardizes the lender's investment.

So, mortgage companies may deny a mortgage loan if the house shows signs of foundation issues. Or, they may require that the potential homebuyer provide enough of a down payment to cover the cost of foundation repair.

Foundation Issue Repairs Before Selling

Potential homebuyers may be leery about putting a bid on a house with foundation issues because of the perceived cost to repair them. Well, as the current homeowner, you should know it might not cost as much as you envision. While a home with substantial foundation damage could cost tens of thousands of dollars, simple crack repairs cost as little as a few hundred.

If you live happily in your home, you probably don't have substantial foundation damage. Those kinds of issues arise more with foreclosure homes or other houses that have been left vacant for any amount of time. Regardless of the severity of your foundation issue, you should repair it because the issue could otherwise kill the sale of your house.

So, before you put your house on the market, take a quick inventory of its state of repair. Look for the above-mentioned issues that a mortgage company will watch out for. If you think you have a foundation issue, call in the foundation repair experts to get an inspection and bid, if necessary.

The inspection only takes a couple hours, so it's not a huge investment of time - but it can save you time and money in the long run.

Diagnose and repair any foundation issues before putting your house on the market. Call Bonilla Foundation Repair for a reliable and honest assessment of your home's foundation.