Pay close attention to your client.

If your client is overly concerned about the foundation, you should be very careful in your wording. If they are irrationally concerned about the foundation or unrealistic in their expectations, then you are foolish not to recommend a second opinion from a Professional Engineer.

A first example of an unrealistic home buyer

Here is an example from my files of an unrealistic buyer: A buyer buying a 40-year-old house that has been underpinned three times by three different contractors. The buyer says he wants to make sure he does not ever have any foundation problems or issues. He explicitly tells you that he does not want to deal with any foundation problems when it is time to sell.

A buyer like this should be avoided. In most cases, he is not going to show his colors until after you meet him at the house. Write your report as if it will be used as a court document. Also, be sure to recommend a second opinion from a Professional Engineer.

A second example of an unrealistic home buyer

This is from a conversation with a fellow engineer. He meets a home buyer at the house and she immediately tells him that she absolutely does not want to buy a house that has any cracks in the foundation.

He explains that all co concrete cracks during its life but the cracks are almost always not structurally significant. na ht janfrs nimes s Here is an example from my files of an unrealistic buyer: A buyer buying a 40-year-old house that has been underpinned three times by three different contractors. The buyer says he wants to make sure he does not ever have