Selling a 1980 Grand Prairie Home With Sloping Floors While Relocating to Florida

Who are the sellers, and why are they selling?

They are a couple relocating to Florida who are motivated to sell their Grand Prairie home. Right now they are going back and forth between Texas and Florida, so every extra week on the market is another week of juggling two places.

Before listing, they put real work into the house. They repainted, installed new flooring, updated the light fixtures and replaced the windows. They had also rented the home out for a couple of years before deciding to sell.

What was the foundation history on this home?

The foundation question came up the day they bought it. I was their buyer's agent when they purchased the home from Opendoor during COVID.

During that purchase, my clients had a home inspection and brought in a foundation company to take measurements. The foundation company said the foundation needed work. Opendoor provided a structural engineer report, and that report carried more weight than the foundation company's recommendation. My clients moved forward with the purchase.

Because I handled that purchase, we still have the original engineer report, and we shared it as part of this sale.

What are buyers noticing?

Buyers are noticing a slant in the flooring. They are not reporting cracks in the walls or the brick.

The feedback has been consistent enough that it is clear the question will keep coming up with every buyer who walks through.

Why order a new engineer report instead of a repair bid?

Because a structural engineer report is the stronger document, and I want my sellers to resolve this now rather than negotiate it later with a buyer.

A foundation company and an engineer often take the same measurements with the same tool. The difference is that the engineer is licensed, and in my experience that report carries more value with buyers and their agents. The original report is about five years old. A current one tells everyone, including my sellers, where the foundation stands today.

I want to be honest about the timeline. I warned my sellers at the start that the foundation could become an issue. We decided to wait and see what buyers said, and we did not act until the showing feedback confirmed it. Now we are doing our due diligence up front.

Why do repairs before closing instead of offering a credit?

Buyers feel better when the work is already done. That matters even more because many of the buyers looking at a home like this are first-time buyers.

If the new engineer report says repairs are needed, my sellers plan to complete the work with a transferable warranty. A first-time buyer can then look at a finished repair and a warranty that transfers to them, instead of a credit and an open question they would have to manage after closing.

How has pricing played into this?

We started a little on the high side, and we have lowered the price $25,000 since listing. As of this update, the home has been on the market for 65 days.

My sellers' two biggest worries are the cost of repairs and how long the home will take to sell. Getting the foundation question answered is the best way I know to address both. Once we know the scope, they can make a clear decision instead of absorbing repeated price pressure from buyers who are guessing.

Why are foundation issues so common in this area?

Foundation repairs are common with homes around here. Our dirt is not good, our summers are hot, and our winters are cold and dry. That combination moves soil, and soil movement shows up in foundations.

I tell homeowners to water their foundation and their yard. It is one of the simplest things you can do to help prevent foundation work down the road.

Where do things stand today?

We are ordering a new structural engineer report. If it shows that work is needed, my sellers will complete the repairs with a transferable warranty before a buyer has to bring it up. I will update this story once the report comes back and the home sells.

What would I tell another seller facing the same situation?

Take care of anything that could turn off a buyer before you go on the market, if you can.

If you already know your home has a foundation history, talk with your agent about getting current information before listing instead of waiting for buyer feedback to force the issue. For more on getting ready, read the home upgrades that actually help your home sell.