Pier Beam Offset

[FirsTimeBuyer]

Hi All,

We are looking to purchase a home. Home inspection report says pier and beam are offset (picture below). Is this fixable or should we walk away ?

 

[Les]

first off why isn't your inspector answering this question.  There is an indication this is a "major" defect.  How old is house?  is there any indication of movement as a result of this condition?  I would not get exercised about this unless there was some indication of abnormal settlement.  

To be fair - I have little time for people that take your money and tell you to contact a qualified professional.   They should have at least explained the ramification(s) of this.

[Marc]

That writeup on pier/beam offset is enough to tell me that the bigger issue is actually your inspector. An inspector's writing helps reveal his performance as inspector.

What Les said.

I'm a gonna buckle up my seat belt now.

Edited January 23, 2023 by Marc

[Jim Baird]

I don't see a big problem.  Their pier design is not one I have seen.  The spot footing design is one I have seen, but not very well placed.

I agree with Les about the call for someone qualified.

All else not considered, my read of this item says no big deal.

[Jim Katen]

Awful report. 

The pictures show a single post that's not centered in its pier block. That's not a big problem, it's not even a little problem. Don't worry about it. 

I'd be much more concerned about getting that electrical cable up off the ground, installing a vapor barrier on the ground, and installing some seismic retrofitting - if you're in the Bay Area. 

 

[CNewhouse]

That commentary is unbelievably bad. I've been doing this for 8 years now. I suppose I shouldn't be, but I'm still surprised by the number of inspectors that communicate poorly, spell words incorrectly, fail to convey issues and their implications clearly, fail to even understand issues and their implications, and yet still get work. I've seen sample reports from inspectors in my area, that they themselves posted as an indication of the quality of their work, that contain upside down photos, random numbers in narratives, omitted words that someone clearly forgot to select from a drop-down menu, redundant narratives attempting to describe the same issue multiple times... and you know these companies are the go-to for certain realtors.