If you are in the market for a new home, you know how easy it is to fall in love with a place that seems perfect only to discover there are a lot of hidden issues that come to light during the inspection. It’s why most homeowners try not to get their hopes up until the inspection comes back with no major issues; a bad inspection is a common deal breaker in the housing market. But what if you’ve found a home that you absolutely love, only to discover it has a slab leak? Should you walk away from it?

Slab leaks happen when the pipes that are running through your foundation start to leak. This is commonly attributed to corroded or damaged pipes. As water leaks out in, around, and under the slab of the house, it can start to compromise the structural integrity of the property. It can also cause issues like mold and mildew as well as rotting floors and wall. The earlier a leak is detected and fixed, the easier (and more affordable) the repairs will be.

So should you buy that dream home even if the inspector has discovered a slab leak? Before you do anything, you need to get answers from professional plumbers in Cedar Park.

Is a Slab Leak a Deal Breaker?

In all honesty, a slab leak is probably not a total deal breaker when it comes to buying a home that you love. You will, however, want to move forward with the deal carefully in order to avoid a huge repair bill after you’ve moved in. There are a number of things you can do to start mitigating the potential cost and damage of the slab leak.

How bad is the leak?

Not all leaks are made equally. Find out what kind of leak it is, where it is, and how bad it is before you make any decisions about walking away or going through with the purchase. There are a lot of different kinds of slab leaks, ranging from minor and easy repairs to major leaks that could require a huge undertaking to repair. If the leak is a minor issue that can be easily addressed, then it’s not worth walking away from the deal. If it’s going to dramatically drive up the cost of your home and create structural issues, then it’s probably better to walk away from the deal no matter how much you might love the property.

Is the seller willing to work with you?

Another option is to see if the seller will fix it. A lot of times, a seller will be willing to fix a slab leak before they sell the property, knowing that by doing so they increase the property value and shorten the amount of time it’s going to take to make the sale. If they don’t, they may be willing to make an allowance in the price for the repairs, giving you the necessary capital required to fix them yourself. If the seller isn’t willing to repair the leak or make a financial allowance, it might not be worth your time or money to stay in the deal.

If the seller does fix the leak, make sure that you have your own trusted plumber examine the work and get another inspection done on the property. You’ll want to ensure the job is done right and the issues have been corrected.

Struggling With a Slab Leak?

Have you fallen in love with a home only to discover it has a slab leak? Are you selling a home and facing the cancellation of the sale due to a newly discovered leak? A slab leak doesn’t have to mean the end of the deal. Our plumbers in Cedar Park can help. We can detect the root cause of the leak, fix the issue, and make sure water doesn’t damage your property any further. Our team can also provide you with an estimate of the cost of repairing a slab leak so you can make an informed decision in your home buying and selling process.

Give us a call or contact us through our website for more information on how we can help with your slab leak and other plumbing concerns in the Cedar Park area and beyond.