VA drainage problem

[Eli]

Is it possible that the gutters and the landscape mulch are fairly recent? If that's the case, the brown line could be the result of back splash from roof runoff.

There is no mulch. Just grass. Gutters don't look new.

 

[Ida S. Romo]

It is a bank sale.

Probably no disclosures ..... My MLS allows me to search for previous listings of properties. Sometimes agents don't remove the additional info disclosures from their canceled or expired listings. You may be able to do the same.

 

[Rich Heyn]

There is no mulch. Just grass. Gutters don't look new.

You were there and we were not. But if the brown stuff is a result of water backing up against the house, it seems like it would have flooded the inside. From the images, it looks like either muddy back splash from rain falling on the unmulched area next to the house, or, as Mike was asking, a sprinkler system for the foundation plantings fed by a well with a lot of iron in the water.

 

[Eli]

Discoloration is probably seepage where a little dirty water is gathering and seeping up brick but no signs of interior seepage at present

 

[RSW]

The thing that jumps out at me is the smudge brown line on the brick. Hard to imagine that could be from a high water level, probably from grading or dirt work, but still, I'd wonder about it.

Dan

We see that a lot here in East TN when water runs out of the gutters and not down the downspouts. Look for a water line in the ground just below the gutter. It will be cut into the ground. That is where the dirt on the brick is coming from.

I'd call for an inspection by a qualified professional to correct the drainage problem.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

An appraiser should recommend an inspection by an expert...not require it. Looks like there could be some simple fixes such as compacting the soil or adding something to the down spouts to move the water away from the foundation.

 

[Eli]

We see that a lot here in East TN when water runs out of the gutters and not down the downspouts. Look for a water line in the ground just below the gutter. It will be cut into the ground. That is where the dirt on the brick is coming from.

I'd call for an inspection by a qualified professional to correct the drainage problem.

Likely and probably occurred long enough that it has eroded soil next to house. Pictures show that base of shrubs are a few to several inches lower than the soil located approximately 3 feet from house. Your explanation would also cause not only seepage but splashing if water is falling from gutter level. Another possible cause although I'm not sure is dead moss on brick. I noticed moss growing on ground around shrubs and it could have grown up brick and died, but I'm not sure about that. I guess it depends if the gutter is malfunctioning or not.

 

[Eli]

An appraiser should recommend an inspection by an expert...not require it. Looks like there could be some simple fixes such as compacting the soil or adding something to the down spouts to move the water away from the foundation.

Not playing dumb, but how do you reconcile that with "subject to" or "as is"?. Trying to get better. I guess the expert would be called "an engineer or other qualified expert". Or a "landscape expert" or a "drainage expert"?. What do you call a drainage expert....(a "drainage expert")?

 

[Proactive]

Not playing dumb, but how do you reconcile that with "subject to" or "as is"?. Trying to get better. I guess the expert would be called "an engineer or other qualified expert". Or a "landscape expert" or a "drainage expert"?. What do you call a drainage expert....(a "drainage expert")?

I always call experts "qualified experts" and let the lender sort them out.

 

[Fritz in NY]

Of the drainage track, I have a VA purchase filled with mold, boarded up by the city, and a rear rotted wall that you can stick your fist through it....Where do I start?
Subject to what? Will the VA even consider it "eligible"?