Lycabull
Junior Member
- Joined
- May 31, 2003
- Professional Status
- Certified Residential Appraiser
- State
- Kansas
I always call experts "qualified experts" and let the lender sort them out.![]()
Excellent advice Proactive. I guess I might refer to an exterior ground drainage expert as a "licensed landscaper." I'm pretty sure Whaw-jur from This Old House would know what to do.
To the OP, the MPRs are usually the deciding factor on whether or not to require an inspection or correction. Yes, any negative drainage has to be corrected.
How old is the house? It looks pretty new in the pictures. If it has been around a few years and the brown stains are from water being against the foundation, one would think there might be some signs of deferred maintenance to the interior? Maybe a tell-tale hairline crack in the foundation somewhere? It has been my experience that over time, water ALWAYS wins the war with concrete unless diligent maintenance prevents it.
I guess if all else fails, I would do the KISS test. Pour a bucket of water next to the house and see if it puddles against the foundation while it soaks into the ground or does it move away from the foundation? If the water puddles next to the house, the MPRs from the VA Lender's Handbook already give you your answer as well as providing any needed cover for requiring the inspection and/or correction. If it moves away from the house, disclose what you saw (the stains) and move on. Unless water is puddling next to the foundation, I'd just recommend they hire an expert if they want more precise info about the cause of the stains.
It could be something as simple as iron content in the water.
Like someone used to tell me: "if appraising was easy, everyone would be doing it."