What do I require? Is this a trip/safety hazard?

[Christine Betbeze]

I inspected a succession property and buyers want to use VA or FHA financing. The subject has a walkway leading from the sidewalk to the house and the concrete walkway is raised four to five inches above the lawn due to settlement. There is a five inch gap where you must step up from the sidewalk up onto the properties walkway. The concrete driveway to the garage also has the a concrete lip of about four inches as well, its like a step up right at the city owned sidewalk. The concrete lip would affect the ingress of the garage. The walkway and the driveway to the garage were built on pilings and the surrounding lawn has settled. May I please have your opinions? What should the requirement be? Thanks in advance for your time.

 

[RSW]

Show us some pics.

 

[james stephens]

Pics would certainly help. Of what you described the only clear understanding I believe I have is of the lawn with respect to the walkway. I envision little kids running through the front yard and tripping over the walkway. Either take great pics, disclose in report and let UW decide or require something like low garden style fencing to be installed along each side of walkway or have level of yard brought up to same level of walkway.

 

[Mountain Man]

The 5 inch step sounds like it's in the right-of-way. That could be argued that it's a problem for the city to fix. But a 4 inch gap at the garage... sheesh! Do not any builders compact soil anymore!!?? My concrete guys grumble because I make them compact and use a LOT of steel when we pour over back fill.

 

[Webbed Feet]

I inspected a succession property and buyers want to use VA or FHA financing. The subject has a walkway leading from the sidewalk to the house and the concrete walkway is raised four to five inches above the lawn due to settlement. There is a five inch gap where you must step up from the sidewalk up onto the properties walkway. The concrete driveway to the garage also has the a concrete lip of about four inches as well, its like a step up right at the city owned sidewalk. The concrete lip would affect the ingress of the garage. The walkway and the driveway to the garage were built on pilings and the surrounding lawn has settled. May I please have your opinions? What should the requirement be? Thanks in advance for your time.

The buyers cannot use both or either or VA/FHA If it is to be VA then VA must be named as the client right? Doesn't sound to me as if you've yet been able to "Identify the Problem" per the SOW Rule for a mortgage assignment. This sounds more like you are consulting prior to a mortgage assignment. Either way, is that concrete market acceptable for that market?