# Does Foundation Repair Increase Home Value? > The American Dream is plain and simple: buy dirt. Schedule a free evaluation with Dalinghaus. _Brian Dalinghaus ยท 2021-09-29_ --- The American Dream is plain and simple: **_buy dirt_**. Whether the current real estate market is **_booming or just a bubble_** is up for debate, regardless, home sales and prices are spiking across the nation. Let's face it, the world has changed. More and more people **_work from home_**, creating demand for **_bigger living spaces_** than cramped apartments and condos. In addition, communal family living is on the rise with **_more adult children than ever living with their parents_** due to a post-pandemic economy. People across the nation want to upgrade their square footage, bidding on a limited, highly sought-after commodity. The new home builders can't keep up and are backlogged for months. Resale homes are going for way above the asking price **_with all-cash offers_**. This train is not slowing down. So, maybe you want to take full advantage of the bull market, bet it all on black: sell your home, burn your cell, and retire to Fiji sipping Mai Tais on the beach. But there's just one problem, your home's foundation is **_in less than stellar condition_**. In which case, you should read our article: **[[service:foundation-repair/real-estate-inspection|Sell Your Home with Foundation Issues]]** Or perhaps you are considering purchasing a home with a busted foundation or even a recently fixed foundation and you want to know if it's worth the investment. **_The truth: [[silo:foundation-repair|foundation repair always]] increases home value._** Foundation Repair increases your home value on three primary fronts: - Structural integrity - Cosmetics _First of all, if it's not broke, don't fix it_. Foundation repair infers foundation damage. Foundation repair always increases a home's value **_because foundation failure always decreases a home's value_**. Repairing one section of your home does not mean the **_entire home_** **_needs to be protected_** against settlement or heave it is not showing. Foundation repair is just that, repair. **_Foundation "protection" does nothing to add equity to your home_**. ## Foundation Repair Adds Structural Integrity Value [**_Foundation settlement_**](/foundation-repair/problem-signs/sinking-foundation/) and [**_foundation heave_**](/blog/what-is-foundation-heave/) (both instigated by **_expansive soil_**) are the primary causes of foundation failure. True to their names, **_foundation settlement sinks a home,_** and **_foundation heave pushes the home upward_**, both exerting undue pressure onto the home. Believe it or not, homes are not made to go up and down like a seesaw. Concrete, though strong, is not known for its elastic properties. Although, this is more common in homes with **_[[service:hillside-repair/slope-stabilization|hillside slope stabilization issues]]_**. In short, people generally purchase homes for one of two reasons: - To live in - To rent or sell Therefore, foundation repair is worth it if just for the privilege of living in your home without worrying about foundation failure extensive enough to force you out. The vast majority of people don't heavily scrutinize their foundations, whether it's crawling into a crawlspace or performing a walk-around. And, even if they did, many don't know what to look for. Turns out, many of the signs and symptoms are not directly found on the foundation itself. The uneven pressure caused by foundation settlement and foundation heave is like a virus that starts in the heart and travels to the rest of the body. The pressure is transferred up through the foundation, to the bones of the home, and eventually into the interior. This results in several telltale signs and symptoms. The signs and symptoms that point to compromised structural integrity are: - [**Sloping floors**](/foundation-repair/soil-stabilization/) (the **_numero uno_** clue that something is amiss with the home's foundation) - [**Cracks**](/foundation-repair/foundation-crack-repair/) zipping through the drywall, stucco, tile, or cement slab itself - [**Sticking doors and windows**](/blog/why-is-my-door-hard-to-open-and-close/) (hard to open, hard to close, frames askew) - **Leaning Kitchen Cabinets** (like the King of Pop's 45 leaning dance move in the Smooth Criminal music video) [Schedule a free evaluation](/contact-us/) Now, many of these signs would be considered **_cosmetic_**. Something about the human brain in wired for symmetry. Cracks zipping through drywall and ugly, crooked door frames don't sit quite right in our gray matter. We love 90 angles. However, it would be a mistake to treat cosmetic damage caused by foundation settlement just like cosmetic damage caused by any other source. ## Foundation Repair Adds Cosmetic Value We all know that even a fresh coat of paint can increase your home's value on the market along with a feng shui interior decorator. Cosmetic eyesores are a nightmare for potential new homeowners who don't want to spend the **_time_** or **_cash_** on a remodel. The truth is: remodels = more cash. However, here's the kicker. Remodels implemented before a home with a failing foundation is stabilized are absolutely useless. - Those cracks you patched up will come back with a vengeance - Those new cabinets you put in will begin to pull away like the old ones - The sloped floors you "fixed" with self-leveler will continue to sink Problems left unattended get worse. Foundation failure can take a huge bite out of your home's value by cosmetic issues alone. So, if you don't want to rinse-and-repeat remodels from here into eternity, we suggest foundation repair. Remodels can add significant value to your home. Repair the foundation first, then remodel. That way you have a double return on your investment: for **_structural integrity_** and **_cosmetics_**. A home with a documented [**_helical pier_**](/foundation-repair/solutions/helical-piers/) or push pier repair behind it can be a strong selling point, because the buyer can see the work and the measurements that went with it. ## Choose Dalinghaus for Your Foundation Repair Needs Here at Dalinghaus Foundation Repair: **we respect your time.** We tailor-fit your home's repair plan to meet your unique needs. Dalinghaus Foundation Repair can help you address a sinking foundation with **_helical pier_**, **_push pier_**, and **_polyurethane underpinning_**. We do foundation **[underpinning](/foundation-repair/solutions/foundation-underpinning/)** the right way. ## Schedule a Free Evaluation Foundation movement is easier to judge in person than from a photo. [Schedule a free evaluation](/contact-us/) and a Dalinghaus specialist will walk the property with you and explain what the evidence shows.