Disclose! Disclose! Disclose!
Not my favorite Realtor re-pe-pe-pe-peater, but one risk eliminating phrase that rang in my head like a love song two times recently. And on the same subject matter, to boot.
Excited as all get-out to list a new Keller, Texas, property for a homeowner I knew and trusted, I went on the listing 
appointment only to find out it had previous foundation repairs and previous repaired slab leaks. Many of you are saying, "Run!" But I am used to that, to be honest.
They say in Texas there are three types of foundations: One that needs repairs, one that has been repaired, and one that will be repaired. Simply put, it happens. A lot. To give a brief example, go on vacation for two weeks in a Texas July and forget to set your sprinkler system or set it, but a break in the line occurs while you're away and don't catch on to fix it fast enough, then not only do you lose your lawn to a hotter than Hades Texas summer drought, but you may come home to find neighbors' children fallen into the cracked earth you failed to water; so, you water it, then pop goes the foundation when that dry earth gets a drink and swells back up all unlevel like. Ug.
All that to say, it's OK! It happens. The key is: What did you do about it? So my homeowner, again, who I know and trust, is an honest man, discloses a previous foundation repair and two previous slab leaks. He's owned the home since the 80s and it was built in the 70s, so there is certainly history. However... he can't find his records. Darnit.
What do you do with that? That's easy. Price it accordingly and...
Disclose! Disclose! Disclose!
Basically we had to be 100% honest. Buyers: Here is the history. Lay it out there. But we can't give you a warranty. We can't give you a receipt. We can't give you a dad-gum thing but the honest truth and you buy it knowing that. That's it.
It doesn't matter what the problem is, how bad it is, what records you lost over the years, at the end of the day if you have taken care of a house, it will show. And if you have been honest about problems, consumers take a lot of comfort in that. They really do when the facts of the matter are laid on the line and the home is priced accordingly and the home has other really strong features that are lovable. How do I know? I had more than one offer on an older, broken cookie home. Buyers ate it up.
So, what's my favorite re-pe-pe-pe-peater? Location! Location! Location! Which is another one of the reasons this property could have sold a hundred times over -- right by a park I used to feed ducks at when I was a babe!
Don't let a little dry earth and subsequent foundation issues Quack you up..... Disclose it and focus on the positive features of the home and it will sell just fine.
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