You can sell a Louisiana house with foundation issues, but you must disclose what you know. Under La. R.S. 9:3198, sellers complete the Louisiana Real Estate Commission’s property disclosure document and deliver it before the buyer signs a purchase agreement. Your practical options are to repair first, disclose and offer a credit, or sell as-is at a lower price.
Foundation Repair Baton Rouge isn’t a law firm — talk to your agent or an attorney about your specific situation. Here’s the general landscape.
Your disclosure duty
Louisiana’s property disclosure law requires sellers to disclose known defects, including structural issues, on the prescribed form, based on actual knowledge. If the form isn’t delivered before the purchase agreement, the buyer can terminate within 72 hours of receiving it. Disclosing a known defect protects you: a buyer who was told about it has a much harder time claiming later they were misled.
Option 1: Repair before listing
Best when the repair is modest and you have a few weeks. You list with a repaired foundation, a piling map, before-and-after readings and any transferable warranty. Buyers and lenders see a solved problem with paperwork.
Option 2: Disclose and credit
Get a current evaluation with a written price, disclose it, and offer a credit or price reduction. The buyer controls the repair; you avoid the work. A specific written number keeps negotiations grounded.
Option 3: Sell as-is
Disclose and price the house accordingly, often to investors. It’s the fastest route and usually the lowest price.
What buyers will ask for
The disclosure document, repair invoices and contractor details, the piling map and readings, the warranty and whether it transfers, and often an engineer’s report. Having these ready shortens the inspection period. See the buyer’s side in is it safe to buy a house with foundation repair.
Bottom line
Disclose what you know, and back it with documentation. For a written evaluation and price to support your disclosure or credit, call Foundation Repair Baton Rouge.
Sources: Louisiana Revised Statutes § 9:3198; Nolo, “Selling a Louisiana Home: What Defects Must I Disclose?”