Interior cracks in apartment walls

[artlez]

Hi all

Great forum here. I hope some of you gurus can help me on my first property purchase.

I looked at a place yesterday that had about 3-4 noticeable cracks along the interior walls (roughly 20-30cm long). The significant ones were near the corners of doors and windows so that's expected.

Anyway, is it commonplace to have concrete interior walls have noticeable cracks in them? The place is only about 15 years old. Also, is it my responsibility to fix those cracks if they get much worse or is it body corp's responsibility? I like the place very much but I don't want to go ahead if these ugly cracks are going to be a problem for me in the future. It looks like I'll be in with a lot of competition on this place as well as there were well into 100 people looking at this place yesterday.

Any thoughts?

Cheers

 

[Propertunity]

I looked at a place yesterday that had about 3-4 noticeable cracks along the interior walls (roughly 20-30cm long).

How "wide" are the cracks? Less than 3mm is OK but if you can stick your pinkie finger into them - move on!

Anyway, is it commonplace to have concrete interior walls have noticeable cracks in them?

No, I see it rarely. Which suburb are we talking?

Also, is it my responsibility to fix those cracks if they get much worse or is it body corp's responsibility?

No, it is the BC's responsibility. (ultimately you will pay something as a member of the BC)

It looks like I'll be in with a lot of competition on this place as well as there were well into 100 people looking at this place yesterday.

You have got a snowball's chance in hell of purchasing in Sydney in the current environment, especially if you have little experience. If you are keen on a place, and you really want it, in your position I'd be hiring help - a Buyer's Agent or similar who specialises in the area you are keen on (I am not seeking your business by the way, but I could tell you some stories about what you have to do to be the successful purchaser at present and as a novice you will be eaten alive). Otherwise take a number and stand in line with all the other punters.

 

[artlez]

How "wide" are the cracks? Less than 3mm is OK but if you can stick your pinkie finger into them - move on!

No, I see it rarely. Which suburb are we talking?

No, it is the BC's responsibility. (ultimately you will pay something as a member of the BC)

You have got a snowball's chance in hell of purchasing in Sydney in the current environment, especially if you have little experience. If you are keen on a place, and you really want it, in your position I'd be hiring help - a Buyer's Agent or similar who specialises in the area you are keen on (I am not seeking your business by the way, but I could tell you some stories about what you have to do to be the successful purchaser at present and as a novice you will be eaten alive). Otherwise take a number and stand in line with all the other punters.

I can't remember how wide the cracks were but I think 3mm would be a good guess. They were wide enough so that you could see black (void) within the cracks from a fair distance.

We're talking around the Parramatta area. Every apartment (about 4-5) I've looked at in that area with concrete walls have had the same problem in varying degrees.

I believe I have a good idea with the process of buying a property. I secured one a few weeks ago but ended up rescinding the contract during the cooling off period (I got cold feet and I thought I could do better) so I don't think the market is as tough as you say it is. And it wasn't a dud property either - it was under contract the moment I rescinded the contract and was sold a week later. I won't discount the idea of a BA though. I'm very lacking of time so a BA could come in handy at one stage, or when I get sick and tired of looking for the perfect property

I have a feeling this property is going to be sold for a lot more than its asking price though. It seems like it was popular due to its low asking price but I can quite easily see the final price being 10-15k more than its listed price. Although I'll probably just forward in a signed contract with my final price (definitely not 10k more than the asking price) tomorrow and see what happens.

 

[Propertunity]

We're talking around the Parramatta area. Every apartment (about 4-5) I've looked at in that area with concrete walls have had the same problem in varying degrees.

I see it a bit in Newcastle, but they have an excuse, they had an earthquake a few years back

I believe I have a good idea with the process of buying a property. I secured one a few weeks ago but ended up rescinding the contract during the cooling off period (I got cold feet and I thought I could do better) so I don't think the market is as tough as you say it is.

I did not mean to cast aspersions on your abilities
I must be spending far too much time in the Inner West (its just crazy there). Perhaps Parramatta is a bit quieter?

 

[artlez]

I see it a bit in Newcastle, but they have an excuse, they had an earthquake a few years back


I did not mean to cast aspersions on your abilities
I must be spending far too much time in the Inner West (its just crazy there). Perhaps Parramatta is a bit quieter?

No worries. I'm by no means a pro yet... I'm still learning a lot every day about this game.

I wouldn't say Parramatta is quiet. However, the supply of apartments there is massive. It seems as though no one wants to get rid of their homes in the inner west.

 

[stevie_sloth]

I know this thread is old, but in my place when we bought it, there were 2 long but very narrow cracks (like hairline cracks I think they're called) coming from near the ceiling down to towards the floor (nowhere near any windows or doors). The building inspection said it wasn't a problem, was just "settling" and natural "movement", and we then had them patched and painted and it's still looking spiffy now, 2 years later (our building is 14 years old)