The Resilient Dollar

In 2020, during the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic, we bought what we thought was our dream home. It was a charming two-family stucco house near the ocean in Salem, Massachusetts. It had all the coastal New England character we were looking for. Each floor had two beds and one bath. There was a beautiful garden. Each unit had separate decks.

The first-floor unit featured an open deck that led straight into the backyard. Our upstairs unit had a closed-in deck that served as an extra room. With both front and back staircases, we usually entered through the back—conveniently located near our parking spot.

Right before we bought the house, it had been freshly painted and thoroughly repaired—or so it seemed. What we didn’t know at the time was that much of the cosmetic work likely masked deeper problems. Unfortunately, Massachusetts is a non-disclosure state, which means home sellers aren’t legally required to disclose structural or foundational issues. Once a house is sold, any problems become the new owner’s responsibility.

So yes, buyer beware definitely applied to us.

It wasn’t until 2022—two years into living in the house—that we started noticing signs that something wasn’t right. Water began seeping into the corner of our deck and near the back staircase. Around the same time, we realized the windows on both sides of our enclosed deck no longer shut properly.

At first, we assumed it was a deck issue. Maybe the structure was just aging and needed some repairs. But over time, the symptoms grew worse.

A year later, the gaps in our home became more visible. The deck was noticeably shifting, and the windows no longer kept the cold out. We could feel icy winter drafts sneaking into our living space. To cope, we resorted to heavy-duty curtains to block the cold air—especially around the deck area.

That space, which had once been a bright and airy bonus room, was now barely usable. We stopped dining or working there and turned it into light storage. All the while, we were avoiding the inevitable: the need for serious repairs.

Finally, in 2023, we acknowledged the obvious—we had both foundation problems and major deck issues. We informed our downstairs tenant and began thinking about next steps. It was not a fun conversation.

By 2024, my husband had seen enough. The deck had shifted further, and new vertical cracks had appeared in the concrete foundation. It was clear we couldn’t wait any longer. We made the decision to start looking for a reliable general contractor to fix the foundation and REPAIR the deck.

But as with many home renovation projects, the scope quickly expanded. What we thought would be a deck repair turned into a complete REBUILD from the ground up. It was overwhelming!

Oh, the joys of homeownership!

Discovering our home’s foundation issues wasn’t a sudden shock. It was a slow, growing realization that unfolded over several years. From mysterious water leaks to widening gaps and structural shifts, we learned the hard way that even freshly painted walls can hide serious problems underneath.

If you’re a homeowner—especially in an older coastal home like ours—stay alert for subtle signs of trouble. And if you’re house hunting in a non-disclosure state like Massachusetts, do your due diligence and invest in a thorough inspection.

I know many Salem residents are grappling with similar home challenges. Are foundation issues on the rise in your city/town, or is it just us? Share your story and insights in the comments below – let’s connect and see if this is a growing trend in our community!