For parents helping from out of state
This page is for the parent who gets the call: something looks wrong at the off-campus house and you need a calm local next step.
Foundation cracks
Basement wall movement
Basement water
Sloping or uneven floors
Sticking doors/windows
Crawl space concern
Why parents use this page
- Your student noticed cracks, water, sloping floors, or a safety concern and you are trying to help from another city or state.
- The property may be a rental, a student house you own, or a house managed by a landlord/property manager.
- You need a clear next step: what to document, who may need to approve access, and what details a local provider will likely ask for.
What to ask your student to send
- Wide photos of the room or basement wall plus closeups with a ruler, coin, or tape for scale.
- Whether doors/windows stick, floors feel uneven, water is entering, or cracks look new or widening.
- Property situation: rental, owned by family, landlord-managed, or not sure.
- Whether the landlord/property manager has already been notified and whether access is available.
When to move faster
- A wall appears to be moving, bowing, leaning, or cracking horizontally.
- Floors, stairs, utilities, or occupied rooms feel unsafe.
- Water is entering through cracks or the wall/floor joint.
- The student is worried about safety and needs an adult to help coordinate next steps.