Are Wall Cracks Evidence of a Bad Home Inspection?

I live in Arizona and purchased my home 2 years ago. I had a home inspection done, but now it appears that the 17-year old house has severe foundational problems. After moving in and really looking around, I could tell that numerous cracks in the walls and ceiling were patched and covered up by the previous owner, who was a house flipper. The walls are cracking and the nails are popping out of the drywall in many of the rooms.

Is there anything I can do?

Our Answer

Many people assume incorrectly that drywall cracks and nail pops indicate major foundational problems, and this just isn't true. Homes expand and contract, which can cause this.
If you're concerned about your home's structural safety, hire a structural engineer to do a review. Also contact your home inspector and let them know of your concerns. Invite them to come to your house, look at the problems, and discuss.

Keep in mind, though, that standards and practices for home inspectors are determined by American Society of Home Inspectors – ashi.org – which states that inspectors can only report on what’s visible and accessible at the time of the inspection.