I am considering purchasing a house and in one room there is a cement crack about 3 feet long. The house is 4 years old and has a cement base under the carpeting and tile. I contacted a cement pourer who said this was a fairly ordinary occurrence and should not pose a problem. Is this a significant problem and is what would be the fix for it? Thanks.

How wide is the crack? If it is just hairline it shouldn't be a problem.

At the widest point a little less than 3/8"

That is fairly wide, can you tell how deep it goes?

I don't know the depth but the house is on the ground

If it is flat, meaning the floor is not heaving, it should be OK. I was asking how deep it was to see if it is all the way through the slab or just a inch or so. You could fill it with some epoxy or grout.

Thanks. You have been really helpful and I will be a bit more knowledgeable when I talk to the contractor.

Before making the purchase, I would think you would want to have an inspection made of the home first, if the seller kind of acts weird about having the inspection, then you may want to back off, and ask yourself why they would act that way. Also, I would be interested in asking why they are selling a house after only four years.

California foreclosure market is moving sales. I found out about the cement crack from the Inspection Report. I am currently trying to determine if it is a serious issue (like will the walls move later, or water seep in), what type of repair if any will fix it and what it will cost. I hve contacted the seller and am holding off on anything until I/we determine the true nature and extent (if its possible to know).

Hairline cracks form in neartly all concrete pours but this is not hairline. It is a indication of perimeter settling of the foundation. Every home settles because of weight and the amount of dirt disturbed during construction but 3/8" is enough to start cracks in the walls. Do you see windows that don't work easily or doors that bind, cracks in the walls?

None of these things, no cracks in wall, all doors and windows work well.

None of those things, then less of a worry.

I agree with ballengerb1, a 3/8" crack and especially in a four year old home, hmm, be very careful. Something doesn't seem right here. I would definitely suggest having that home inspection completed by someone YOU pick, not one that the SELLER picks.