SINKHOLES AND SARASOTA REAL ESTATE
Learn more about sinkholes and how they affect Sarasota real estate.
LEARN MORE ABOUT SINKHOLES
Sinkholes are a common feature of Florida's landscape. They are only one of many kinds of karst landforms, which include caves, disappearing streams, springs, and underground drainage systems, all of which occur in Florida.
Karst is a generic term which refers to the characteristic terrain produced by erosional processes associated with the chemical weathering and dissolution of limestone or dolomite, the two most common carbonate rocks in Florida.
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Technically, there is no "safe place" from sinkholes in Florida. The entire state has limestone rock under the ground. Click here for a subsidence incident map of the state.
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Historically, although not a guarantee, the Sarasota area has had a significantly lower occurrence of sinkholes than other parts of Florida, particularly in the Tampa and Orlando areas.
SINKHOLES IN
FLORIDA
Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection
MORE ANSWERS TO COMMON SARASOTA SINKHOLE QUESTIONS
Right now there are no state government agencies that inspect for sinkholes. Sinkholes occur on private property in Florida, and repairs are the responsibility of property owners.
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Home inspectors who are licensed professional geologists may be able to tell if sinkhole activity is occurring on a property, however, sinkholes can develop on a property where no problem was found.
Geologic tests include expensive ground penetrating radar, soil boring, and drainage testing. There is no set inspection fee for these types of tests.
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Specific sinkhole coverage is available as an option for Florida home insurance policies. Please contact a Sarasota area insurance provider for a quote.
Insurance questions? Go to my local service providers page:
Testomonial
Ed and Christina, from Ohio