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Looking for some advice on how I should handle the current situation I'm dealing with. About a week ago, we dealt with water intrusion in the basement of the house. The seller checked "No" on the form 17 disclosure (State of WA) we received during the purchase process stating they were not aware of any basement flooding. After what we've seen in just a couple of days of rain, I just don't think that it is possible. There are also other signs like a makeshift trench being cut that appears like an effort to divert some of the pooling water in that area. They left a dehumidifier in the area as well and other "stay dry" agents.
We got an estimate to remedy the issue that was between 2k-4k. Not a crazy amount but still a cost I find hard to eat. I'm not sure the hurdles we'd have to go through to prove the previous owners knew this was an issue and failed to disclose it. We reached out to our buyers agent and she was no help, not really wanting to get involved or just informing the sellers and their agent. I'm thinking of reaching out directly to the sellers agent to see if something could be worked as that just seems easier and less expensive than going the small claims route. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.
I'm sure the sales people don't care after they get their commission so it is time to talk to a R/E attorney. You will get real legal advice online so gather your evidence and make an appointment.
Sorry this has happened but where was your inspector. Please don't tell me they were recommended by the salesperson!
I'm sure the sales people don't care after they get their commission so it is time to talk to a R/E attorney. You will get real legal advice online so gather your evidence and make an appointment.
Sorry this has happened but where was your inspector. Please don't tell me they were recommended by the salesperson!
Thanks for the response. It's only in one area of the basement, near the crawl where it seeps in through the exposed ground when waterlogged. A minor amount of flooding but still happening after a strong rain. No signs of water damage and was pretty much unremarkable when we bought the place. We had our own agent, but yeah, probably something they should have alerted us to.
I would talk to the neighbors and see if the homeowner mentioned water intrusion in the basement. One of them might have helped with the trench or talked with the neighbor about it. Then you would have something to chat with the seller about.
Was there any evidence of water staining, high moisture readings or efflorescence in the basement when you did inspection? Is this an unfinished or finished space?
My question too, was whether there was any mention of the trench.
We did just get a freakish rain event a few weeks ago. More than even our typical winter time pineapple expresses. It is *possible* that event was worse than has been experienced in recent years.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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We lived in a house in CA for 7 years and never had any water issues, until the winter before we sold it. The water got into the crawl space when we had a very unusual week of steady, hard rain. Though it had never happened before, the buyer inspection revealed the water stains and it cost us $2,000 (in 1993) to have a sump pump put in, which may never be used. The bottom line is twofold:
1. A competent inspector should have seen the evidence (perhaps that is where a lawsuit belongs).
2. Sometimes a flood can be a one-time event even on a home that's been there for many years.
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