Water damage in new home less than 2 weeks to Closing! (Jacksonville: insurance, attorney)

[atl90]

A water valve broke in the upstairs bathroom of our new house in Durbin Crossing and we are supposed to close at the end of the month. The water damage extends into the area outside of the bathroom, through floor and walls to a few rooms below. We went by the house today and the bathroom cabinet has been removed, carpet removed outside of the bathroom, large sections of the ceiling cutout in the foyer and pantry, and about 13 dryers blowing through cutouts in the lower part of the wall and over/under carpet.

The builder has done a good job communicating the problem and what is being done to get it fixed. They have hired a 3rd party to assess and repair the damage. However, we are concerned that if a section of the wall behind the drywall does not completely dry that a mold problem could develop.

Anyone ever experienced this before or no of anyone who has and can provide some feedback? We are debating on whether to let them fix the damage and go to closing or find another home. Unfortunately, we would have to move before school starts. Thanks in advance!

[expatCA]

Originally Posted by atl90

A water valve broke in the upstairs bathroom of our new house in Durbin Crossing and we are supposed to close at the end of the month. The water damage extends into the area outside of the bathroom, through floor and walls to a few rooms below. We went by the house today and the bathroom cabinet has been removed, carpet removed outside of the bathroom, large sections of the ceiling cutout in the foyer and pantry, and about 13 dryers blowing through cutouts in the lower part of the wall and over/under carpet.

The builder has done a good job communicating the problem and what is being done to get it fixed. They have hired a 3rd party to assess and repair the damage. However, we are concerned that if a section of the wall behind the drywall does not completely dry that a mold problem could develop.

Anyone ever experienced this before or no of anyone who has and can provide some feedback? We are debating on whether to let them fix the damage and go to closing or find another home. Unfortunately, we would have to move before school starts. Thanks in advance!

Hire a good inspector and have him check it out, just as you would on a new home, but with the open areas he can see far more.

[Florida2014]

Have a mold inspection done prior to any new drywalling, tons of companies in/around Jax who perform that service.

Water Damage Jacksonville | Water Damage Orlando | Mold Remediation

[Ryde41]

That's heartbreaking.

[Leaving4Ca]

Hire your own inspector who can test. You have to feel comfortable... and if the entire idea makes you feel uncomfortable and you don't think they did a good job, I would walk.

If they catch the leak in time and dry everything out, replace all the padding that was under the carpet, and cut and replace the damaged dry wall you should be ok. Any wall area wet or suspected to have water that seeped in behind absolutely must be cut out and replaced. They can cut pieces of the drywall to check in behind and see if they wood frame behind is wet - I would hope they already did that.... Your inspector needs to get in there to check before they close up the walls!

[Robyn55]

It's a new house. If this kind of stuff happens before you close - what other sh** potential disasters are there in this house. I would walk away. Robyn

[Peter the Brit]

Follow Florida 2104 advice and add an independent home inspection and all at the builders expense
If they do not agree check that the contract has the escape clause that allows you to walk without losing your deposit
Maybe time to visit an attorney before closing

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by atl90

A water valve broke in the upstairs bathroom of our new house in Durbin Crossing and we are supposed to close at the end of the month. The water damage extends into the area outside of the bathroom, through floor and walls to a few rooms below. We went by the house today and the bathroom cabinet has been removed, carpet removed outside of the bathroom, large sections of the ceiling cutout in the foyer and pantry, and about 13 dryers blowing through cutouts in the lower part of the wall and over/under carpet.

The builder has done a good job communicating the problem and what is being done to get it fixed. They have hired a 3rd party to assess and repair the damage. However, we are concerned that if a section of the wall behind the drywall does not completely dry that a mold problem could develop.

Anyone ever experienced this before or no of anyone who has and can provide some feedback? We are debating on whether to let them fix the damage and go to closing or find another home. Unfortunately, we would have to move before school starts. Thanks in advance!

And let's see. A water valve broke. Now a water valve is supposed to be the thing that protects you if there's a water leak. Under a sink - at a toilet - etc. Something leaks - your turn the valve to off. So if this water valve broke - when it wasn't even serving its intended function - how good do you think the rest of the plumbing in the house is?

Whenever there's a boom - or mini-boom in Florida housing - like we're having now - crummy builders come out of the netherworld to build again - and even the better builders start to cut corners.

Whatever - you're probably talking about spending what - somewhere in the neighborhood of 300,000 frigging dollars for something that's defective before you even buy it? Damage that you will be required to report to any subsequent buyers (flood damage).

Have you asked the builder about a cost reduction? Like on the order of 25-30%? Unless I got something on that order - I would most certainly walk away from this lemon.

BTW - the only thing I've seen remotely similar was when a buyer on my block had a big plumbing leak 4 days after a closing (but that was a "used" house). Robyn

[atl90]

Everyone thanks for the comments and advice. We want to get an inspector but do not know of any reputable ones in Jacksonville. The last thing we need is to get someone who does not know what they are doing. I would appreciate if anyone can recommend a great home inspector. Thanks!

[Robyn55]

BTW - I assume the A/C is on and going full blast (you only mentioned the fans).

Another thing you must do is contact the insurance company *you* were planning to use on the house. It may want to do its own inspection. It may refuse to insure the house - or put riders in its policy. Note that our homeowners' policy has a mold exclusion - and that is pretty typical in Florida. Robyn