For those who have just completed the sale of a home, this is cause for jubilation. But buying a house with plumbing issues could cut the party short. Possible reasons include a lack of impartiality on the examiner’s part or an inappropriate degree of familiarity between the agent and the vendor. Regardless, is there any way to hold these people accountable?
In the following paragraphs, we will discuss steps you can take if you discover that your new house has plumbing problems after moving in. Following the completion of this article, you should have a distinct understanding of the following steps to take.
Has the sale ended? Is the property now legally in your name
It may be possible to cancel the home purchase before closing in exchange for a refund of the earnest money deposit. It could save you thousands of dollars, so it’s worth spending a few hundred on now. Also, if you find problems the sellers didn’t tell you about, you can back out of the deal before it closes by using the “kick out” time that some states give.
Why didn’t the vendor mention the plumbing problems
There are several scenarios in which a seller can conceal serious plumbing issues from a potential buyer. Perhaps the seller underestimated the scope of the work that needed to be done. They may have called a plumber to do the repairs, but the work was botched. It’s also possible that the seller attempted to make plumbing upgrades without the proper licensing or permissions to save money. The most important thing you can do before purchasing a home is to complete a thorough examination.
Has there been an inspection?
If you had the house inspected and paid for the results, what would they be? Did you know there were problems before buying a home with plumbing issues? Has the inspection company found any issues but failed to convey their severity? I am assuming they said the plumbing was in good working order. You have the right to sue the inspection company if they falsely assured you that the plumbing was OK.
Find out if it’s worth the effort
There are always problems when purchasing something used. Many of these problems are trivial, and you can fix them without spending a fortune. However, it’s understandable if the prospect of deception causes distress.
Removing yourself from the situation is essential. Find out what your friends think you should do in this situation, and use that to help you decide if it’s worth it to pursue legal action over the infringement. Begin with the vendor if the problem is critical.
Find out who has to pay for the repairs
Before commencing any big improvements, you should consult either your real estate agent or an attorney who focuses their practice on real estate law. The expense of any necessary repairs will be borne by the property’s purchaser, not the seller.
It is appropriate to point the finger of blame at the vendor in the following situations:
- The seller’s failure to make the agreed-upon fixes jeopardizes the validity of the sale.
- There was no way to discover the issue before the deal closed.
- The vendor intentionally withheld information on the plumbing.
Do you think it’s possible to get a home warranty?
Is a successful home inspection required to become eligible for a home warranty? In its most basic form, this insurance policy delays the payment for necessary maintenance. If you are responsible for this, you should get homeowners insurance as soon as possible after purchasing the residence. It is not worth your time to attempt to fix anything on your own because our research has shown that most warranties do not cover the cost of repairing the damage resulting from a novice’s actions.
Don’t try to fix your plumbing without professional help
After buying a house with plumbing issues, it’s important not to try to fix it yourself. If the vendor messed up and is willing to fix the plumbing, that’s the best-case scenario. Experts from Spyder Moving advise that if you buy a house and discover that you are liable for plumbing repairs, you should avoid the worst option: attempting the repairs yourself. It is the same as in the case of relocation when it is best to hire professionals to do it.
Some plumbing issues are simple enough for the average homeowner to solve on their own, such as when a new fixture has to be installed or when the caulking around the toilet needs to be replaced.
Some plumbing codes could be broken if you attempt any of the following DIY plumbing repairs:
- cutting through walls to replace pipes
- replacement of many linear feet of plumbing, requiring the digging up of grass to inspect sewage pipes.
- Performing DIY gas line repairs.
Therefore, after buying a house with plumbing issues and making a mistake, hiring a professional plumber to correct the problem and avoid legal trouble will require you to spend three times the average rate.
Get in touch with the plumbers in your area to fix the problem
If you think you have a plumbing problem, you should contact a plumber immediately to have them inspect it and provide you with a quote for the necessary repairs. The price should be fair if it’s only anything simple, like a clogged drain or worn-out toilet seal. In that instance, you can likely handle the situation on your own and even take the blame. Even though it would be annoying, it wouldn’t take a lot of force to handle the situation. After buying a house with plumbing issues, you may wonder if the seller is responsible for the cost of repairs if they are extensive (e.g., you need to replace all of the pipes or the water heater is old and no longer efficient) and the estimate is costly. That is especially important if you suspect a slab leak.
