Hi everyone! We recently bought our first home and moved in a couple of weeks ago. During the inspection before closing, we flagged some issues with the toilets being loose and settled foundation. We asked for repairs, and although everything seemed fine at the final walkthrough, we started having problems shortly after moving in. The master bathroom toilet was shifting and then stopped working. I found a broken flange when I removed the toilet, so I fixed that and it worked fine for a week. However, it clogged again, and a plumber we called found a break in the main stack and a severe shift in the sewer line. They quoted about $10k to fix it! Our home warranty company won't cover much, and both plumbers agree this should've been detected before we closed. We're feeling overwhelmed and unsure of our options. Should we consult a lawyer or just wait for the handyman to take another look? Do we have any legal footing here?
2 Answers
Given the circumstances, it's smart to wait for the handyman's assessment before making any big decisions. If he confirms significant issues that weren’t disclosed, you might have some legal recourse. Just keep detailed records of everything and take a second opinion if needed. Best of luck with it all!
It sounds like a tough situation, and trust me, the first thing people usually suggest is to cancel that home warranty! If it's not a new build, it might not be worth the hassle. Unfortunately, when you buy a house, you're generally responsible for its issues unless you can prove the previous owner hid them. Look for anything in the contract that might cover you, but if it’s a typical sale, it’s tough to argue.
Yeah, the as-is clause is usually very solid. It might be worth getting legal advice on whether this can be considered negligence.