Real Estate Disclosures When Purchasing a Home in PA

[jamiehargrave]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania. I have an issue. I need to know what to do. I have tried going to my real estate agents but it seems that they aren't sure what I should do either. I purchased a home in July 2010. I had a home inspection and a township inspection. No real issues were found with the home, a couple of outlets was all. I was told by a neighbor the other day that there used to be an inground pool in my backyard..... I am a little upset because this wasn't disclosed upon settlement or contract of the home. I need to know what my rights are. I have called my real estate agents, they found the MLS listing from 1999 that shows the home was sold with a pool in the backyard. They told me to contact the seller myself and ask her if there is really a pool buried in the backyard. She never contacted me back, if she didn't tell me then, I don't think she is going to now. I also called my homeowners insurance to see if they would help with recovering any help to get this out of the ground. I need to know what my rights are and if a lawyer is needed here!!! Please help me!!!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Pennsylvania. I have an issue. I need to know what to do. I have tried going to my real estate agents but it seems that they aren't sure what I should do either. I purchased a home in July 2010. I had a home inspection and a township inspection. No real issues were found with the home, a couple of outlets was all. I was told by a neighbor the other day that there used to be an inground pool in my backyard..... I am a little upset because this wasn't disclosed upon settlement or contract of the home. I need to know what my rights are. I have called my real estate agents, they found the MLS listing from 1999 that shows the home was sold with a pool in the backyard. They told me to contact the seller myself and ask her if there is really a pool buried in the backyard. She never contacted me back, if she didn't tell me then, I don't think she is going to now. I also called my homeowners insurance to see if they would help with recovering any help to get this out of the ground. I need to know what my rights are and if a lawyer is needed here!!! Please help me!!!What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)?

Why are you so upset about a buried pool?

 

[justalayman]

Why are you so upset about a buried pool?

depending on what kind of pool it is/was and what was or wasn't done to the pool before it was buried they may have a problem of it holding water; in other words, they could end up with a pool full of water with some dirt tossed in it.


It has to be decommissioned properly.

 

[jamiehargrave]

I am a little upset about the pool because of the way some of the things were done in the house. We have been cleaning up the yard and gardens and have found trash buried in the yard. I am afraid that because there were no permits to have the pool, no one from the township even knew the pool existed. They could have filled it with anything. I also have an ant problem that may not have anything to do with it but, I don't want to risk having that expense when I try to sell my home down the road.

 

[nextwife]

Do you even KNOW if the pool was buried?

It may have been removed and the yard then filed.

 

[jamiehargrave]

The pool was buried. It was verified by neighbors who were nice enough to tell us. The woman who sold us the house didn't feel a need to let us know, that's why I know its there. You can also see where they filled it in because the yard is graded up hill and the water from the rain drains towards the house

 

[John_DFW]

they found the MLS listing from 1999 that shows the home was sold with a pool in the backyard.

Is this when the sellers bought the property?

I would think that it would also show on the survey if it wasn't filled in when they bought it.

Obtain quotes, make repairs, send demand letter with proof they knew about the pool. Take them to court if they don't pay.

 

[justalayman]

what kind of pool was it (type of construction)? If a liner type pool, was the liner removed or damaged so it would drain? If some other type of pool, was anything done to allow it to drain?