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Pennsylvania- Lied on Property Discloser

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Valerie

Guest
Help! We purchased our home 30+ days ago, and our main concern was water leakage or seepage of any kind, since we live in a gated
community with a lake. We were told repeatedly that there has never been any water in the house. Our home is a bi-level, and we have a family of 5, so ever inch of space in crutial. After the first rain storm, we awoke to find the entire lower level under at least 2 inches of water. The newly installed berber carpet as well as a lot of personal effects were ruined. The previous owners left behind a sump pump, even though they claim it was never needed. They also left a huge industrial size fan to dry carpets, that again they say they have never needed. I can see on hidden parts of wood old water marks, where the water had been prior to this instance. In addition, our neighbors informed me that the previous owners were constantly running a water extractor on the carpets in the lower-level, they thought they just liked clean carpets. My husband was in water-proofing buisness for 3 years prior to his career in Data Processing. He said that any water-proofing inspector would be able to look at the amount of water that we had in our home (which I video-taped) and be able to tell you that that amount of deterioration to the foundation doesn't occur all at once, it takes years, and the previous owners would have HAD to have water in the home. However, the previous owners still maintain that they never did. What can we do? It will cost nearly $10 thousand to get a drain system put in, just to make all of the square footage that we paid for livable. Not to mention the damage done to the rooms, like the family room, wet bar, office, laundry & storage rooms. I have contacted our agent, who put us in touch with the previous owners, who just say it isn't so. Any advice you could give us would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!
 


I AM ALWAYS LIABLE

Senior Member
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Valerie:
Help! We purchased our home 30+ days ago, and our main concern was water leakage or seepage of any kind, since we live in a gated
community with a lake. We were told repeatedly that there has never been any water in the house. Our home is a bi-level, and we have a family of 5, so ever inch of space in crutial. After the first rain storm, we awoke to find the entire lower level under at least 2 inches of water. The newly installed berber carpet as well as a lot of personal effects were ruined. The previous owners left behind a sump pump, even though they claim it was never needed. They also left a huge industrial size fan to dry carpets, that again they say they have never needed. I can see on hidden parts of wood old water marks, where the water had been prior to this instance. In addition, our neighbors informed me that the previous owners were constantly running a water extractor on the carpets in the lower-level, they thought they just liked clean carpets. My husband was in water-proofing buisness for 3 years prior to his career in Data Processing. He said that any water-proofing inspector would be able to look at the amount of water that we had in our home (which I video-taped) and be able to tell you that that amount of deterioration to the foundation doesn't occur all at once, it takes years, and the previous owners would have HAD to have water in the home. However, the previous owners still maintain that they never did. What can we do? It will cost nearly $10 thousand to get a drain system put in, just to make all of the square footage that we paid for livable. Not to mention the damage done to the rooms, like the family room, wet bar, office, laundry & storage rooms. I have contacted our agent, who put us in touch with the previous owners, who just say it isn't so. Any advice you could give us would be greatly appreciated!!! Thank you!
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

My response:

In PA there are real estate disclosure laws; e.g., every known material defect in a home or the land, must be stated. However, this does not obviate your duty to have had a "home inspection" by your own inspector prior to purchase. Now, it appears you have a lawsuit to contend with. I would see an attorney because there is fraud and misrepresentation involved in the sale. I would name not only the previous owners, but the agent as well. Good luck to you.

IAAL



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