Water damage

[ericandsonia]

What is the name of your state -Iowa
We bought a house in 2006 and had a full inspection prior to purchasing it. The inspection showed no water damage. No water damage was disclosed to us upon purchasing the home. We hated the basement carpet and paneling, so we replaced them, tearing out the paneling. When we tore out the paneling, we noticed two small areas of mold on the walls. We figured, because it was a basement where they had not been running a dehumidifier, it was just in need of not having the paneling any longer, and a dehumidifier. We took care of the problem and never had a recurrence. After 13 months of my job in this town, I had had enough and we put our house on the market, never having had any water problems. We sold the house in July of 2007. In May of 2008, Iowa was hit with some of the worst flooding of 500 years. During the time of the floods, apparently, the people who purchased our home sustained significant water damage. They are now asking us to pay for the damage. They also had a home inspection prior to purchasing the home where no water damage was found. In addition, they are stating our good friends and former neighbors told them we had had water damage, to which my friend has signed an affidavit to the contrary. We never had water damage. help!

 

[moburkes]

What is the name of your state -Iowa
We bought a house in 2006 and had a full inspection prior to purchasing it. The inspection showed no water damage. No water damage was disclosed to us upon purchasing the home. We hated the basement carpet and paneling, so we replaced them, tearing out the paneling. When we tore out the paneling, we noticed two small areas of mold on the walls. We figured, because it was a basement where they had not been running a dehumidifier, it was just in need of not having the paneling any longer, and a dehumidifier. We took care of the problem and never had a recurrence. After 13 months of my job in this town, I had had enough and we put our house on the market, never having had any water problems. We sold the house in July of 2007. In May of 2008, Iowa was hit with some of the worst flooding of 500 years. During the time of the floods, apparently, the people who purchased our home sustained significant water damage. They are now asking us to pay for the damage. They also had a home inspection prior to purchasing the home where no water damage was found. In addition, they are stating our good friends and former neighbors told them we had had water damage, to which my friend has signed an affidavit to the contrary. We never had water damage. help!

I'm not sure what help you're looking for. Home insurance doesn't cover the type of water damage you're referring to.

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state -Iowa
We bought a house in 2006 and had a full inspection prior to purchasing it. The inspection showed no water damage. No water damage was disclosed to us upon purchasing the home. We hated the basement carpet and paneling, so we replaced them, tearing out the paneling. When we tore out the paneling, we noticed two small areas of mold on the walls. We figured, because it was a basement where they had not been running a dehumidifier, it was just in need of not having the paneling any longer, and a dehumidifier. We took care of the problem and never had a recurrence. After 13 months of my job in this town, I had had enough and we put our house on the market, never having had any water problems. We sold the house in July of 2007. In May of 2008, Iowa was hit with some of the worst flooding of 500 years. During the time of the floods, apparently, the people who purchased our home sustained significant water damage. They are now asking us to pay for the damage. They also had a home inspection prior to purchasing the home where no water damage was found. In addition, they are stating our good friends and former neighbors told them we had had water damage, to which my friend has signed an affidavit to the contrary. We never had water damage. help!

**A: tell them to file a claim with their own insurance co.

 

[bluestblue.]

**A: tell them to file a claim with their own insurance co.

That flood claim wouldnt be covered by there company either, unless they had a flood policy witch i doubt they do.

No the OP's problem, and the new homeowner pays the damage by himself. Cant sue because the bacement flooded. who could have predicted that.?

 

[HomeGuru]

That flood claim wouldnt be covered by there company either, unless they had a flood policy witch i doubt they do.


**A: how would you know? Did you read the buyers homeowner's insurance policy?


########
No the OP's problem, and the new homeowner pays the damage by himself. Cant sue because the bacement flooded. who could have predicted that.?

**A: oh brother.

 

[bluestblue.]

I know this is a while back, but i am pritty confident ( replying to the deleted "how do i know, did i read the policy" ) that with ALL companies, there is NO COVERAGE for any kind of flood damage, and a flood being cateragized by any water that hits the ground in any way before comming into the home. Since this is in the bacement im sure the water hit the ground before comming in the home. therefore flood damage. therefore not covered. AND....

the flood policy provided by FEMA wouldnt cover the bacement unless specifically mentioned in the policy.

And finally I say they probably have no flood coverage because of the state there in and FEMAS flood zone maps, this is not a flood area... (total guess) therefore why purchace it. I bet the agent never even mentioned it.

 

[moburkes]

You're not totally correct. I've paid plenty of water damage claims where the damage was in the basement and it had nothing to do with a flood. Are you trying to provide the legal definition for a flood policy to pay out? Because you didn't do that right either.

 

[katelly]

Wheres the answer to question

No you are not liable and no you dont have to pay for it. Caveat emptor buyer be ware. You sold house homebuyer or you had inspection. House flooded after sale by worst storm in 500 yrs. Why would you have to pay. House passed inspection end of story. Even if house didnt pass inspection they still bought it under their house inspection terms. If their inspector missed something that's on them. But they are in worse shape cause most home inspector contracts read we dont pay for anything over $2500.00 in mistakes and we only pay whats inside foundation wall clearance. Home inspections are good but as an side insurance policy to buy a house you get what you pay for . I hope you have a copy of their or your home inspection that will help if they take you to court. You just need to prove worst flood in 500yrs in court and get copy of their home inspection.