If I renovate my house only to find significant fire damage, do I have to disclose this when i sell? More...?
Question:I just bought a house 2 weeks ago. While I was in the process of ripping down the walls to do some upgrades, I found much of the wood has been charred and some beams have been sistered (some have not)
The seller never disclosed to us that there was ever a fire in the house.
the house is 97years old, so it could have happened before her.
HOWEVER - the house has brand new windows, and the old molding from the house was saved, and reinstalled.
This means, the owner before us SAW the fire damage even if she didnt cause it.
1. If we can prove it happened while she lived there - do we have any recourse?
2. If we can prove it happned before she lived there, but she definitly KNEW about the fire damage, do we have any recourse?
Answers:
Suffice it to say that you have good reason to seek a free consultation with a lawyer.
If you can prove that she knew or had reason to know I think your case would be pretty strong. Especially if you could get the guys who put the windows in and find out if they told her about the damage.
But there is always the chance that she never knew. And if she never knew about the damage, then you have no case. A seller only has to disclose damages they are aware of.
Think you can track down the guys who installed her windows?
yes your suppose to disclose anything that might be a problem with your house . if you do or not is kind of up to you but your suppose to . i would not mention this if the fire damage is not making the house in the least bit unsafe
All of the charred wood must be replaced and the building must be inspected. She did a very bad thing by hiding the fire damage from you. Report her immediately.
Call your realtor ..yes you can claim against her if she new it was there.
Fire damage had to be inspected and signed off on by the building department ...also should have been disclosed to you at closing.
yes you should be as honest as you can,, we were told we had a dry basement, when we bought, it turned out it floods every year,,, the first year we lived here, many of the things that my children had made for me over the years was destroyed,, and it could have been prevented, if only he had told us it gets wet once a year. please be honest.
have a building inspector with forensic background look over/at,take samples,photos,videos , lab study,etc...get an attorney,with 2 inspection reports to prepare a case
Unless you specificly asked, I dont think she is required to disclosures anything until just before you close.
Most likely somewhere in all the documents you might have had to sign to close on the house, there a disclosure statement in which the seller has to check yes/no regarding fire damage. I not sure if all states require it but I know California statute require disclosures of fire damage (see source below). Of course, this assumes that she knew about the damage and the estimated damage excessed a statutory amount.
The new laws require a person/realtor to disclose damage to a house. I would contact the realtor and initiate a claim against the seller. If there was a fire, there should be some records somewhere, either w/ the city or the FD.
It's sad but people do it all the time. Car dealers don't tell you, that you are buying a lemon. On the other hand it's your conscious and if you believe in God he knows. Also what if you get a young couple or anyone who are just starting out and they purchased the home and their have endure the cost costing them money problems. Ask yourself could you live with that. Remember it's called karma
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