Expert: Dick Dennis - 10/23/2010

Question
I just bought my first home in Washington last week.  All of our purchase documents, home inspection and appraisal said our house was on sewer. When I called to get the utility bills switched into my name, the sewer company said they couldn't find my house and long story short we are on septic and didn't order any inspections before closing.  Even county records say its on sewer but all neighboring houses are on septic.  The inspections database went to computerized docs in 2005 and there is no record of an inspection or pumping at least since 2005 so I don't know when it was last inspected.  I have a company coming out this week to check it.  The estimate to get it checked and pumped provided nothing is wrong is $500.  Do I have any recourse?  

Answer
This is a case for super attorney, Kelly. First, your Realtor has errors and omissions insurance. The real estate attorney will jump on that. Then jumping on the defective county records would be next. They are going to assess the value of being attached to the sewer system which does not exist.

This case is going to be settled because the local county records also screwed up. That $500 bill will be part of that that is settled. It'll be up to you as to what you'll accept. With the county records screwed up, too, you may have something bigger than I thought coming to you. The attorney will take care of it. I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis
dixiedee13@aol.com