Expert: Dick Dennis - 7/10/2006

Question
We closed on our house on June 30, 2006, we started moving in on July 4th ,we woke up on July 5th with a flooded basement, I called Old Republic Home Warranty a company that the sellers purchased a home warranty with on this property, they could not get a plumber out for 6 days, We contacted a plumber ourself he came out on July 10, and told us that the tree roots have stopped up our pipe lines to the septic tank BUT that the sellers knew that this was a problem. Can I get the sellers to pay for this COSTLY REPAIR? We've not been in this house one week and it has been nothing but problems. We have 5 girls that we have to keep taking to the store to use the restroom, PLEASE respond ASAP I am very upset about this whole mess. Thank You, Karen Fulmer  

Answer
As long as you can prove that the previous owners knew of this problem, Karen, you should not have any problem getting a real estate attorney to get them to pay for the repairs . . . if they did not reveal this in the disclosure statement you should have received prior to closing. If they did reveal this prior to closing, then you may wind up paying for the whole shebang because you did not use Republic's repair person. I strongly suggest you consult with a REAL ESTATE attorney.

I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis               dixiedee13@aol.com