Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 21:32     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

How much we taking about, an inch, a foot?
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 21:31     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Basements get wet. Big deal. I had a wet basement for 18 years. Every few years it get a bit wet
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 21:28     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Anonymous wrote:Just a month after closing our basement was flooded. In the disclosure forum the seller stated that they had a flood last year and fixed it. They described the fixes and our inspector confirmed the fixes. They updated their sump pump, graded their hard and put it new gutters. However, for this flood it looks like the water was under the slab as if there is some kind of foundation crack because we found water in the supply ducts. This house was built in the 60s and they put the supply duct under slab (incredible right?). The area that was flooded was a different area of the house too.

What are our options? Should we ask our realtor to get in touch with the homeowner. We are devasted as we just closed a month ago.

YOU are the homeowner. The prior owners are no longer responsible because YOU own the house!!
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 21:20     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Anonymous wrote:OP here. Thank you everyone for posts. We decided to get a structural engineer to make sure the foundation is okay. If it is we will call an HVAC contractor to seal the ducts under the slab. And we will also look into the grading by the side that flooded.

This stinks. It will likely cost $$$.

Now if the engineer finds a hidden foundation issue that's going to cost a lot to fix, what would we do?



Fix it. The house is YOURS now. The previous sellers no longer exist for all intents and purposes.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 18:53     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

OP here. Thank you everyone for posts. We decided to get a structural engineer to make sure the foundation is okay. If it is we will call an HVAC contractor to seal the ducts under the slab. And we will also look into the grading by the side that flooded.

This stinks. It will likely cost $$$.

Now if the engineer finds a hidden foundation issue that's going to cost a lot to fix, what would we do?

Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 18:18     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Like the pp said, your only option is to take the sellers to court which will cost both of you a ton of money and you will most certainly lose. Take that money and repair the damage. Talk to 3-5 contractors and make sure their license is current.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 18:11     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

It sounds like the foundation drains weren’t functioning properly, still aren’t, and they didn’t deal with them. They just fussed with the gutters and changed the sump pump. But the drains leading to the sump pit are still getting overwhelmed.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 16:53     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Anonymous wrote:The Internet needs to stop scaring first time owners about water. The fear mongering when it comes to water is just ridiculous. If you don't live in a bad flood zone, you wan waterproof your home.

And also water coming into a basement is not the end of the world. In fact some of the waterproofing solutions involve interior drainage basically expecting the water and dealing with it once inside.

OP take a deep breath and call a few contractors.

For your own sanity stay away from Mold remediation contractors. Even if you have mold in your home you can take care of it yourself.


The concern isn't that it is the end of the world. The concern is that many of the effective fixes are enormously expensive. Particularly for someone who just bought a home and is likely cash strapped.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 16:46     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

To prevail you have to prove that the seller knew the problem existed and if the seller attempted to fix it you also have to prove that the seller knew it wasn’t fixed.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 16:08     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

You don't contact the sellers after you've closed. Period. End of story. It's your problem now.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 16:01     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Anonymous wrote:Just a month after closing our basement was flooded. In the disclosure forum the seller stated that they had a flood last year and fixed it. They described the fixes and our inspector confirmed the fixes. They updated their sump pump, graded their hard and put it new gutters. However, for this flood it looks like the water was under the slab as if there is some kind of foundation crack because we found water in the supply ducts. This house was built in the 60s and they put the supply duct under slab (incredible right?). The area that was flooded was a different area of the house too.

What are our options? Should we ask our realtor to get in touch with the homeowner. We are devasted as we just closed a month ago.


No, I think your realtor would think you are crazy if you tell them to call you about this issue.

This sucks, but from your account it sounds like you had bad luck and your new home flooded despite the remediation done by the prior owner.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 15:07     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

The Internet needs to stop scaring first time owners about water. The fear mongering when it comes to water is just ridiculous. If you don't live in a bad flood zone, you wan waterproof your home.

And also water coming into a basement is not the end of the world. In fact some of the waterproofing solutions involve interior drainage basically expecting the water and dealing with it once inside.

OP take a deep breath and call a few contractors.

For your own sanity stay away from Mold remediation contractors. Even if you have mold in your home you can take care of it yourself.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:34     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

sub floor ducts were common in the 60s 70s. In those climate change wasn't concern. However, today with the amount of water that can fall within 60 mins when we have big storms, this is becoming a big issue. Seal them up as someone said earlier.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 14:27     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Anonymous wrote:I would get quotes from multiple foundation companies. It will be expensive but you might feel better once there is a number on how much it takes to fix and you can focus on getting it done.


This. Let say in the worst case it cost you $100k which I doubt, you sadly deal with it and move on.

Foundation issues happen. I tried to sue a builder but I lost and waisted over 50k in the process. Our house was built in 2003 and by 2004 we got some big foundation issue, which independent reports showed the builder was at fault. oh well. Our house has appreciated so much since then and now it looks like pocket change what we spent back then.
Anonymous
Post 09/06/2025 13:59     Subject: What are our options? Issues 1 month after closing

Anonymous wrote:You should re-route your hvac ducts anyway because sub-floor ducts are horrible, for both mold and radon reasons. Just seal ‘m up.


This