Old Home Owners Suck / I need advise.

[mahabali]

What does it take to get a permit?

[SideShow Bob]

About $40 and the incontinence of an inspection from a city dumazz after the work is compleated (within 90 days).

[MarkCO]

So when did it start leaking? How can you prove it...

Have you contacted your home owners insurance agent?

If you contact your insurance company, they will hire someone like me, who will examine it, determine the defect and if it really was faulty installation, they will deny the claim. It is possible you may get some tear out coverage in order to expose and determine the damage. However, once that claim is made, then there is also a basis for them to deny any subsequent claim if it can be connected.

Even though I work on these kinds of cases on a regular basis professionally, I actually went through the exact same process with my first house. I got the tear-out coverage only because I knew how to argue to claim with the insurance company.

[Drucker]

CAVEAT EMPTOR

[MarkCO]

CAVEAT EMPTOR

Does not apply to a home purchase unilaterally. That is one reason the mortgage holder requires inspections. I have actually worked on cases where the homeowner successfully sued the lender for "certification" of a residence that had defects. They got the entire repair, costs and temporary housing costs paid for by the lender.

[Drucker]

Good points, I was referring to the definition when a defect is obvious upon reasonable inspection before purchase. Which does seems to have been lacking in this case.

[Adam]

Thanks for all of your input guys. Do you think its worth contacting the home insurance?

[Irving]

I have a plumbing related question, but don't want to derail this thread until it has run its course.

If you do this repair yourself, you should document and put up a thread in the new DIY section!

[Adam]

Ask away! My question has been answered. I am thinking that I will just do this myself. The only thing I am worried about is the mold. My wife and I are planning on having kids and I dont want that in my house and I want to make sure its clean...

[MarkCO]

Thanks for all of your input guys. Do you think its worth contacting the home insurance?

It is a gamble depending on 1. How long you will keep the house. 2. How good your insurance claims adjusters "will be." and 3. Do you have a good relationship with your agent.

If you make a claim, you will have to disclose that when you sell. Could cost you some money short term if you sell. Claims adjusters are not all equal even within the same company. I deal with them daily from some of the majors and some seem hell bent on denying legitimate claims while others look for every angle to pay for a non-covered claim. If you can have a discussion with your agent, they might be able to give you more direct and personal feedback.

Then again, consider your deductible against the amount of damage considering that you could get sur-charged for 3 years as well. This is where your agent can really help you understand your coverage and the potential up and down side of a claim in light of your actual policy. Part of why I don't like companies where you don't get your own agent.