HUD Foreclosure......help!

**pkerber** · 12-30-2009, 09:04 PM

Hello all,

Thanks in advance for any help you can give me! Purchasing a HUD foreclosure in Bremerton, WA. House was winterized, so paid $60 extra to have it de-winterized so the gas furnace and water system could be inspected. My contractor friend inspected everything else before I signed the contract. He met the gas co. on Monday and they turned on the gas. He warmed up the house, turned on the water and went to the electrical panel (on the outside of the house) and discovered the water heater circuit breaker had been turned on at some point since our prior visit. He expected that the heater elements would be burned out and verified that was the case. The rest of the water system checked out fine.

My question: Who is responsible for the damage to the water heater? The company that HUD contracts to do the paperwork says that any damage to the house before closure is my responsibility! I used an analogy: "what if someone vandalizes the house before closing day, such as breaking out all the windows?" Same thing......I am responsible! This does not make any sense! Can anyone verify or deny if this is the case? Any and all responses are deeply appreciated! Thank you!

Patrick

**Greg** · 12-31-2009, 07:23 AM

This is why it is imperative to do a final walk through just before you close on the house. If you find damage that you can not deal with you can halt the closing.

The water heater elements are a minor repair and not much to be worried about.