Thread: Bought a house with previous inspection issues

Originally Posted by kcrobk

My question is, am I liable for inspection problems that were passed onto me by the previous owners?

In a word... YES! I know it sucks, but that is the way it is. You could always remove the non-permitted "improvement," but you might just want to pay the fines and get a permit pulled, which then means inspections, and the whole enchilada... Yeah, it sucks.

Originally Posted by kcrobk

We purchased this house about 1 year ago and lately a city official came to the house saying that they had a permit problem for our pool when it was installed 3 years ago for the previous owners. They said they didn't have proper documentation of the bonding of the concrete (i think) and they hadn't gotten back to do anything about it until just now (Kansas city is strapped for cash at the moment).

My question is, am I liable for inspection problems that were passed onto me by the previous owners? They dropped a notice off that I may have to pay fines and such if I don't take care of this problem. I'm going to talk to them monday but I thought I'd see if anyone had experience with this.

I live in Kansas City, Missouri.

Thanks

Rob

you maybe liable for the inspections, but you can always go back to the x owner and get some money out of him for the non inspected pool.

Originally Posted by plumberdude

you maybe liable for the inspections, but you can always go back to the x owner and get some money out of him for the non inspected pool.

HA! PlumberDude, you make me laugh... Now really, you certainly could try, and I do wish you the best with that... you MIGHT get them to give you something, but the purchase was an AS IS sale.

Well I guess the problem was they were supposed to have the inspector out to verify that all the electrical was grounded properly and such before they poured the concrete deck around the pool. A neighbor or someone called it in and the inspector came out after the concrete had been poured. The previous owner told the inspector that he had some pictures of the pool before the concrete and that he would provide them. He of course didn't because he already had the house up for sale. So that being said, I'm hoping they don't want me to tear the concrete up so they can look at it. I have no idea what they will do and the previous owners were in foreclosure proceedures when we bought the house (had a company making payments for them though they still owned the house). I've had sheriffs coming by the house trying to serve papers to the previous owners and once the IRS sent about 6 really thick letters here for him (which i peeked at through a lamp) for bills totalling around a quarter million dollars in unpaid taxes so I doubt I can get any money out of him.

It doesn't seem right that they can sell you a house with known problems that they purposely concealed but life isn't as fair as I'd like it. Thanks for all of your input I greatly appreciate it.

Rob

Originally Posted by kcrobk

Well I guess the problem was they were supposed to have the inspector out to verify that all the electrical was grounded properly and such before they poured the concrete deck around the pool. A neighbor or someone called it in and the inspector came out after the concrete had been poured. The previous owner told the inspector that he had some pictures of the pool before the concrete and that he would provide them.

Yeah, that is what is usually done... How did the owner get that past the concrete guys. Besides pictures really are not sufficient to inspectors.

Originally Posted by kcrobk

It doesn't seem right that they can sell you a house with known problems that they purposely concealed but life isn't as fair as I'd like it.

Well, I would have commented, but you just answered yourself... Life isn't fair... And as you keep playing in this game of RE, if this is the worst thing at a seller does to you, you are lucky... I have had worse, and expect more as I play... The sellers ALWAYS have something to hide.

Originally Posted by REITrainingWhse

HA! PlumberDude, you make me laugh... Now really, you certainly could try, and I do wish you the best with that... you MIGHT get them to give you something, but the purchase was an AS IS sale.

boy am I glad that i can bring some happiness into someones life. I think I have done my job.

Have you tried contacting the pool builder? They are the ones who poured the concrete prematurely and they should be held responsible. I doubt the seller built the pool without a pool contractor.