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Dear Previous House Owner.

Dear Previous House Owner,

The least you could have done is told me that anytime it rains, the nicely finished tiled basement area, the one holding my computers and livelihood floods. I realize, that had I known that the nicely finished basement with the tiled floor gets flooded every time it rains because of the half-assed code violating installation of the sewage pump in the garage allowing water into the house, I would not have bought the house.

In addition to the hidden plumbing issues, the veneer you added to the area (which floods anytime it rains for more than 10 minutes) to hide the fact there is a flooding issue was a nice touch.

I understand I have only myself to blame – after all, I should have torn up the floor and pulled apart everything to find out the fact it floods (every time it rains) and that the upstairs bathroom has a rotted floor, a bum toilet and issues with the sheet rock (rotted).

I have no recourse against you, the inspector, or anyone. Instead, you, a couple with a small child saddled another couple (with a small infant child like yours) with this house.

When I started the purchasing process, I began it with excitement. Now I sit in a house I have lived in for less than a month, but spent most of my money on, with my feet in a standing pool of water as I type this – the gently splish splish of my feet in the ice cold water reminding me of how much I wish you were here so you could help me mop, for the fourth fifth sixth time.

Oh, but mopping doesn’t help – but you knew that. You knew that the reason there were tiled floors in this part of the house is so that there was “no long term damage” to the area (which floods every time it rains).

So thank you for not telling us the house floods every time it rains. You’ve helped us build up so much character knowing never to trust anyone, even if they are another young couple with a small child – just like us.

Unlike you, I’m honest and responsible, and I’m going to fix this mess you’ve left me with, so my wife, daughter and I can live happily here in our first house which floods every time it rains.

I’m quite cross with you right now.

-Jesse

  • Bob Rizika
    Jesse,

    Having purchased a house and experienced similar items I would be happy to relate the most cost effective solutions that I used in fixing the problem. Just let me know if you want help.

    Bob R.
  • Jos
    Dood. I'm _soooo_ sorry. We are now in our second house, and i found both purchasing experiences very very stressful. Its the biggest purchase you are going to make, and there is no warrente (other then with a new house), and people are out to screw you all the time. It sucks to have to look on the rest of humanity with such a critical eye.

    Anyway, my heart (and dry air/mop/towels) go out to you...
  • Not sure how this is in your country, but here (in the Netherlands) you can hold the sellers (the previous house owners) responsible/accountable for hidden defects or "features". For instance, if you buy a house and after you move in, the hotwater does not work, you can have the previous owners install a new furnace (is that's what it's called) if they did not tell you that it didn't work before you actually bought it. Hope there is some law overthere as well. Flooding sucks.
  • C
    Hey Jesse, digging a trough over to your neighbor's house so that all the water goes their way might help!!! ;)
  • jerry
    I have seen two cases where flooding of this type was caused by improper drainage outside the house. I used to live in a place that would flood during heavy rains - a combination of a leaky eavestrough and the ground sloped towards the house. Digging a trough in the lawn and then fixing the eavestrough resolved the issue. My next door neighbor also had a problem with flooding. When it rained I would watch the water come out the downspout, through the spout that carried it 4 feet from the house, then run right back towards the foundation because the landscapers were too lazy to push the dirt up under the outcropping where the fireplace was.

    I'm not saying this is your problem, just that it's a really dumb cause that's easy to check for.
  • Yeah - some of this *is* due to bad drainage: My summer is cut out for me, however there are several other contributing factors to the flood, including bad construction, drainage and other things.
  • Damn, really sorry to hear that, Jesse. You are not making me want to live in a condo that much more.
  • It's really just buyer beware. I was too trusting, and it's my first time buying. I really blame myself for this predicament.
  • mmarshall
    Is the basement half empty or half full?

    Learn to look at the bright side: you have an indoor swimming pool!

    MWM
  • But I already have a pool outside. The thing inside is more of a lagoon. All I need is the phantom of the opera pushing a boat with a hot chick around under my desk singing songs then I could feel better about it
  • J
    wow. That is horrible. I hope things are made right!

    Whenever my parents bought a house they looked over everything very carefully (especially for water damage as that is the most common). But my grandpa was a top notch home builder so that helped a lot.
  • a
    You may want to check your states home seller disclosure laws. You may be able to sue.. Check with your realtor.
  • I've already sent my realtor and attorney email. I could forgive hidden plumbing issues - but both times it's rained, it's flooded the basement. Quite annoying. Luckily I'm anal about cable management so there's nothing electrical touching the floor.
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