You have the keys to your new house and the life you have been dreaming of starts here. Thanks to the general stress of moving, it can take you a few days to relax and start to feel at home in your new property. As you settle in, the inevitable happens – you see a few things about the house that you did not notice on the viewings.
You need not worry; it happens. Considering how big a purchase a house is, it is shocking how little we tend to view them before we buy! Of course there’s going to be a few things that you missed and, if you’re lucky, they’re not going to take too much work to bring up to your exacting standards.
If you are not lucky, you can find yourself on the receiving end of a total mess.
Houses Look Their Best When Being Sold
When it came to selling your house, you probably consulted some of the advice that flies around about how to make the property attractive to buyers. You will have been told to make it look as good as possible, to draw their eye away from any potential issues, to brighten and spruce it up even if it is only a temporary measure.
You now find yourself on the receiving end of that same process – and the facade is beginning to crumble.
Hopefully, the problems are easily fixed. Discovering that the kitchen cupboards need a deep clean, or the carpet is stained where the previous occupant had hidden it with furniture… those can be dealt with.
The more serious concerns are those that can affect health. If you have any reason to suspect that a wall is not sound, the electricity is not as it should be, or anything else that seems perilous then you have to take action. The first step is to resolve the issue so the house is safe to live in, so go ahead and bring in home electrical repair service for the wiring or a structural engineer to cast their eye over load-bearing walls.
With that done, you might start to be angry. You were sold a house that had an inherent flaw – do you have any recourse?
The Answer Is… Maybe
If you have been sold a house that is clearly not what it was described to be, then there might be some legal action you can take. This is especially true if you have discovered anything that is unsafe.
However, a lot of the burden of being satisfied with the house before you purchase it tends to fall on you. That is why you will constantly see reminders that you should have a house surveyed before buying it.
If you did and they still missed something (which does happen), then the best chance for a legal judgment in your favor is going up against the surveyor – not the previous occupants.
If you did not, then you could indulge in a costly battle that might not result in anything. Nevertheless, consult legal advice and see if you have a case – you may at least be able to be reimbursed for the work fix and renovation you had to do.
