Urgent: Water Leak for brand new house, Please help!!!

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Urgent: Water Leak for brand new house, Please help!!!

Serena Sun
Real Estate Investor · Kirkland, WA · Member since 2013 · 42 posts · 2 votes

Hi Everyone, 

First, thanks to those who advise me to refinance our old primary to buy a new home. We just finished refinance and use it as the down payment for a brand new house, and it will be closed in couple days. 

Today is our walk through with the builder before closing!! Something totally unexpected happened. 

We were testing the new washer machine on second floor, then went outside for about twenty mins. We noticed that the mudroom ceiling was dipping water. We went upstairs, i saw the laundry room floor flushed with water. Some carpet around the door was also wet. Substantial amount of water (probably a gallon or so) trickled down the mud room through the light fixture in the ceiling. There was also a small leak in the garage (about several cups of water).

The builder said that they will repair the damage caused by water. My husband and I are pretty upset this happen to a brand new house, and we are very concerned. 

We have no experience about water leak, so would like to hear your opinion:

1. Should we close the house, or just try to get out of the contract and find another house?

2. If we still buy the house (my husband likes the view), what action can we take to ensure that everything has been fixed and there's no future impact?

We don't know how large the impacted area is. Once water got under the floor, it could spread freely. Does that mean insulation needs to be replaced? What about the ceiling? Would it expand or have water marks? Most importantly, would mold grow if it isn't completely dry and treated?

Do you think we might ask the builder to cut price because of the water leak? (it's a $850K house) How about ask builder to extend the warranty? How long will it be reasonable?

Sorry about all these questions and we really appreciate it if you can tell us what you think if you were us. 

Thanks in advance for your help

Best wishes

Serena

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Joel OwensBusiness Member
Moderator
Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
10y

Here is an example. When the washer is upstairs you need fail safes. 

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  • Serena Sun
    OP
    Real Estate Investor · Kirkland, WA · Member since 2013 · 42 posts · 2 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Scott Weaner:

    I think that everything is fixable. I would not cancel the contract because of this. Just make sure the repairs are done right.

     Thanks Scott, 

    I still like the house, hopefully the repair will be done soon. 

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  • Vladimir K.
    Real Estate Agent · Wheaton, IL · Member since 2008 · 66 posts · 32 votes
    10y

    It really depends on a builder.  I would test and re-test the plumbing before you close.  I don't mean to scare you but I know of a case where a builder "forgot" to hook up a sewer line.  The pipe was busted, so there was drainage out of the house but too much water too soon (such as washer discharge while taking a shower, as an example) caused water to back up and pour out of toilets.  In that particular case, a builder ended up performing everything per the contract and the buyer was ultimately satisfied.  The trick is that builders often have their client sign 'non-disclosure' before performing the work, so these things are seldom talked about.

    It really wasn't the builder's fault, per se.  They typically sub-contract all work so the sewer contractor was in the wrong.

    Also, on that house, a radon gas fan was installed backwards, so the air was pumped into the house rather than out of the house, which resulted in excessive humidity throughout the house until the fan was re-installed.

    Unfortunately, bad things do happen and it's important to be prepared.  Does your builder have a good reputation?  If not, perhaps they will be willing to create an escrow account to cover any issues after closing?  No legal advice.

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  • Tavisha Grant
    Contractor · Phoenix, AZ · Member since 2015 · 28 posts · 16 votes
    10y

    I would get a IICRC certified water mitigation company out there and request that they do several things:

    1.  Hire a leak detection company if the cause of the water loss isn't readily apparent.  It will just keep happening if you don't address the cause.

    2.  Have an environmental hygienist do a test to rule out mold growth.  Mold can grow in as little as 72 hours depending on the environment of the home.

    3.  Have the mitigation company come up with a plan to deal with any damage caused by the water.  They will also treat with an antimicrobial to make sure that no mold grows and to kill any mold that may have already grown.

    I deal with water losses every day.  It doesn't sound like a deal breaker to me.  But, I would make sure to get a clearance from the mitigation company that everything is okay in the home before moving forward with closing.

    Tavisha Grant, Public Adjuster, Property Claim Adjusters, Phoenix, AZ

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  • Benjamin Timmins
    Landlord · Utica, MI · Member since 2015 · 190 posts · 99 votes
    10y

    Just be glad you aren't dealing with there new construction plumber I used to work for.

    We had just got done doing a million dollar house with a pool and a kitchen in the basement. Turns out there was a leak in the basement ceiling. What you are supposed to do is cut a small hole in the ceiling and go up with a flash light to find the leak. Instead, my boss went every three or four feet and tore a hole in the ceiling with the claw of a hammer till he found the leak.

    In another house, this one going for about 500k, I was soldering on the turn off valves on the sinks and toilets. I was on the 2nd floor while boss was in basement. All of a sudden I hear him screaming and yelling. I come down to the first floor, and its totally flooded. He had turned on water to the house while the valves were still open (have to have the valves open to soder them on or you'll melt the rubber inside the valves). Totally ruined the carpet and hardwood floors in the house.

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  • Michael Ablan
    Real Estate Broker · Watertown, NY · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    I would 100% hold the contractor responsible and would refuse to close until the damages were repaired.  However, I'm talking from a place where we aren't starved for housing inventory.  

    It all comes down to whether or not you mind spending extra $$ and potentially incurring future headaches down the road.

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  • Jon Holdman
    Rental Property Investor · Mercer Island, WA · Member since 2008 · 22k+ posts · 14k+ votes
    8y

    This thread is two years old and was resurrected by a spammer.  Locking.

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