Home Owners Insurance Foundation Repair

♦ November 25, 2012 ♦ Leave Your Comment

Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION:
Will home insurance cover tree roots causing water to enter my basement?
I live in montana, and tree roots have grown under my foundation and drawn up ground water, created a path for the water to follow, and separated my foundation from my footing allowing water to enter my basement. Will any home owner’s insurance cover this type of damage or repair? It is a city tree, would they be liable? Thank you.
- ANSWER:
  No, for several reasons:
  
  1. Tree roots are a maintenance issue.
  2. Foundation damage is specifically excluded on the standard policy, except by fire
  3. Water damage, from water seeping/leaking into the basement, is considered flood, and also excluded on the homeowners policy.
  
  The city isn’t liable. Any part of the tree on YOUR property, is YOUR responsibility – including the roots.
  
  Sorry, you’ll have to get this done on your own.
QUESTION:
Will home insurance cover tree roots causing water to enter my basement?
I live in montana, and tree roots have grown under my foundation and drawn up ground water, created a path for the water to follow, and separated my foundation from my footing allowing water to enter my basement. Will any home owner’s insurance cover this type of damage or repair? It is a city tree, would they be liable? Thank you.
- ANSWER:
  I don’t know what things are like where you live, however here (Vancouver, BC, Canada) most insurance companies give up to 20% off depending on the protection you have. The better the system the less risk of loss hense lower rates.
  
  Check out this site, if you want to find the cheapest home insurance just in one minute,
  
  http://best-cheap-home-insurance-usa.blogspot.com/
  
  Here you can get free quotes from different home insurance companies in your area, its the best way to find an afforable home insurance with a reliable company.
  
  Best Wishes,
QUESTION:
I live in a condo, and I discovered termites in an upstairs bathroom.?
Is this something that I can ask my Home Owners Association to address?
- ANSWER:
  By all means. This is something they don’t want to spread. The association probably has a termite bond and a treatment plan. According to insurance companies – The condo association owns and is responsible to the center of the outside walls…. you are responsible for all the inside to the center of the outside walls.
  
  Therefore, since termites enter from the ground – building tunnels up the foundation walls into the wooden part of the walls – the condo association is responsible for not keeping the termites out.
  They should be the ones doing the expensive treatment.
  
  You may be responsible for repairs within your condo.
QUESTION:
Our home has a sinking foundation is it covered by home insurence?
WE recently bought this house the ex-home owner said the cracks in the wall are due to previous house movement and he took care of the problem and the house is not moving right now this was confirmed by the house inspector too, now i got a foundation expert just to look at it and he said the house is dropping and the cost of the repair would be 30,000$ now I am afraid to go the insurence because if I go i am afraid that they would say it is a preexisting condition and they wouldnot cover it ,please help.
- ANSWER:
  Well “foundation expert”? if he is a contractor be leary. He may know how to install a foundation and can point out the obvious defects, but does he know what the result will be of the defects?
  
  Consider getting yourself a structural engineer. You’ll need one anyway if you are looking for any type of settlement.
  
  I don’t think your insurance company will back you on this… However… if this is not listed on your disclosure form (part of your purchase agreement) then you have a grievance with the former property owner.
  
  No matter who is at fault, you still need to get an engineer out there to tell you if you have an issue, what is the fix. He/she has nothing to gain or lose by telling you the truth. Contractor??
  
  Good luck!
QUESTION:
Does foundation warranty cover issues created by bad foundation?
What I mean is, if i have a warranty on my foundation, and there is indeed a problem with it, will it cover the costs to fix issues caused by the bad foundation i.e. cracks in walls etc? Or only the foundation repair?
- ANSWER:
  The answer depends on the age of your foundation and the terms of your “warranty”. If it is new, generally a licensed contractor is on the hook for repairs for up to 18 months (in MI). If dealing with the contractor first gets you no results, then complaints can be filed with the licensing office (which can be found online). They will generally force the contractor to a resolution if case warrants it. However, buildings and walls sometimes settle and heave with the ground and can create “minor” issues, such as cracking drywall (looks more like a jagged line). This can sometimes be anticipated in northern climates. That does not excuse poor foundation work. You’ll probably have to get a second opinion from another contractor or local building inspector on the cracks in your foundation and get them to state that is why the walls are in disrepair and not seasonal changes. If your foundation is old, then it’s unlikely any insurance policy is going to cover cracks in your foundation. If it was a warranty purchased when purchasing the home through the previous owner or agency, then an attorney is all the legal advice I can suggest.
QUESTION:
What do I look for when viewing a house I want to buy?
I’m looking at some houses with a real estate agent tomorrow and I wanted to know what I am looking for? This is my first time buying a house and I’m a little freaked.
- ANSWER:
  First find a house that you like for room and design. Before you sign any papers insist on getting a home inspection and make the contract contingent upon a favorable home inspection. You pay for the home inspection. If the inspector finds anything, you can negotiate to have it fixed or pass on the house if it’s a big thing. They will check the foundation, electrical, plumbing, roof, crawl, basement, appliance, furnance, etc.
  
  Second, Ask the seller to buy Home Owners Warranty for you. The seller is the only one that can by this. It will cover all repairs inside the house for a period of one year usually with a 0 deductible for you. This includes appliances, plumbing, electrical, walls, etc. When I bought this house, it had gas leaks, water leaks, needed a new water heater, dish washer, and dryer. The warranty covered it all for the 0 deductible. In todays market, it they won’t buy it for you, find something else.
  
  If the house is dirty when you walk in (not toys not picked up) but garbage everywhere, smells, or is by electric lines or a retention pond. Look else where. Retention ponds can overflow and flood the basement.
  
  Go to city hall and make sure it isn’t on a flood plain. It is almost impossible to get insurance for flooding if it is. And speaking of insurance, call your insurance agent and see if they will insure the house. Sometimes if there was a mold problem, you can’t get insurance even if you are the new owner.
  
  Real estate agents can not tell you the ethnic mix of a neighborhood or how the schools are rated. For the first, you can go to any public place and observe the people – even a school ground. For school ratings, go the the School District and they can give you information on how they are rated.
  
  Third, if you decide to write a contract put a clause in it that all contracts have to be reviewed by your attorney (and give a time limit) before accepted. This will prevent you from signing something that they tell you is one thing, but is actually another.
  
  Fourth, anything that you want to stay in the house (like window air conditioners, window treatments, appliances, etc.) have to be put in writing or it doesn’t have to be left.
  
  Have fun, it’s not as hard as it seems if you use a little common sense.
QUESTION:
I’m contemplating buying a 1500 sq. ft. house to flip. It has mold and what do I do about it?
The house has mold problems the & previous owners had to move out. Now it is on the market & the price is approximately half of what it would be if it had no mold. As far as I’ve learned, there are no other problems such as foundation, roof, electrical or plumbing that could be considered as costly repairs. The appliances will need updating and electrical fixtures also. The bathrooms also need updating. I don’t know the source of the mold and can’t seem to find out. The lender now owns the property because the original owners could not keep it and do the repairs required by law. What do I do to correct the mold problem if I purchase the house & will I need bio hazard people to get involved? What will be my cost for this? I’m new at flipping with some building experience & do not want to make costly mistakes. I don’t want to be discourged but helped with a solution. I was sick & could not maintain my job. Now my family & I need this job. At 54 it is extremely difficult to get a new job.
- ANSWER:
  I would pass on this home. I’ve been remodeling homes for twenty years now and this is one problem I pass on by.
  
  Your going to have to get a Haz mat team in there that specializes in mold and can guarantee and certify, has insurance and bonded, all above, to clean up the mold. They’ll more then probably strip all the wall board out, bare the walls and then spray them, under the house also, strip everything down to the basic structure.
  
  That and rebuilding, could run much more then you’d ever claim back. Run, don’t walk away from the house.
QUESTION:
should i treat for termites?
ive seen swarms of termites outside in the yard no signs of any termite damage to the house, no wings in the window sill etc. but i saw them swarming outside yesterday.
i had the house professionally checked last yr and he confirmed the house was termite free but they are in the soil… do i need to spend 2000 bucks to have them killed?
- ANSWER:
  If they are swarming in your yard, they will eventually find your house. Keep in mind, the inspection you had really only checked about 15% of your home. It is impossible to see under the foundation, inside walls, under floor coverings etc. I used to work as an exterminator in Texas. There are 2 kinds of houses in the south, those that have been treated for termites, and those that will be treated for termites.
  Your home is the biggest investment of your life. Home owners insurance will NOT cover termite damage. The only real choice is do it now and prevent damage, or do it later and repair damage.
QUESTION:
Do i have to pay for roots cracking neighbors foundation?
i cut my neighbors lawn. one day we got talking about different things, and she mentioned that she has a water leak in her basement. she also showed me a crack that runs up the side of her foundation. after our conversation was done, i looked at it again, and i noticed that our tree is only 10 feet away from her house. i am almost positive that it is the roots from our tree that caused the cracks in her homes foundation. if this is the problem, do we have to pay for the damages.

note: i live in Ontario, Canada
- ANSWER:
  I would say NO but you did not exactly describe the tree on your lot as far as how tall it is and how much the top branches has spread out bec the root system on trees often resembles the upper growth.
  
  Then again you most likely have homeowner’s insurance to protect you from being sued for unintentional damages plus the repair firm when investigating the cause of cracks in her foundation would have to prove and take pics of several huge roots growing underground that reached her foundation. Also I believe one way for you to get peace of mind and doublecheck if your tree is responsible would be to stand at your tree and then looking at which your neighborhood foundation has cracks to draw a straight line, then maybe 4 or 5 feet away from your house start digging a hole below the surface checking if you come across tree roots. If none, then you might wnat to dig another 2 holes parallel along the property line again to check for roots.
  
  Personally I think you are over reacting bec at a previous house, our neighbordoor on the side next to his other neighbor had cracks in his foundation that were large enough that he nailed lumber in place on the two sections splitting apart but the cracks are not becasue of bushes, rather our neighbor suspected it was because the previous owner had an oversized hot tub/jacuzzi in one of the large bedrooms in the basement.
  
  Hope the Above Info Helps!
QUESTION:
Should a 6 y.o. home need foundation repair?
My house was built in 2001, and we are starting to have problems with doors not closing and small verticle cracks inside. Is it strange that a house that new would need foundation repair? Is there something else that can be causing this? We are in north Texas and have a slab foundation. I will be calling some places for estimates, but wanted to get some ideas first. We are the second owners of this home built by DR Horton. Is it possible a builder’s warranty might cover this? Our homeowners insurance only covers foundation repair caused by flooding. Thank you.
- ANSWER:
  Houses do settle and wall cracks occur as a result. Vertical cracks can be fixed as they are normally cosmetic. BUT, horizontal cracks are serious!
  
  Contact a reputable home inspector or a contractor who does foundation work for an estimation of the problem.
  
  Is the house built on or near a ledge or close to a busy highway??
  
  I’d check with the neighbors to see if they have similar problems. Speak with the contractor after you have all of the facts. Six years is a long time to hold the contractor liable unless it was in the sales agreement.
QUESTION:
sewer leak in slab,can I get RWC warranty to cover repair?
D R Horton home 4 years old. Have sewer leak in slab, just noticed sunday 7/7/06. Will this destroy my home? Will the 10 year foundation warranty cover the very expensive fix. There is so much bad press about new home warranties, will they find a way out of covering the claim. Has anyone ever heard of RWC covering any claim on the 10 year foundation warranty?
Don’t know how I can come up with the money to fix this. But if I don’t act fast it will void the warranty.
Help me if you Can!!!!!
Katherine
- ANSWER:
  I’m not sure if RWC will cover it or not. You will have to read the warranty info and see what is covered and what isn’t. Most likely the warranty will only cover defects in the foundation. Your best bet will probably be to get your home owners insurance to pay for it. All you will have to pay is the deductible.
QUESTION:
Is it worth it to submit a clm on home owners ins ? I had some flooding in basement and suspect a crack in the?
- ANSWER:
  You are smart to wonder if you should file an insurance claim. Insurance premiums go up rapidly if you file claims. It makes sense. People who want their insurance to cover smaller problems will pay more.
  
  The CNN article linked below states that sometimes your agent will have to report that you’ve inquired about a claim. Water damage is noted as a particular concern.
  
  The most important thing is that you take care of the problem. If you have a crack in your foundation or plumbing, this should be taken care of immediately. If the cost of the repair will substantially exceed your deductible (any number that makes you say “whoa”!) then make the claim. Just know that you are likely to pay some of that money back in premiums.
QUESTION:
Home insurance coverages-pest and foundation?
I am wondering if home owner’s policies generally cover the following:

1. small animals (rats, squirrels or other rodents) living in your attic or walls. Would the policy cover either a professional pest control person to seal up the house and remove the animals and/or cover internal damaged caused by the animals?

2. Foundation settlement cracks. We have some minor settlement cracks around the house which caused water to leak into the basement. Would a policy cover the repairs of the cracks? Thanks.
- ANSWER:
  1. rodents and pests – including flea or termite infestations, etc, are typically excluded under the standard homeowners policy. These are just a normal maintenance thing that you have to nip in the bud, early. So no treatment, no damage, is covered, for damage by either rodents or insects.
  
  2. Normal foundation settling is excluded on the standard homeowners policy.
  
  Homeowners policy is not a maintenance contract – it’s designed to protect against sudden, unpredictable losses. Neither of these are sudden or unpredictable. Sorry.
QUESTION:
Can I buy Foundation insurance?
I am buying a house with foundation issues. It is a slab foundation in Texas. I am having the foundation repaired with a lifetime transferable warranty. I am having a structural engineers report compiled as well.

I am concerned about future settling and wonder if I can get specific insurance to address the foundation. I am worried about other issues in other areas that won’t be covered by the warranty

I carry my auto and home owners with Allstate and have been happy with them, but they do not offer this type of coverage.

Thanks for your assistance
- ANSWER:
  You’re not going to find it on a standard homeowners policy in TX. TX is well known for settling issues, and, settling and foundation issues are what’s called an “inherent vice” – it’s just something that you can expect to happen, ANYWHERE.
  
  If you went to a specialty market, you’d probably pay 20% or 25% of the value of your home in premium, IF you could find someone willing to take it on. In other words, it’s not going to be affordable for you to pay for someone else to maintain your foundation.
  
  That warranty you have, is only as good as the company backing it up – the second they close doors, the warranty is over.
QUESTION:
Real Estate problems…?
I have just bought a home. We closed on the 29th of Feburary. Once we moved in we realized the plumbing was bad. When the upstairs toliet is flushed, I get sewer water coming up in kitchen sink & threw the laundry drain. The seller did not disclose this, nor was it in the inspection. Can I sue to get the problem fixed, or is it all on me? THis was an FHA Loan, & it was not a AS IS Home. My home owners Insurance says it was pre-exhisting & they can’t pay for it. I had 2 plumbers come out, & say that I have severly deteriorated pipes under my slab. Which is affecting my foundation. Cost of repair is anywhere between 00-00 depending on what more they find after they jackhammered up my home. I live in the Dallas fort worth area.
- ANSWER:
  Every thing has to be disclosed. You have rights under the sales agrement. Exactly how you go and get out of the mortage or get a law suit — not sure how to handle this problem…
QUESTION:
Dog bite, who is responsible?
My 8 year old daughter went out in a friends yard, with another child, to play with the dog. I did not have any reason to question this dogs temperament because the other child was the dog owners granddaughter. The dog bit my daughter from the top of her right ear to her mouth, leaving a flap. We spent 8 hours in the emergency room having the damage repaired. If the dog owner has no insurance can I sue the person she is renting from, because they allowed the dog? There was no provocation. The children walked out the door, and the dog attacked.
She opened the door, shut the door, the dog attacked her against the door…no provocation.

If it were your child, would you want someone to just say….Lesson learned?

I own a dog too, so I am not a harsh dog person.

Imagine your child going to play with a friends dog and it attacks…would you just say “oh well, it was my fault”, and move along?

If you have some sort of feeling that I do not like animals think again, and be kind, we are talking about a little girls future here….and to hell with the damn dog.
I just want medical bills paid, I am not looking to become rich over this.
Dog impounded, report filed, owner had no proof of papers so we are waiting for that……I am sure the dog is properly vaccinated she just could not find the papers
Hey freakboy….if my dog had bitten someone I would take complete responsibility. I hope you never have children.
I have consulted an attorney, and he is looking into the situation. I have no responsibility, contrary to some beleif here, because I have known the dog for 12 years. There was no provocation and we were sitting within view of the incident. My daughter barely closed the screen door when the dog came at her.
I wanted to be in a section under law, but htis is where Yahoo stuck my question.
THE MOST IRRITATING THING IS THAT WHEN THE POLICE, AMBULANCE, ANIMAL CONTROL ARRIVED….THE RESPONSIBLE FAMILY TRIED TO HIDE THE DOG. THEY WERE TICKETED, AND ARE ALREADY IN TROUBLE WITH THE LAW FOR THIS.
- ANSWER:
  The owner of the animal would be held responsible for all fees associated with this and any legal costs as well. The home/apartment owner cannot be held liable because either she was keeping the dog there in violation of the contract she signed which would mean more fees for her or she is allowed to have a pet in which has to remain under her care. Medical bills are very expensive especially emergency service, there are many lawyers who you can ask for an opinion, I’m currently a law student the problem is while we do have a standard set of federal laws, state laws differ depending on the state either way your child was attacked.
  ALSO MAKE SURE THE DOG WAS UP TO DATE ON HIS RABIES VACCINATION!!
  The fact is your child was the victim and now you really need to think of how to care for her, I was attacked by a dog when I was 5 I had over 150 stitches. And no I didn’t provoke the dog the owner asked me to bring him out his food. You need to see if she can talk with someone that is around her age that has gone through something similar its really important that she knows she is not alone and that it was not her fault!! You should also look into getting some books on it. I have been doing some research for a new foundation, see if the aspca has any recommendations.
  
  ADDED: the fact is it is ALWAYS the owner responsibility to keep there pet under control. Anyone who is trying to blame you for it is wrong and it will not stand in a court of law. An a attack is an attack whether or not the animal was provoked, as long as that animal has no physical abuse marks or video, audio, testimonial evidence which can be proved came from your daughter when she was attacked, there is no provoking.
QUESTION:
Can someone please help me to understand this?
� 55-519. Required disclosures.

With regard to transfers described in � 55-517 of this chapter, the owner of the residential real property shall furnish to a purchaser a residential property disclosure statement in a form provided by the Real Estate Board stating that the owner makes the following representations as to the real property:

1. The owner makes no representations or warranties as to the condition of the real property or any improvements thereon, and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary including obtaining a certified home inspection, as defined in � 54.1-500, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement on a parcel of residential real property;

2. The owner makes no representations with respect to any matters that may pertain to parcels adjacent to the subject parcel and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due
diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary with respect to adjacent parcels in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement on a parcel of residential real property;

3. The owner makes no representations to any matters that pertain to whether the provisions of any historic district ordinance affect the property and purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary with respect to any historic district designated by the locality pursuant to � 15.2-2306, including review of any local ordinance creating such district or any official map adopted by the locality depicting historic districts, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement on a parcel of residential real property;

4. The owner makes no representations with respect to whether the property contains a
any resource protection areas established in an ordinance implementing the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act (� 10.1-2100 et seq.) adopted by the locality where the property is located pursuant to � 10.1-2109 and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence a particular purchaser deems necessary to determine whether the provisions of any such ordinance affect the property, including review of any official map adopted by the locality depicting resource protection areas, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement on a parcel of residential real property;

5. The owner makes no representations with respect to information on any sexual offenders registered under Chapter 23 (� 19.2-387 et seq.) of Title 19.2 and that purchasers are advised to exercise whatever due diligence they deem necessary with respect to such information, in accordance with terms and conditions as may be contain
contained in the real estate purchase contract, but in any event, prior to settlement pursuant to that contract; and

6. The owner represents that there are no pending enforcement actions pursuant to the Uniform Statewide Building Code (� 36-97 et seq.) that affect the safe, decent, sanitary living conditions of the property of which the owner has been notified in writing by the locality, except as disclosed on the disclosure statement, nor any pending violation of the local zoning ordinance which the violator has not abated or remedied under the zoning ordinance, within a time period set out in the written notice of violation from the locality or established by a court of competent jurisdiction, except as disclosed on the disclosure statement.
http://leg1.state.va.us
- ANSWER:
  The owner of the property doesn’t have to disclose (tell you)any conditions regarding property repairs to the potiential buyer except and in where a safety or code enforcement violation may occur or already be in place. In your state it is not against the law to assess a value to a property and then sell it as it is to a buyer and put the responsibility of the repairs onto the buyer. When purchasing a home or any property it is always the buyers responsibility, though some states have laws mandating the steps necessary for the sale or purchase of a property to be up to “code” and habitable, to have the home inspected and signed off on by a licensed property inspector. Most lending institutions and insurance companies won’t lend or insure a property without a recent, within 90 days to a year home inspection which has to be ordered and typically paid for by the buyer. If you skipped this step, then somehow it was overlooked by your lender and or insurance company and if in fact the inspection was done then the inspector could be liable for not disclosing the needed repairs unless the condition occured after 90 days to a year post inspection. The items typically inspected are roof, plumbing, heating, foundation, crawl space for mold, ice build up, moisture barrier, insulation, wiring and frame. Roof and foundation are a biggy…heating and plumbing next. Depending on the age of the house…such as with new construction there might be some provisions from the housing developement company that might hold them as liable for poor construction or substandard materials etc. Typically these only last for the first five years after the home construction is completed…not finished out but structurally complete. If you signed the above document then you agreed to waive the liability of the seller (previous owner) for your current damage. If you purchased the property from a lending institution then they could be liable for repairs. I’m sorry for your dilemma but when making a major purchase one must be very careful. Its a sellers market and the buyer beware. Pray about it and I’m sure a solution will present itself. One solution and this one might be harsh…is to put the house up for sale and disclose the structural problems…get an estimate and knock that much off the price of the home to entice a buyer. The other option would be to apply for a home repair/improvement loan. Also, instead of “lifting” the house..there are ways in which a company can come in and restructure the foundation to “shore up” a home. A friend of mine was loosing a basement wall and had this done. God bless you in your endeavor. I can tell you are stressing about it cuz you’ve posted on it a few times. Take it easy and remember…everything will be worked out one way or another. Love in Christ, ~J~
QUESTION:
What Can I Do if a Foundation Repair Company Defaults on Their Warranty Promise?
What Can I Do if a Foundation Repair Company Defaults on Their Warranty Promise?
I bought a home with a newly repaired foundation (work done in 2008) and the house has been showing major cracking. We called the company that did the work in to check it out and they admitted that it IS foundation trouble but said its the fault of our gutters and that they are draining water wrong, which voids the warranty.

The only trouble is, they couldn’t produce anything that stated these limitations to the “lifetime warranty” and then just showed up at my house with a paper they “found” that DOES say the warranty is void if proper gutters are not installed – something they didn’t have until we threatened to pursue legal action.

They are a small company run by two brothers and one of their wives and they seem very slimy even though they have been in business for 16 years. It is hard to talk to them because only the woman speaks fluent English and she is very hostile. (I didn’t choose this company – the previous owner did)

So – what can I do? I was told you can file a claim with a company’s insurance because they are required to carry it but I don’t think they will honor a request to do so or disclose who their carrier is.
- ANSWER:
  sue ’em.
  
  and stop doing business with small, fly-by-night family outfits that can’t back up their claims.
QUESTION:
What to consider while buying a house?
I am a first time home buyer and making a list of things I need to consider as a cost before I purchase it.
1. Closing cost – is this paid by the seller? WHat does this include?
2. Property tax – when is this due?
3. Home owner’s insurance – how much is it approximately?
4. Security system – how much is it approximately?
5. Inspection – how much does this cost?
6. Repairs – Is this covered in insurance?
7. Pest control – how much does this cost? can this be covererd under insurance?
8. Fire alarms – do I need to install these?

Please feel free to add to the list
Thank you
- ANSWER:
  1. Closing cost – is this paid by the seller? WHat does this include?
  Sometimes a motivated seller will help pay closing costs. These are the fees required to originate and produce the loan.
  
  2. Property tax – when is this due?
  This depends on your state. Sometimes these are due once or twice a year. You can pay a small amount every month through an escrow account with your mortgage payment. Some mortgage companies will facilitate this for you.
  
  3. Home owner’s insurance – how much is it approximately?
  Shop around. It depends on the house, location and many other factors (like distance to a fire department). Prices can range dramatically from one company to another so it pays to shop around.
  
  4. Security system – how much is it approximately?
  A security system can lower your insurance by roughly the amount it costs every month (20 to 30 bucks) so it’s not a bad deal if there’s already one installed. Some companies will install a system pretty cheap if you sign a contract for service.
  
  5. Inspection – how much does this cost?
  This depends. It can range from 100 to 500 dollars. Find a good inspector. It’s worth every penny to have a good inspector find issues with the house. Some issues are not so easy to discover so a real professional is worth every dollar. Be careful because there are a lot of people that call themselves “inspectors”. They can look for pests and see if there are any repairs that need to be made. They can evaluate the roof, the foundation and the electrical system. Don’t go cheap and don’t let the agent pick one of their friends.
  
  6. Repairs – Is this covered in insurance?
  No. Routine maintenance and repairs are not covered by insurance.
  
  7. Pest control – how much does this cost? can this be covererd under insurance?
  This is not covered under insurance. The cost depends on the type of pest and the location.
  
  8. Fire alarms – do I need to install these?
  If you want a discount on your insurance you’ll have these installed if they are not already installed. Some older homes do not require alarms but you should get them anyway. For your safety!
  
  The other cost you need to consider is PMI. This is typically paid if there isn’t sufficient equity in the property (at least 20%).
  
  I’d also avoid buying the most expensive or the least expensive home in a neighborhood. Shoot for something right in the middle. Homes at either extreme can be difficult to sell.
  
  You should also consider the school district. Even if you don’t have children or plan to have children this might be a consideration down the road when you sell the property.
  
  There are a lot of costs to consider but you may get a substantial tax break if the interest you pay every year exceeds the standard deduction.
QUESTION:
Will home insurance cover structural damage?
I’ve been in my home for 2 years almost now and I do have insurance. I am buying via contract for deed, that is serviced like a mortgage because both me and the original owner have broker/real estate experience, About 6 months after I moved in I was informed that the home (a modular on slab foundation) had been dropped when it was moved on the property by several of my neighbors, I confronted the seller and she admitted it, but my insurance company had inspected it and ok’d the insurance. The seller had said the house had been gutted and ribs had been repaired and so forth at the time of admitting the house had been dropped! however, in the last 3 months the doors have been sagging to the left leaving gaps, windows have been sliding open and the floors seperating, I had set about adjusting the floors and had to move out a counter to do so, what I found was unpainted wood panel from the 80’s where they had painted around the counters, suggesting the house HAD not been gutted! none the less, I went on holiday in oregon and when I came home I was in my office and heard what sounded like metal sagging, I cant describe the sound better then that, had a friend come look and he believes part of structure is cracked and sagging and ribs are broken, will my insurance cover this type of damage? They ok’d the home when they inspected it.
- ANSWER:
  They didn’t “ok” your property, they reviewed it (externally only) for potential issues. Their report would not have been nearly as comprehensive as a home inspection.
  
  Your insurance will not cover this situation. This is a combination of improper installation and/or manufacturing defect; neither of these issues is covered by homeowners insurance.
  
  Many insurance companies will not write insurance on modular homes for a variety of reasons.
QUESTION:
I wanted to know how do I go about buying a house in preforclosure?? help?? I am in orlando, fl?
- ANSWER:
  First of all you have to find someone that will tell you who is in pre-foreclosure.
  
  You can do that in several different ways
  
  #1 Go to the county court house in your local area and look through the foreclosure listings there.
  
  #2 Find someone that sell a foreclosure list of homes that lending institutions have foreclosed on.
  
  #3 Advertise in your local paper that you purchase foreclosued properties listing your telephone number.
  
  #4 Find a local area put out flyers on a consistent basis telling those that reside in the area you have selected that you purchase foreclosed property.
  
  Neither is better or worse than the other. I depends if you plan to make a career of buying and selling foreclosures or this is a one time thing for you to purchase a home.
  
  Now once you have decided to purchase a house that is in pre-foreclosure, then there is the paper work, degotations that must take place as well as determining if the deal make sense and what you are looking for.
  
  Now if you have found one, find out from the owner why they are in foreclosure and if they can cure the foreclosure. If they can move on.
  
  If they can not you need to find out the following about the foreclosure before you can make an intelligent decision about this deal you are now proposing.
  
  Find out the current monthly payments, the current balance, the current interest rate, how many months the person is behind. See if the insurance and taxes are current or not, probably not.
  
  Tell the owner to give you the latest tax bill as well as the payment book, insurance papers and the last escrow closing documents he got. He is not using them anyway so you might as well have them.
  
  Now you need to physically check the property for any damage you can see. Ask if there are problems that are not apparent such as water leaks in the plumbing. Also ask if there has been any damages to the foundation that are known, roofing leaks that might not be seen with the naked eye. Also ask if he knows when the house was built? Check for worn and frayed carpet, kitchen and bath problems. See if there is any painting that need to be done.
  
  Check the outside for peeling paint, fence damage, landscaping that might have been neglected. Go into the garage ofr any possible damage.
  
  Make sure you are making a detailed list of things you find damaged and need repairing as well as any remarks from the owner about possible damage a needed repair.
  
  Collect all the papers you have asked for, tell the owner you are now going to check the figures to see if you want to make an offer and if there is anything else you need to know.
  
  The last question you want to ask is what is the least amout you will take to start over if I can make you an offer in 1-2 days? Are you sure that is the very least you can take if I can relieve you of this tremendous burden and leave you with a peace of mind and help restore your credit, if I can close in about 7-10 days.
  
  Write that figure down and tell him that I will see how close I can get to the figure you have indicated you need.
  
  Now you need to check the house in that area that have real estate signs that are for sale. Call each one and ask what is the asking price of the property you are trying to sell? Have you had any offers at that asking price. If not , then perhaps the house is over priced. Do this for each sign you find within a 4-6 blocks of the house you have located. Also you want to ask the number of baths and bedrooms and if there is anything extra like a spa or pool and the best selling feature. Ask if there has been any additions made since the house was originally built.
  
  Once this has been done see how close the number of sq ft in each house, baths and bedrooms comes to the one you plan to purchase. If you know someone in the real estate field see if they know an appraiser and see if you can get some compts on your house you want to buy.
  
  Now do your math. The balance that is owed on the house, plus the amount of payments that he is behind and any fees and other items added by the lender. Add any damage cost that need to be made to the property. Now add what he has told you was the least amout he could take to leave the property.
  
  Look at your compts of what other properties are going for in this area. Do you have a deal? In other words if the damages, back payments, what he wants and teh mortgage balance comes close to the fair market value you might not have a deal, so you might as well take him back all the paperwork you got from him and tell him you will not be making an offer on his property.
  
  If there is a deal make him an offer and take it to him. Now in some states you may not contact the person for a certain number of days giving him sufficient time to check out the deal so he can say yes or no. Tell him of this right and when the next time you may personally contact him and he you. Keep all the paper work you collected from him.
  
  If he accepts the offer, find an escrow closing agent, a title company to take care of any title problems. Open escrow, give an approximate closing date. Once the title report is in check for any new mortgages or liens on the property, it could be that you don’t have a deal after these new items have been found.
  
  Everything else being ok and finding no new liens tell the escrow closing officer you want to take the property subject to the existing mortgage.
  
  If you are purchasing the property for your own personal use you will have to come to the escrow agent with the amount he is behind, the amount you indicated in your contract that you would give to him. Enough money to bring the taxes current as well as re-new the insurance policy. You will also have to have the escrow closing and title fees.
  
  That is about what you need to do to accomplish buying a property in pre-foreclosure. You will also need to understand the laws of foreclosure in your state, because some foreclosures have to go through the courts, those states have a mortgage. Those states having trust deeds have what is called non-judicial foreclosure and don’t have to go to a court to do a foreclosure. Now from looking at this courts ordered foreclosures normally take a little longer because lawyers and the court system are not the fastest in the world.
  
  I hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.
  
  “FIGHT ON”
QUESTION:
Uninsured Mason hiding behind Uninsured Builder – NJ?
Foundation wall collapsed on 3rd day, builder denied it was his fault, lied, misdirected and pulled all the fast ones including committing fraud. Builder only has carpentry insurance instead of “GC” insurance as required by Law for he demolishes and constructs houses, during deposition it was discovered the Mason is uninsured. my contract was with builder so i cannot sue the mason. as per Builder’s review other 5 or so home owners reviewed him as Robber. which dept. can initiate legal action against builder and the mason I GUESS IT MAY NOT BE ILLEGAL TO DO BUSINESS WITH out ANY INSURANCE LIKE MASON ?
complain was filed with consumer affairs, BBB in fact refused to log the complain since my complain was the 1st one, builder’s structural engineer is also unlicnese and unregistered by consu. affairs and even after proof consu. affaris did not intiate any legal action, the proof is as clear as it can be. i think crime pays and innocent home owners get roobed
- ANSWER:
  Any remodeling, altering, painting, repairing, renovating, restoring, moving, demolishing, or modernizing of a residential structure is considered home improvement work in New Jersey. New Jersey requires: “Since January 1, 2006, anyone who makes or sells home improvements with respect to residential properties in the State of New Jersey must be registered with the Division of Consumer Affairs unless specifically exempted under the statute and may not obtain a construction permit unless registered.
  
  Every registered contractor must:
  
  *maintain commercial general liability insurance in a minimum amount of 0,000.00 per occurrence
  
  *display the registration number in the place of business, in all advertisements, in all business documents including contracts and on all commercial vehicles
  
  *put home improvement contracts with a purchase price exceeding 0.00 in writing containing all terms and conditions of the contract including: price; a description of the work to be done; materials to be used; and the dates or time period within which the work will be begun and completed. The contract must be signed by all parties.
  
  *provide a copy of the certificate of commercial general liability insurance with the contract
  
  *comply with all other requirements of the statute and regulations accessible at www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/contractors/hcrules.htm ”
  
  You can file suit against the mason and the builder and you can also file a complaint with the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs–against the mason because he is probably unlicensed & uninsured and against the builder for hiring unlicensed and uninsured subcontractors. You can contact the NJ Division of Consumer Affairs at: askconsumeraffairs@lps.state.nj.us.
  
  In terms of the insurance, it is entirely normal to write a policy using the classification of General Carpentry including general remodeling of the home for General Contractors. The only issue would be if the insurance had a different classification or a limited classification endorsement which would restrict coverage to only specifically disclosed trades. Regardless of this the main issue is that Commercial General Liability Insurance would not cover defective construction nor does it provide any type of construction warranty–it only provides coverage for the resulting damage, i.e. if the contractor builds a deck with a defect and it results in a collapse causing damage to the house and injury to a person/s, the insurance would pay for the repair to the house and for the bodily injury. The insurance would not pay for replacement of the deck itself since it was defective due to the contractors incorrect installation.
  
  I suggest you file the complaint/s and also seek legal counsel to file suit and recover payment of your damages and resulting damages for the delays.
  
  I hope this helps. Good Luck!
QUESTION:
What Can I Do if a Foundation Repair Company Defaults on Their Warranty Promise?
I bought a home with a newly repaired foundation (work done in 2008) and the house has been showing major cracking. We called the company that did the work in to check it out and they admitted that it IS foundation trouble but said its the fault of our gutters and that they are draining water wrong, which voids the warranty.

The only trouble is, they couldn’t produce anything that stated these limitations to the “lifetime warranty” and then just showed up at my house with a paper they “found” that DOES say the warranty is void if proper gutters are not installed – something they didn’t have until we threatened to pursue legal action.

They are a small company run by two brothers and one of their wives and they seem very slimy even though they have been in business for 16 years. It is hard to talk to them because only the woman speaks fluent English and she is very hostile. (I didn’t choose this company – the previous owner did)

So – what can I do? I was told you can file a claim with a company’s insurance because they are required to carry it but I don’t think they will honor a request to do so or disclose who their carrier is.
- ANSWER:
  What to do? File a claim with YOUR insurance and let them figure out if you were defrauded by the previous owners or if they can go after the contractors for anything. You probably bought the house “as is”, so you can’t sue the previous owner unless they knew about the problem and said they didn’t. Some houses come with a “warranty”, for which you pay a little extra, and this type of problem might be covered under that type of plan, along with other latent defects.
QUESTION:
home owner total loss?
Hi, we recently had a small tornado the insurance adjuster listed the damage as “wind damage”, anyway a huge tree fell through our home breaking floor beams, cracking the foundation. The fireplace was totally destroyedSufficeice it to say that one half of the house was ruined the kitchen and dinning room were left unharmed. The insurance adjuster said there was 94,000 dollars in damage. We had 3 different contractors give us estimatranginging from 166,000- 180,000. The adjuster did not list in his adjustment the damage to the floor joists or cracked foundation. I failed to mention that our policy limit is 134,000. How do we get the insurance company to give us a total loss on this home. We have been at this for nearly 2 months and the adjusthasn’tsnt been back out to talk to the contractor yet? As a matter of fact he stood us up and did not reschedule. He is a catastrophe adjuster and has gone back Louisiananna. We are in Arkansas. Any advise would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Dana
Thank you for the answer, however I don’t think you understand my situation. I realize a home is not like a car, however we have a 134,000 with coverage A, then 56,000 for overage. We have 97,000 in personal property. Having said that we received 85,000 for what the adjuster thought was damaged however he did not go under the house to see the damage to the floor joists and told us he showed pictures to a structural engineer and he said there was no structural damage. haha what a joke you can see the house pushed off the foundation a bit and cracks in the foundation blocks. The check we received was enough to pay off our mortgage. We bought a foreclosed house and fixed it up ourselves. Our contractor said it will cost more to fix this mess than to build a new one so this is the cross road we are at. FYI it is a 2000 sq.ft house. We are’nt under insured we are in Arkansas…… We can can build a new brick home with 2089 sq ft for 168,900 here. thanks again.
- ANSWER:
  Homeowners insurance isn’t like car insurance. You don’t “total out” a house.
  
  Most policies, are based on a cost to rebuild.
  
  So. unless your house is about a total of 700 square feet, you are seriously underinsured. Now that it’s claim time, you’re going to pay the price for that – literally.
  
  Your adjuster should be sending you paperwork. Included in that, will be a “coinsurance calculation” and a “coinsurance penalty”.
  
  If your policy has a 100% coinsurance requirement – meaning, you have to insure the house, for 100% of the cost to rebuild, AND, the actual cost to replace your house is about 0,000 (rounding to make it easier), then you only insured your house for HALF of what you should have. That means, you only get HALF of the claim – you SELF INSURED the other half.
  
  Your agent needs to sit down with you and explain this.
  
  If your claim has a 50% coinsurance PENALTY, that means the company pays half the cost to repair, and you pay half the cost to repair. Sounds like you WILL have SOME coinsurance penalty on this house, but it might not be that high.
  
  Now, when the insurance company pays, they pay depreciated value, until after the repairs are done – and THEN, they give you the difference between depreciated value and replacement cost. Oh, and the check gets made out jointly to you and your mortgage company, if you have one – so you can’t cash it.
  
  You’ve got a HUGE mess on your hands, if you’re actually underinsured – which is what it sounds like to me. Time to call your agent, and put them to work. They can tell you the coinsurance penalty on this, and you can figure out if you can come up with the extra repair money you’re going to need, to get the house fixed.
QUESTION:
Home owner’s builder’s risk insu. Will not pay?
I had my own builder’s risk insurance during construction of my residence but the foundation wall collapsed on 3rd day, had to sue the builder b’case it was not build as per plan. Builder does not have builder’s insurance all he has is carpentry insurance – is this FRAUD ??. but my builder’s risk insurance denied the claim. I though they will pay to repair the collapsed wall and then recover form the builder – is there any way I can collect form my own insurance company?
Builder did told me and send me link to verify their insurance but since i am new i just looked at the decleration page, BBB did not logged my complain since i was the first one to file complain. attorney general and consumers affaris will not get involve since i have sued them but attorney general and consumers did prosecuted other builders who committed similar fraud, asking more money after the contract was singed, altering the contract dring deposition, builder frauded other 8 or so home owner and has one 90K judgement aganist him, heard he is transferring all the $$ he roobed from other home owher to his courty and ready to file bankruptcy
- ANSWER:
  This isn’t fraud.
  
  Builder’s risk doesn’t cover inherent vice or latent defect. Your builder’s liability policy doesn’t cover his own faulty workmanship, which is the cause of the loss, presumably.
  
  The thing that would have covered this, would have been a performance bond. If you had one in place, call in the bond. If not, you need to consult a lawyer, to sue your insurance agent for not recommending a performance bond.
  
  If you did “do it yourself” insurance, well, you should have advised yourself to get payment and performance bonds. Sorry.
QUESTION:
Any suggestions for first time home buyers?
My husband and I are serious about buying our first home in 2008. We have had some credit problems in the past (when we were in our late teens-early 20’s) but we have fixed all but 2 of them; together these 2 debts total approx k but we are paying them down gradually. Unfortunately, we don’t have too much money for a down payment but we’re still saving. We’d like to get pre-approved before we do any “hard-core house shopping”. Ideally, we’d like a “fixer-upper” but nothing too major.

Where’s the best place to start looking for pre-approvals?

Are there things that we should look for when applying for a pre-approval? Things to avoid?

Any general suggestions/warnings/ideas/experiences, etc. that you can offer?

Thanks!
Thanks everyone! All great answers and a lot of info I had no idea about! Hopefully we can find the best deal for us!!

Unfortunately Sadeeq, I know for sure that it is impossible in my area to rent a home/apt/condo, etc for 1/3 of the price of a mortgage… average monthly rental in my area is between 00-1400mo, depending on amenities.
- ANSWER:
  I have lots of suggestions…I have purchased 3 homes so far and every time I learn something new. It seems you are on the right track trying to pay off old debts, that looks good on paper when you get ready to get pre-approved. If you or your husband were part in the military or children of military personell, USAA is great for mortgages, banking, car/home insurance, investments, etc.
  
  If not try to go through banks that belong to Lending Tree, where several banks compete to do business with YOU. They are going to try to offer you the best type of loan. Whatever you do, PLEASE get a fixed rate loan. Most of the people that have lost their homes in the last 3 yrs were on an adjustable rate loan. Read on the difference…so you are informed when you begin dealing with banks. The better informed the better equipped you are. Do not be affraid of 30 yr mortgages. It doesn’t mean that you will be in the home for 30 yrs, but interest rates tend to be lower, thus making monthly payments easier, especially if you are getting a fixer upper.
  
  When it comes to buying the house, have an inspector do a threrral inspection. Interview these inspectors to make sure that they have extensive experience and training. The cheapest inspection will cost you MOST later. When the inspector goes through the house you and your husband should go with him while he conducts his inspection. He should be able to provide you with a written report within two weeks after inspection. Also check with the Better Bus Bureau to make sure this inspector or company does not have any complaints. So far I have had two great inspectors in my last two purchases, they came from a friend who had recently purchased her home and was very satisfied with the work done. Pilar to Post is a great company, check if they have it in your state.
  
  Although a house might be for sale and there is an asking price, it doesn’t mean that you have to pay that price. NEGOTIATE!!! Especially after the inspection, based on what the inspector finds, you are able to negotiate the price down for repairs or ask for repairs. Find our from your realtor how long has the house been on sale. The longer the house sits the more ammunition you can use to drive the price down toward your advantage.
  
  Because the slump in the housing market, this is the BEST time to purchase a home, it is a buyers market!!! Educate yourselves on home buying, there are lots of information out there. Talk to each other and agree on what you want and don’t want. Buying a home is stressful, so is moving, but if you and your husband communicate, you will make the right choices. Also check on first time home buyers programs in your state/city. There are great programs in different states.
  
  Make sure that whatever home you decide that you move in to at least a 50% larger space what you currently have. You do not want to run out of space within a few months after moving. Ask owners for the disclosure, this is a document that states lead paint, termite infestation, etc. Also ask if the house have had a fire in recent years, when was the fire place was cleaned last, choose a home with cuircut breaker system, that the HVAC and water heater are less than 7 yrs old. The HVAC could be as old as 10, but the water heater should not, because they last about 10 yrs on average. The water heater should be 40 gal or more. Also make sure that there are no cracks on the foundation as this is a very costly expense to repair and after all you are going to sell your home eventually, but you want to make a profit.
  
  Sorry, lots of info!!! Please read, take time to be informed and educated, that is most important that having a good credit report or anything else. A home is the most expensisve purchase you will make in your life, therefore make it a smart one.
  
  Should you want to further reach me, please e-mail me at zari_sanchez@yahoo.com.
  
  Good luck, BEST wishes.
QUESTION:
Is there a simple budgeting software I can use? If so, which is best?
Hi, So I recently started my EMS career. I live at home currently and wish to move out. Well so you know, EMTs don’t make very much money at all… I need to figure out a budget. right now im and impulsive spender and most of the time couldn’t tell you how much money I have.

I figured with the way business and computers are these days, there there would be a nifty piece of software intended for this particular task. I could probably pull out all my old high school books, but why when there are computers!

Thanks!
- ANSWER:
  Quicken is probably the best and easiest to use software available for personal bookkeeping and budgeting. However, the brand of software is not nearly as important as your using it consistently and doing each and every step.
  
  There are few things you need to do when budgeting.
  
  1. Make sure to reconcile your checkbook each month. Bookkeeping is the foundation for all budgeting. Remember that budgets are only useful if you have good bookkeeping and follow the budget. Otherwise you’re spinning your wheels.
  
  2. There are some expenses such as home owner’s insurance or auto insurance which are billed once or twice a year. Take the amount of the bill, divide it by the number of months it covers, and put that money aside for only that one type of expense. For example, if your auto insurance is ,200 per year, divide the ,200 by 12. Put aside 0 each and every month for only auto insurance. Go through your check register for the last 24 months to see how many bills there are which you pay just once or twice a year.
  
  3. Go through your check register for the last 24 months. Write down every unexpected expense. For example, auto repair, repair of your air conditioner or heater, broken pipes in the house, major medical expenses, and so on. Add up all the expenses and divide by 24. Put that amount of money aside for unexpected expenses.
  
  Once you have done this, you might ask a friend with an accounting background to look it over and fine tune it.
QUESTION:
Part of our house isn’t up to code; who is to blame?
We bought a house last summer, and had it inspected and everything. Then a tree fell on it. Insurance will pay to fix the damages, but when the contractor went to the county, he found out that the addition to the house never had a permit, and it is not up to code. The foundation is cinderblock and not solid concrete. Now we are facing ,000 of expenses that insurance will not cover.

My question is, who is to blame for this? Should the bank have known this (it was a bank-owned he). Should the inspector have looked harder to find it (it wasn’t obviously visible). The addition was more than one owner before us.

What would be the odds of winning if we sued the bank and the inspector? There isn’t enough equity in the home yet to cover the repairs (we haven’t even been living there 1 year).

Any ideas?
Someone knew there was an addition. On the paper that we got showing the location of the well and septic, it was clearly marked as addition. So that would be something the title history should have covered? We’re not sure even where to start!
- ANSWER:
  If you can prove that the inspector knew or should have known (professional standards) that the foundation was made of cinder block then you may have legal recourse.
  Otherwise…
QUESTION:
Have ants…now might have termites after purchasing home..law advice?
My fiancé and I purchased our home in Oct. 2009 from and older couple who were the only owners. 4 months after buying the home and paying for a 500 dollar inspection we found pavement ants all over our house! It was so bad we had them in our bathroom towels and I tried so hard to control it but I couldn’t. now 2 years after owning our home we have them between Jan and March in our bathroom and kitchen. Our house is on a slab and he have a partial basement so the basement side we don’t get them. But I know they had to of known about the ants and didn’t say anything. Now for the first time this year our tiles started falling off our bathtub..we thought since its old tile maybe they are just falling off but these past two weeks I have been finding bugs that look like big carpenter ants with wings in our bathtub, I think it could be termites..they don’t fly they just sit in the tub and everyday when I clean it out the next day I find more wood from the tiles that fell off into the tub with this bugs. I have an inspection on monday to see …but either way I know both cause damage except termites are worse. We are already struggling with other problems I just don’t know how I can afford the repairs. Am I able to sue if there is major damage? Please help!
I appreciate the advice but some of the people on here do NOT need to be so RUDE. Yeah EXCUSE me I understand that the basic ant problem is now mine…but I know they were there before Don’t try to tell me all of a sudden 4 months after I moved in that they just appeared because of me. That is not the case I’m not an idiot and yes I have controlled that problem with sprays twice a year from a company. But the Termite problem if there is damage may not be a NEW problem but I this issue has not happened before. The law may be different but I think it is bullshit that I am going to be dishing out a lot of money for something that has been here. This was my first home I purchased I am young and did not know that I had to have a different inspection, I feel that the homeowners should pay for it. I think its cruel to lie and not tell everything that they should especially all the money that we already have to pay.
- ANSWER:
  sue; maybe. But not who you might think. YOU said you paid for an inspection by
  a [licensed] inspector. Prepare to sue him or her. Their job is to look for
  bug homes and termites etc.
  
  and separately, every home sale I know of includes a termite inspection and
  cleaning………………EVERY closing of escrow in the south west includes
  title insurance
  termite inspection
  
  blah blah
  
  —————
  bring out bug exterminator and be prepared to go to a hotel for 1-3 days.
  
  If the problems are in the foundation, your inspectors will find out –if they
  are skilled.
  
  available to guide you further
QUESTION:
Roofers messed up my house. . .?
I had shingles replaced about 3-4 months ago. I went up to inspect the actic for leaks and found damage to a supporting rafter (broken), many of the rafters where cracked and the main support and the main support was cracked. During the installation, the workers were dropping the tabs from about waist high onto the roof as the were doing their work. They have come out to repair some of the damage (city inspection office found work not up to code). My question is, does there action show responsbility for the damage? They are now saying they are not liable for the damage (blaming age, foundation – all was check out prior to purchasing house, 1 yr prior, and reported in good condition.) I am having my insurance company come out to check the damage but the agent say that it sounds like it was their fault. I am not sure who to believe. All I know is that my house was find before they did any work on it and no is not. Please Help!!!! Thank You in advance.
- ANSWER:
  I believe from your description that the roofers are at fault and the fact that they came out to do some repairs shows they accepted responsibility. Your home owners insurance is not responsible and probably won’t be able to help. The roofing company should have insurance to cover this damage. You should ask the roofing company what the name of their insurance company is so you can insure they are notified. If they have no insurance, they are still responsible. If they do not have insurance and won’t fix it, you can ask your insurance company to pay for the repairs and if they agree your deductible would apply. The last avenue, of course, is suing the roofing company.
  
  (USA) state laws vary but the above is true for Wisconsin
QUESTION:
What is Sellers Insurance? (Real estate)?
I’m pretty real-estate ignorant, and I’m wondering why my landlord would be getting claims paperwork at my home (which I rent) from an adjusting service, regarding their sellers insurance claim on the house I’m renting.

So Question 1 is: What is sellers insurance in this case?

I’ll be upfront and tell you that I suspect my landlord is up to some sort of mortgage fraud. A month ago, paperwork showed up in my mailbox regarding the cashout refi they took out on this house. The paperwork came here to the house because they claim to be living in it, although it has been a rental for at least the past 4 years.

Before the mortgage paperwork arrived, an inspector came to the home, taking all of 10 minutes to inspect it, ignoring the many expensive repairs this home needs (roof, a/c, foundation). The valuation of the home (seen in the mortgage paperwork) was quite excessive.

Question 2: Any thoughts on what this is about?
Tony: I can understand why you would be concerned about opening the owner’s mail. However, I rent through a management company, and I didn’t know who the owner was, until I started getting this mail. I was concerned, since it was coming from a mortgage co., that somebody had taken out a fraudulent mortgage on the home (I’d heard about this happening). I had to talk to the neighbors, one of whom recognized the name as that of the owner.

Here’s what I think is happening: 1. Owner created a sham sale that “fell through,” and is submitting a claim for some sort of insurance taken out on the sale. 2. Owner has taken a cash-out mortgage on the home, again, using fraudulent home assessment and mortgage co., to get the max $$ out of the deal. 3. Owner plans on defaulting on the mortgage.

And yes, I agree that I need to be careful, because I’m concerned this could lead to 4. me suddenly being tossed on the street. Thanks for your reply.
- ANSWER:
  First, I am concerned about your opening the landlord’s mail. This is not a good practice. Second, I don’t really know the term ‘seller’s insurance’. If there was a claim for damage, they may get a settlement check from the homeowners insurance co. If there was a claim against the seller or his agent related to disclosure or condition of the property, that could explain the paperwork also.
  
  It is common practice for people to lie about their residency to get better terms on a mortgage loan. I don’t like it, but there it is. This is not your problem unless the lender calls the loan due for mortgage fraud and you lose your residence. This is very unlikely today. Lenders are swimming in REO (foreclosures). The owner may have to answer to a federal authority though.
  
  It doesn’t sound like you are dirtectly affected by the owner’s actions. Just be aware of the type of person you are dealing with. Dishonesty knows no boundaries.
QUESTION:
Moved into older home June 2007 in Ontario, Canada just found out previous owner hid water issues in basement?
We bought a home in April to 2007 in Ontario, Canada and moved in June 2007. We recently had alot of wet spots on our basement floor and had our insurance company come out. They found that the previous owners had placed a thick rubber liner between the carpet and cement in a 15×15 ft. area where we are now aware that there is a water issue due to a foundation wall. This method of hiding this from us worked for them however we are now in a situation where there is some mold under the rubber they placed in the basement. In Ontario, Canada title insurance is almost mandatory when you by a home, does title insurance cover anything like this? If not, what other recourse do I have? Thanks for your help.
- ANSWER:
  title insurance is to protect you from paperwork hiccups, not this sort of thing
  but if you went through a realator, there will be a property disclosure that would have any known defects listed… if its not listed and you can prove they knew, you have recourse you can take with the law. you would probably have to have an estimate for repairs but not renovations and go after them for that amount only or any depreciation that it caused if you just sell it to be rid of the house. it’s not like the us where you can sue for hurt feelings or anything more
QUESTION:
I want your advice… I’m fed up with our landlord?
We’re renting a house right now. I live in Texas, and yes that’s relevant. I looked up Texas Tenant rights, and our landlord is breaking all sorts of rules.

First off. I just had a daughter. All of the rooms in the house have lead based paint, because we tested. They were tricky in our lease contract about that because it stated that they were unsure if it did or not, but chipping paint is a bit obvious and is a no-brainer.

Our foundation is so severely damaged that we can’t open windows, close doors, all of our locks don’t work properly, bugs come in from the cracks in the walls, etc. My fiance owns a foundation company, so I know how much it would cost to repair this house, and it’s not much, trust me.

Mold. That’s right. We have mold. Everywhere. In the master bedroom, kitchen, in one of the baby’s closets, and on all of the trim boards on the exterior roof.

I do know the dangers of all of these things, and we have brought it to their attention. The owner of the house actually has a rental agency take care of their repairs… and both parties know about this. The owner of our house has even come over personally to take a look at it.

Legally, he has only 7 days from the time that he knows about it for him to fix the mold problem. It has now been 3 weeks. I know that we can break the lease because of this, but we have no where else to go, and I know they wouldn’t provide us anywhere to stay since we don’t have rental insurance.

Any suggestions?
- ANSWER:
  First, even though you say the landlord and rental agency know about all of your problems, they really aren’t obligated to do anything until they have received a written notice (preferably via certified mail). As you mentioned, breaking the lease would be preferable, especially with a new baby and mold in the home. Barring that, your next best bet is to sue. If you truly can’t afford to move, you might qualify for a Legal Aid attorney. I don’t know what part of Texas you’re in, but search for Legal Aid in your city to find out more. They specialize in landlord/tenant disputes for low-income families.
QUESTION:
A tree roots broke into my sewer line. Should HOA pay for it?
A tree roots broke into my sewer line. I hired a plumber to snake it. He did a camera inspection afterwards and found that my PVC pipe is broken between my house and the city line.

I live in Florida, in a community with HOA and they are responsible for all outside maintenance including tree trimming, etc. I cannot even dig on my own lot in front of the house without their permission.

I’m going to open a claim with my homeowner insurance – Citizens, but even if they cover it, I still need to pay a deductible.

So I guess my questions are:

Who is responsible for a repair – HOA or me?
If I’m liable for a repair, should I ask my HOA to knock down the tree to prevent future breakage?
If Citizens will pay for it, can HOA reimburse my deductible?
HOA agreement contains nothing about sewer… Like this problem never happens…
- ANSWER:
  To read your HOA contract is a first step. But I doubt they will pay. I have had a very similar situation and learned that HOA will not pay to fix your sewer line. I assume their contracts are sort of standard and made to make you responsible for everything and them for none (or almost none).
  Your home owner insurance may not pay for this either, if the root is outside the foundation of your house. They would cover water damage to your house from sewer blockage but not for fixing it. But again read your contracts! If you will get it covered by HOA or insurance share with us at http://www.joetheplumbernet.com
  Most likely you are on your own.
  You could probably ask to remove the tree, but are you sure which one to blame? Root can go big distance. And if the line was not leaky roots would not grow into it.
QUESTION:
I just got a puppy with a dislocated shoulder and have questions about it?
I met these people that had a rottweiler puppy that is 4 months odl and I felt so bad for her when I saw her. She was limping because it SEEMS that her shoulder is dislocated. They can’t provide the costs for the puppy due to the fact that they have 3 other dogs. I offered to take her and did. Her vet appointment isn’t until Friday. I was told by the previous owner that she has been in this condition for 3 weeks now and it baffaled me and put my heart in my stomach. I am trying to find out if she will ever heal and how much(estimate) will it cost to get done. I know I won;t get an exact answer but i am trying to provide the best care for this lil one. she walks on it and she can feel her toes. I just feel so bad for her and feel bad that these people just expected it to get better on its own. 🙁 And what options do I have for pet insurance? Because I am only a part time employee.
- ANSWER:
  GOOD FOR YOU!!!!
  
  It may be that she ends up with a limp, but the veterinary orthopedist may also be able to go in and repair the ripped tendons – let’s hope!
  At least, she will have a chance and get some pain meds.
  
  In the meantime, a cod liver pill or a few drops of cod liver oil every day would give her extra omega-3’s, which are powerful anti-inflammatories. Not a bad idea to put her on it permanently, because this is probably going to cause arthritis in that shoulder forever…
  
  This will now count as a pre-existing condition, so insurance won’t help. Here are, however, some links to grant programs that may help you get the care for her that she needs.
  
  You might also approach the breed rescue and ask what they might be able to offer.
  
  If there *any* chance this poor puppy might have come from a breeder? they would want to know what was happening.
  
  Anyway, here the info-
  
  Help-A-Pet
  630-986-9504
  IMOM
  www.imom.org
  301-599-7387
  Pets in Need
  www.petsinneed.org
  650-367-1405
  United Animal Nations
  www.uan.org
  916-429-2457
  Care Credit
  www.carecredit.com
  1-800-839-9078
  Four Legged Life Savers
  www.fourleggedlifesavers.org
  
  Nike Animal Rescue Foundation
  www.narfrescue.org
  (dogs) 408-224-6273
  
  http://www.themosbyfoundation.org/what.html
  The Mosby Foundation:
  Our Mission Statement: The Mosby Foundation is organized exclusively for charitable purposes, to assist in the care of sick, injured, abused and neglected dogs through financial support and public education.
  It’s really very simple. A rescue group, foster person, shelter or vet has a dog that requires medical care and there aren’t sufficient funds for that treatment. The Mosby Foundation is contacted by a licensed veterinarian with case details. Our Board decides whether we can help, and if so, how.
  
  American Animal Hospital Association www.aahahelpingpets.org/home The heartbreak happens all too often. A pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship making it too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don’t have an owner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains the same: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship.”
  
  Angels 4 Animals http://www.angels4animals.org/ “Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need.”
  Care Credit http://www.carecredit.com/ A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care. “CareCredit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from to over ,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget.”
  
  Help-A-Pet www.help-a-pet.org/home.html “Our efforts focus on serving the elderly, the disabled, and the working poor. For lonely seniors, physically/mentally challenged individuals and children of working parents, pets represent much more than a diversion.”
  IMOM http://www.imom.org/ “Mission Statement: Helping people help pets. To better the lives of sick, injured and abused companion animals. We are dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged.”
  The Pet Fund thepetfund.com “The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost.”
  United An
QUESTION:
Just bought a house, no inspection?
We just bought a house (settle on 24th of July), and my husband and I agreed not to have an inspection done because it costs money and we can’t afford anything extra right now. How big of a deal is it? My husband does EVERYTHING from construction to carpeting, etc. What kind of things should I be worried about possible discovering later? We are having the termite inspection, but that is all. I know I should have had one done so please don’t say you should have had one dummy I know that but it’s too late now. I just want a list of things that they would have checked for? Thanks
- ANSWER:
  Even though your husband has construction experience, that doesn’t protect you from any issues the house has that you’re unaware of. The inspections are done for informational purposes. They’re designed to give the buyer a detailed report on the condition of the house on everything from the foundation to the roof, and literally everything in between (without damaging anything inside). The buyer can then decide if any problems are bad enough to walk away or ask the sellers to make repairs. The fee for the inspection is minimal compared to the headaches and hit to your finances it can protect you from later on.
  
  On thing I can’t help point out is if you can’t afford to pay the 0 – 0 for the inspection, then how can you afford to own a home? In order to purchase a house you must have money to close and have an appraisal done (mortgages require this to make sure the house is worth at least the same as the purchase price). Once you have your house, there are still plenty of things you need money for. Even if you don’t have to buy any furnishings, you have extra bills that you might not have had when renting (water, heat, electricity, sewer, etc), as well as property taxes, mortgage insurance, homeowners insurance and so on. Plus, things always break down in a house. You have to be able to fix the furnace if it breaks, replace the water heater if it dies for some reason, have the septic tank pumped if it backs up (if you have one), replace appliances and anything else you can think of. Anything can happen and you have to be able to fix it which requires money.
  
  If you still can, find a way to get an inspection done! If time has passed for that window or you waived your rights to an inspection then you have to hope to high heaven that you don’t end up with a lemon of a house. So many things can be wrong that wouldn’t be noticeable during a walkthrough/showing. For all you know, the house might not even be habitable right now and you may be in for large renovation bills just to move in. You might have mold waiting for you from water damage the previous owners didn’t take care of. Perhaps there are leaky pipes, including gas if there are gas lines. There are far too many things to list, so you really have to keep your fingers crossed.
  
  I truly hope that you lucked out and bought a good house that doesn’t have any waiting issues. I also hope that you will be stable financially as I’m concerned that you couldn’t afford the inspection and now will be a carrying a house that you’re not fully informed on. Finally, I wish for you that you will have inspections done on any future purchases you may have.
  
  I apologize if this answer offended you in any way.
  Brit

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