The home of your dreams can quickly turn into a nightmare when you discover water damage after the deal has closed. Quite literally, this can drain your bank account as water damage is incredibly expensive to fix in a residential property. When the seller or real estate agent hid water damage or flooding form you with lies or nondisclosure, you can hire a real estate attorney to file a lawsuit on your behalf.
Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers help home buyers bring claims and file lawsuits against dishonest and negligent home sellers, house flippers, real estate agents and termite inspection companies across Maryland. Our attorneys recover compensation for buyers to repair hidden damage and defects and for emotional distress. We offer legal consultations.
If you need a real estate lawyer near me to help with hidden damage, failure to disclose defects, negligence or fraud in the purchase of a house, call us at 410 583 8000 or use our Online Quick Contact Form.
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We represent homebuyers throughout Maryland, including Baltimore, Columbia, Germantown, Silver Spring, Waldorf, Frederick, Ellicott City, Glen Burnie, Gaithersburg, Rockville, Bethesda, Dundalk, Towson, Bowie, Aspen Hill and Wheaton.
Water Damage Can Impact Wood and Your Home’s Foundation
Water damage can get expensive very quickly. The bills can add up as you find yourself having to replace wood and flooring. Even worse, it can lead to a long-term mold problem. In the absolute worst-case scenario, your home’s struts and studs could shift or warp, and the foundation can crack.
The problem for home buyers is that water damage and intrusion is easy to hide with new drywall and makeshift measures when a seller puts their home on the market. Water damage can be sometimes difficult to detect before the deal for the home goes through. This is why you are the mercy of the real estate agent and the seller for what they disclose to you during the sales process. When you find out about water damage after the fact, the seller and negligent real estate agent may face consequences.
Real Estate Agents and Sellers Must Disclose Water Damage
In Maryland, the real estate agent and usually the seller must disclose water damage if they are aware of it during the sales process.
Buyers often think that the first party you would come looking for in order to make things right is the seller. The seller has a legal obligation in Maryland to disclose water intrusion and damage on the seller disclosure or disclaimer statement. However, the real estate agent also has requirements of their own.
Sometimes, the seller knew about water damage, flooding or other water intrusion. If they told their agent about it, and the agent did not disclose, the agent can be held responsible as well. When the agent knew about the damage and failed to disclose it, they can be sued for damages.
Hidden Water Damage and Flooding Lawsuit
Lying or not telling you about the water damage could go beyond negligent misrepresentation and reach into the area of fraudulent misrepresentation. In a lawsuit, you would seek the money that it takes to repair the damage. You might also be able to get punitive damages depending on how badly the agent or seller lied to you, if it was intentional.
Lawsuits for hidden water damage can get complicated, which is why you should use an experienced water damage real estate lawyer. The mere fact that an agent lied might not even be enough to get you financial compensation; you would need to show that you relied on their lie to decide to purchase the home and that it hurt you.
Your real estate attorney could help prove the facts to show that not only did the real estate agent lie, but their misrepresentation caused you the financial damage with which you are now struggling.
Real Estate Lawyer for Water Damage in Maryland
If the seller or agent hid or concealed water damage, flooding or other water intrusion, you have legal claims and may be able to recover compensation.
If you were the victim of a dishonest seller, real estate agent or WDI/termite inspection company in Maryland, contact Whitney, LLP’s real estate lawyers at 410 583 8000, or use our Online Quick Contact Form, for your legal consultation.