There has been so much going on, stuff that I haven’t wanted to blog about, which is why you haven’t heard from me. But it’s probably time for an update.
After a lot of back-and-forths, meetings, calls, and consultations with experts, we have retained a lawyer and are moving forward with suing the developer who sold us our home. Last December, half of our home flooded which I blogged about here. I won’t go into the details, but we now feel strongly that the developer was at fault and completely negligent with the remodel, and ultimately, sold us a defective property.
The contractor who is currently working to solve the problem told me that there were gaping holes in the wall which resulted in the water intrusion. We have spent close to $40k on the fix (which is still ongoing). The solution consists of a newly-installed drain system around the perimeter and major water-proofing of our home. We have been living in a 1-bedroom with a 10-month old baby who just started consistently sleeping through the night recently. It has been very stressful. I don’t even want to talk about it, it makes me so anxious and upset. Soon enough, however, we will be back to normal and hopefully the attorney we hired will negotiate an appropriate settlement, and justice will prevail.
I feel compelled to add that we are not litigious people. We tried to work with the seller directly and considered splitting the cost 50/50, but after consulting with a civil engineer and professional contractors, they said that the negligence was so obvious that the seller should be paying the full cost of remediation. He balked.
It has been so weird contacting lawyers and trying to nail down the right one. I don’t know anything about the legal system except what I see on TV and the movies. Let’s just say contacting a lawyer isn’t something I ever want to do again. And even though there are a ton of lawyers out there, it seems like a pretty tight network because there were conflicts of interest every which way. Gah! I’m glad I am a business person.
Hope everything turns out ok. Rooting for you,
thank you patrick! hope you’re enjoying this wonderful weather 🙂
That is just awful what you have gone through and hoping with the help of a good lawyer you can get to the bottom of this and get what you deserve here.
thank you janine! it’s been insane. i just want to get back to normal!
gosh, sorry to hear that it is still ongoing. Surprised to hear the builder won’t come back to solve the problem. But I hope the work moves along quickly and soon your house will be perfect.
the developer is an A-hole who frugal to the point of negligence. i hope we’re back to normal soon. hope you’re doing well CK and that all of your projects are doing great!
Dang sorry to hear about your problems Catherine and hope everything works out.. I can’t even fathom that kind of bill on repairs. Yikes!! I have an attorney for a different situation and they’re not cheap, it adds up and that retainer fee will get you. It’s even more exhausting when the faulted party doesn’t want to cooperate, which is usually the case if attorneys are needed. Again, best of luck with the litigation and I agree – if I go through life never needing an attorney I’d be a happy camper! Have a great one and take care Catherine! -Iva
thank you iva! i am with you. if i never see a lawyer again, it will be too soon! hope you’re doing fantastic 🙂
I remember you posting about the flood, I can’t believe that is still unresolved! I hope everything works out well for you and your family.
thank you nikki. i guess we all have our struggles. i look forward to getting back to a normal home life soon! hope all is well on the home front for you 🙂
I remember reading about that. I’m so sorry to hear that it’s still not resolved. Hopefully, you found a badass lawyer who can help you settle this quickly. Fingers crossed!
thanks gracielle! i hope your lawyer is badass as well. lawyers cost enough. sheesh! hope you’re doing fantastic!
Rooting for you too. I remember you describing the nightmares of what happened and I’m sure you have a very compelling case.
tamara, i actually have nightmares that the seller’s lawyer is better than ours and that we’ll end up eating all of the expense. but i hope not. here’s hoping we get to normalcy soon!
Oy! I’m so sorry that your joy at finally finding and buying your family home has devolved into this. Good luck, stay tough, truth and the side of right will prevail!
Oh, Catherine – I’m so sorry you are going through this. I hope it is all settled soon, in your favor.
thank you dana, i hope so too. it has been a nightmare!
Geez, that does sound like something I wouldn’t want myself to get into but looks like you’re on the right track with it. I truly wish for all the best for you!
Okay, a few things… i have seriously missed your face and it’s great to be back here. Though I’m so incredibly sorry to hear about this! Ugh, I can’t imagine but I think you are absolutely doing the right thing. You guys have shelled out so much and clearly this sounds like a case of negligence, as you said.
Hope you guys are in a better living situation soon–thinking about you!!
charlotte, so good to hear from you! i have missed you! life always gets in the way, right?! i am just trying to think positively. it will all work out. it always does! xoxo!!!
I can imagine with your situation there would be a lot of conflicts of interest within a community. I am so so so sorry that happened to you! How ridiculous. I hope that you can work this out in a settlement without filing any papers. If you have any questions about the legal process, let me know. Obviously I can’t advise you as a client but just a question about lawyers, etc. I really really wish you the best!