A woman and her partner moved several states away with their two young children to be closer to her in-laws. They bought the in-laws’ house below market value, grateful for the deal, and then spent around $80,000 on repairs within five weeks of moving in.
Some of the problems were serious safety issues the in-laws mentioned only after closing. She’s not asking for money, but she wants them to admit the house was neglected and that important problems weren’t disclosed.
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A Move Across Several States
The family packed up and left their home and community to relocate several states away. With two young children, it was a huge decision that meant starting over.
Part of the reason was family. Her in-laws had been asking them for years to move closer.
In-Laws Who Wanted Them Close
Her in-laws are very wealthy and own homes in several states. When the couple agreed to move, the in-laws offered to sell them one of their houses.
It felt like a generous gesture. The couple saw it as a way to settle in quickly and be close to family.
A House Sold Below Market
The in-laws sold them the house for less than market value. The couple knew they were getting a good deal and were thankful.
They’d visited the home several times the year before buying it. On the surface, it looked beautiful and well kept.
Two Roofs Past Their Prime
Within weeks of moving in, problems started showing up. Both the roof on the house and the roof on the detached garage needed to be replaced, and it was clear they should have been replaced years earlier.
Roof replacements can easily cost thousands of dollars each. Having to do two at once was a major hit right after buying the house.
A Failing Well and Contaminated Water
The well pump also failed. On top of that, the well had been contaminated with bacteria, which the in-laws didn’t bring up until after closing.
Fixing a well and treating contaminated water can be expensive and stressful. More importantly, it’s a safety issue for a family with young children.
Fireplaces With Gas Leaks
After closing, the in-laws casually told the couple to check the fireplaces. When they did, they found dangerous gas leaks in both, and both fireplaces will need to be replaced.
There were other problems as well. Exhaust fans were venting into ceiling cavities, the property had drainage issues, and more repairs kept surfacing.
$80,000 in Five Weeks
In just five weeks, the couple spent more than $80,000 on deferred maintenance and urgent repairs. That’s a huge sum, even for a family that isn’t in financial trouble.
The discount they got on the house helped soften the blow, but it didn’t erase the shock. Instead of settling into their new home, she’s spent her time coordinating contractors and wondering what will break next.
She admits they could have done more research before buying. But many of the problems weren’t the kind a home inspector would easily catch, and she trusted her in-laws to share any major issues, especially ones that could put the family at risk.
A Need for Acknowledgment
She isn’t asking her in-laws for money or sympathy. What she wants is for them to acknowledge that years of neglect led to these problems and that serious safety issues weren’t disclosed.
The move has taken a toll on the whole family. They left their community behind to be closer to the in-laws, and now she’s struggling with resentment, wondering whether she can rebuild trust with family members who sold them a house that looked perfect from the outside but needed far more than anyone admitted.
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