'We're $20,000 Deep And Hadn't Moved In Yet,' Says First-Time Homebuyer. Tree Roots Collapsed The Sewer, Flooded The Bathroom On First Night

Buying your first home is supposed to be exciting. But for one homebuyer, it turned into an expensive nightmare before they could even unload the moving boxes.

The couple purchased what looked like a fully renovated, move-in-ready home from sellers who were also real estate agents and house flippers. “The sellers advertised it as ‘move-in ready' with ‘new electrical,'” the person wrote in a Reddit post. But almost immediately, red flags started popping up.

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HVAC Problems

Before closing, their home inspection flagged HVAC issues. The sellers claimed to have fixed them, and the system seemed to blow cool air at first. But the day after closing, it completely failed. “Fine. We liked the house and half expected something like this,” they said. “We bit the bullet and installed a brand-new HVAC system.”

That was just the beginning.

The couple soon discovered the electrical panel was in terrible shape, and the home's grounding wire had been cut. “Definitely not ‘new electrical,'” they added. With the help of an electrician friend, they replaced the panel and addressed other issues, racking up $20,000 in repairs before even moving in.

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The Sewage Problems

Their first night living in the home, sewage flooded the bathroom. An emergency plumbing call revealed the sewer line had collapsed due to tree roots.

“Every plumber we’ve had look at it says there’s no way the sellers didn’t know,” they wrote. The repair quotes range from $9,500 to $15,000.

The next day brought more problems. “Our shower is only putting out scalding hot water,” they added. A plumber told them the water heater and plumbing had been incorrectly installed during the renovation. Fixing it would cost another $1,000 or more, not including drywall repairs.

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Legal options and hard lessons

With their finances stretched thin, the newlyweds are exploring legal options. “I honestly can’t believe sellers can advertise a home however they want with zero consequences,” the homebuyer said.

Hundreds of Redditors shared similar stories and advice in response. “Don't buy flips. The whole point of a flip is to extract the most money from the buyer by doing the least amount of actual work,” one warned. Another emphasized the need for independent inspections, saying to never use the inspector recommended by the realtor, as they're often supposedly there to push the sale. Others pointed to common cosmetic clues, noting that gray floors, white cabinets, and everything looking like it’s Instagram-ready is probably a flip.

Real estate professionals in the thread noted that if the sellers were agents, they may face heightened legal responsibility for failing to disclose issues. Some encouraged the poster to check for permits or file complaints with licensing boards. A few even suggested pursuing legal claims for misrepresentation or fraud.

Despite the chaos, the homebuyer hasn't given up. “It's oddly comforting to know that I'm not alone,” they said, responding to others who shared similar stories.

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