Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Illinois

Re: first time homeowners

Hello. In Illinois there is usually a disclosure

statement that you receive at the closing which

gives the new buyer notice of any defects on the

property. You should review your paperwork to

determine if you received this. If you find a

disclosure statement, study it to see whether this problem was disclosed. There is no harm in contacting the previous owner and making a demand that he/she pay to fix the problem. You also may want to refer to the real estate sale contract to see if there is any language in the contract which relates to defects in the property not previously disclosed. If the contract says that the property is being sold

"as is", then your chances of getting the previous owner to kick in for repairs may be less than a sure thing. Before contacting the previous owner, you should get at least three estimates for the repair cost and then contact the previous owner with the lowest estimate in hand. I hope my suggestions have been helpful and I will be happy to answer any additional questions you may have.