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Commercial Building Disclosure question

Posted on 7/24/17 at 2:44 pm
Posted by MadDoggyStyle
Member since Feb 2012
3857 posts
Posted on 7/24/17 at 2:44 pm
I bought a commercial office building with 2 office suites with 10 offices on each side. We had a building inspection and appraisal prior to closing and there were no disclosures.

A few weeks after moving in we can't figure out why we can't get internet or phones to work on the B Suite and we have an electrician trace wiring from the jack plates through the attic. For the B suite, all the wiring comes into a bundle and is running inside a wall but was never hooked to a patch panel, so it is just a bunch of cut wire in a wall.

The seller did not disclose the unfinished wiring and the inspector could not test the phones or internet since there was no service. I am told the inspectors do not test low voltage wiring in a commercial building. It will cost between $3000-$4000 to rewire this mess.

My realtor is telling me that it will be hard to prove the seller knew about the unfinished wiring but does this matter? Is there any way for me to recoup the cost to finish out this wiring?

Real Estate Attorneys, Realtors and Property owners please advise...
Posted by Wortivi22
Land of Mini Vans
Member since Dec 2007
855 posts
Posted on 7/24/17 at 3:59 pm to
I'm not an attorney, but I imagine that it would take about that amount just to have an attorney look at this for you. Nevermind if you actually have to file a lawsuit.

I think you may have to chalk this one up as a loss. Make friends with the electrician and ask him to look at any properties you are looking to buy in the future. He may do it for free if it gets him a little business.
Posted by MadDoggyStyle
Member since Feb 2012
3857 posts
Posted on 7/24/17 at 4:04 pm to
Agreed. It won't hurt to ask for them to pay or split the cost. I am 90% sure the prior owner knew they left this wiring fubar'd but if he doesn't do the right thing, it's not worth hiring an attorney.
Posted by autodd03
Clown world
Member since Dec 2013
2532 posts
Posted on 7/24/17 at 4:19 pm to
You can go to small claims court yourself
Posted by boosiebadazz
Member since Feb 2008
80228 posts
Posted on 7/24/17 at 5:28 pm to
How long ago was the building built? Depending on your state and your sale documents, could you possibly have bought a claim your seller would have had against the builder?
Posted by DieSmilen
My Rubbermaid Desk
Member since Dec 2007
1731 posts
Posted on 7/24/17 at 8:41 pm to
Any idea if the property was previously under contract and fell through because of inspections?
Posted by MadDoggyStyle
Member since Feb 2012
3857 posts
Posted on 7/25/17 at 8:37 am to
Prior owner to me, purchased the building in Feb 2014 and had remnants move into that side of the building in April 2014. I found FB photos of the law firm celebrating their move into the new building. Phones and computers are connected in those April and June 2014 pics.
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