HELP! Sellers didn't disclose major issues - unrentable and requires massive repairs

[Ashley Gamble]

We recently bought a property that we have found out within the first few weeks of owning it that is has VERY SERIOUS drainage and humidity issues and lots of previous water damage that the sellers did not disclose. Massive dehumidifiers are filling with at least 3-4 gallons of water daily - we can't rent until a slew of multi thousand dollar repairs are completed.

We were told that the dehumidifiers the sellers had in the house were only used during the spring when snowmelt was very bad.  When the sellers left, they left the dehumidifiers on and we are now removing over 2-4 gallons of water DAILY with them and it would be more if they didn't fill up then shut off.  Smaller ones are filling up within 12 hours and the large unit they left with 2x 5 gallon water jugs to empty into AND a catchment below....because obviously the sellers knew that it fills over 5+ gallons in just TWO DAYS.

We have had to get a structural engineer in who has noted other water damage throughout the basement (unfinished) that was hidden behind sellers boxes and personal items during our inspection.  Our original inspector noted a drainage issue on the north side because of improper sloping.  Sellers did not allow us to get professionals in to give estimates for a french drain before closing (yes, our red flag we should have walked away with), but agreed to lower closing price.  We have also found our that the sellers lied on their disclosure of what they knew about the hail damage to roof.  We did get negotiate money from them to help with roof repair, but now know they were not honest on their disclosure.

Our inspector missed code violations, HVAC issues, pipes that had been worked on and issues hidden that had occurred while sellers lived in the house, signs of drainage and water damage inside the house that had been painted over, completely blocked dryer vent...and we are finding more daily.

We have had the house looked at by a structural engineer and HVAC techs that has told us we need thousands (likely tens of thousands) of dollars worth of repairs to make this property able to rent and come up to code for rental.  We also can't have renters dealing with the humidifiers as it is a mold problem/foundation issue if it isn't taken care of.

We are taking pictures and videos of everything, we have multiple professionals that have documented everything (and told us to lawyer up) and have neighbors that we have already had agree to discuss their drainage problems when we get a lawyer.  

HELP!!
-Recommendations for Denver real estate lawyers?  Especially if they specialize in seller disclosure problems.
-We have to move forward to help mitigate this problem b/c one owner lives 3 hours away and I live 30 min away and can't be at the house daily to empty dehumidifiers.
-What other information should we be gathering?
-What else can we do?!

thank you for ANY advice!!!

[Calvin Thomas]

Quote from @Ashley Gamble:

We recently bought a property that we have found out within the first few weeks of owning it that is has VERY SERIOUS drainage and humidity issues and lots of previous water damage that the sellers did not disclose. Massive dehumidifiers are filling with at least 3-4 gallons of water daily - we can't rent until a slew of multi thousand dollar repairs are completed.

We were told that the dehumidifiers the sellers had in the house were only used during the spring when snowmelt was very bad.  When the sellers left, they left the dehumidifiers on and we are now removing over 2-4 gallons of water DAILY with them and it would be more if they didn't fill up then shut off.  Smaller ones are filling up within 12 hours and the large unit they left with 2x 5 gallon water jugs to empty into AND a catchment below....because obviously the sellers knew that it fills over 5+ gallons in just TWO DAYS.

We have had to get a structural engineer in who has noted other water damage throughout the basement (unfinished) that was hidden behind sellers boxes and personal items during our inspection.  Our original inspector noted a drainage issue on the north side because of improper sloping.  Sellers did not allow us to get professionals in to give estimates for a french drain before closing (yes, our red flag we should have walked away with), but agreed to lower closing price.  We have also found our that the sellers lied on their disclosure of what they knew about the hail damage to roof.  We did get negotiate money from them to help with roof repair, but now know they were not honest on their disclosure.

Our inspector missed code violations, HVAC issues, pipes that had been worked on and issues hidden that had occurred while sellers lived in the house, signs of drainage and water damage inside the house that had been painted over, completely blocked dryer vent...and we are finding more daily.

We have had the house looked at by a structural engineer and HVAC techs that has told us we need thousands (likely tens of thousands) of dollars worth of repairs to make this property able to rent and come up to code for rental.  We also can't have renters dealing with the humidifiers as it is a mold problem/foundation issue if it isn't taken care of.

We are taking pictures and videos of everything, we have multiple professionals that have documented everything (and told us to lawyer up) and have neighbors that we have already had agree to discuss their drainage problems when we get a lawyer.  

HELP!!
-Recommendations for Denver real estate lawyers?  Especially if they specialize in seller disclosure problems.
-We have to move forward to help mitigate this problem b/c one owner lives 3 hours away and I live 30 min away and can't be at the house daily to empty dehumidifiers.
-What other information should we be gathering?
-What else can we do?!

thank you for ANY advice!!!

Contact your attorney who worked on the closing.  You would need to check the property disclosure report.  Remember, caveat emptor on all real estate transactions.  You should prob. consider hiring a PM to help manage since one of the owners lives 3+ hours away.  Grace Property Management is pretty decent.

As for the draining of the buckets, simple solution.  Add a hose and it will drain automatically into a your sump pump or another drain.  Your lawyer should be able to go after the home inspector and previous owners if they hid a substantial material defect.