Beyond litigation, there are practical steps to mitigate the financial blow of a lemon house.
While the "buyer beware" ( caveat emptor ) philosophy still exists in some forms, modern consumer protection laws have shifted the burden of honesty onto the seller. Through a combination of legal action and insurance claims, buyers can often recover the costs of turning a "lemon" back into a home.
: Hire independent contractors to determine the cost of repairs and whether the damage appears "old" or "masked."
: Most states require sellers to provide a Property Disclosure Statement. If a seller intentionally hid a "latent defect" (a problem not easily seen during a standard inspection), they may be liable for fraud or misrepresentation .
: Take photos, videos, and keep a log of when issues appeared.