Can I get a refund after purchase for work done?

I am so incredibly sorry you are dealing with this. Finding out your home has unsafe, non-code electrical work after you’ve already moved in is more than just "ridiculous"—it’s a major safety concern and a huge emotional blow. Moving is stressful enough without discovering dangerous shortcuts behind your walls.

Because you mentioned having to open walls to find the issue, you are dealing with a hidden defect that a standard home inspection rarely catches.

My Advice:

Since I am a real estate professional and not an attorney, I strongly advise that you consult with a local real estate attorney immediately. Every state and local jurisdiction has different rules regarding seller liability and what recourse a buyer has after closing.

An attorney is the best person who can review your specific purchase contract and any related paperwork to determine if you have a legal case to demand a refund or payment for these repairs. Be sure to document everything.


Your next step should be getting that legal guidance to find out what your options are. You deserve to feel safe in your new home!

Tricia Jacobs
Managing Broker/REALTOR®

I’m sorry you’re dealing with that — hidden electrical problems can be frustrating and expensive. Unfortunately, once a home sale closes, it’s usually very difficult to make the seller pay for repairs, but there are a few situations where you might have a case. ⚖️🏡

1. It Depends on Seller Disclosure Laws

In most U.S. states, sellers must disclose known material defects that could affect safety or value.

Electrical issues like:

Unsafe wiring

Open wires in walls

Non-code electrical work

could qualify as material defects.

If the seller knew about the problem and failed to disclose it, that could potentially be misrepresentation or fraud.

2. The Hard Part: Proving They Knew

To successfully recover money, you usually must show:

The problem existed before the sale

The seller knew about it

They failed to disclose it intentionally

Examples that might help prove this:

Old repair invoices

Permits showing unfinished work

Evidence the seller did DIY electrical work

Neighbors or contractors who knew about the issue

Without proof they knew, it’s often considered a buyer responsibility after closing.

3. The Home Inspection Factor

Home inspectors typically:

Only inspect visible and accessible areas

Do not open walls

Because of this, hidden wiring problems are often not caught during inspections.

You might still review the inspection report to see if:

They missed something visible

They noted signs of electrical issues

If they clearly overlooked something obvious, you could potentially discuss it with the inspection company.

4. Possible Next Steps

Here’s what many homeowners do in this situation:

Review your seller disclosure forms from closing

Gather photos and contractor reports describing the unsafe wiring

Ask the electrician to document that the work was old and pre-existing

Talk with a local real estate attorney about whether you have a claim

Sometimes a lawyer can send a demand letter to the seller asking them to contribute to repairs.

5. Reality Check

Many of these disputes end with:

Negotiation

Partial settlement

Or no recovery if there’s no proof of prior knowledge

But if the work was clearly unsafe or intentionally hidden, you may have a stronger case.

✅ Important: Save all contractor reports and invoices describing the wiring problem. That documentation can be critical if you decide to pursue reimbursement.

This is such a frustrating situation, and unfortunately a really common one — so let's break down what's happening here.

The hard truth about home inspections: Inspectors are visual only. They're not diagnosticians. They walk through what's visible and accessible — they can't open walls, so hidden wiring issues like this are genuinely outside the scope of what they can catch or report. It doesn't mean anyone failed you; it means the system has real limits you weren't warned about.

Where your agent could have protected you: This is actually a great example of why the wording on a Request for Repairs matters more than most buyers realize. When there's a light that isn't working, rather than requesting "replace bulb," a savvy agent should word it as: "Seller to ensure light fixture is in proper working condition." Simple shift — huge difference. Now the seller is on the hook for whatever it takes to make that light work. If it's just a bulb, easy. If it's a deeper electrical issue, they've already agreed to address it. The vagueness actually protects the buyer.

As for going back to the seller now — in most cases, that's a very difficult path once you've closed and taken possession. The goal is to have an agent who anticipates these grey areas before closing and writes protections into the paperwork. A burned-out bulb is always a grey area. The right language turns that grey into a shield.

There is one exception worth knowing: If you can prove the seller was fully aware of the larger electrical issue, you do have recourse — because they were legally required to disclose it on the SRPD (Seller's Real Property Disclosure) form. Knowingly hiding a material defect isn't just bad faith, it's a disclosure violation. The catch? You have to be able to prove they knew — and that can be genuinely difficult. Contractor records, prior permits, neighbor accounts, or anything showing prior knowledge of the issue would be the starting point. If you believe that's the case, it's worth a conversation with a real estate attorney.

The bigger takeaway: No home is perfect — even new construction comes with surprises. The goal is to have try and anticipate these grey areas when writing your Request for Repairs, before closing and writing protections into the paperwork. Because sometimes a burned-out bulb is just a bulb — and sometimes it's the tip of a much bigger problem.

My answer pertains to NEVADA - FYI

First, I’m really sorry you’re dealing with that. Discovering something unsafe after you’ve already moved into your home is incredibly frustrating.

Before anything else, I would strongly encourage you to speak with a real estate attorney in your state. Situations like this can quickly move into legal territory, and an attorney is the best person to review the details of your transaction and advise you on your options.

Just to be clear, nothing in my response should be interpreted as legal advice. I’m simply sharing a general perspective based on how these situations are typically handled in residential real estate.

In most home purchases, buyers rely on two main sources of protection before closing: the home inspection and the seller’s disclosure statement. Inspections are helpful, but they are limited to what is visible and accessible at the time. Inspectors don’t open walls or dismantle systems, which unfortunately means some issues only come to light later, especially during renovations.

Where things can change is if there is evidence that the seller knew about a significant issue and failed to disclose it when required to do so. Electrical hazards can absolutely fall into the category of material defects. The challenge, however, is determining whether the seller was actually aware of the problem.

An attorney can help you evaluate things like:

• The seller disclosure form you received before closing
• Your inspection report
• Any contractor reports describing what was discovered
• Whether there is evidence the issue existed and was known prior to the sale

If a seller knowingly failed to disclose a serious problem, there may be options available. If it turns out the issue was genuinely unknown to them, it can be much harder to pursue reimbursement after closing.

One practical step you might consider right now is asking the electrician or contractor who discovered the issue to document what they found and whether it appears to be older work. That kind of information can be helpful if you do decide to consult an attorney.

I know it’s not the situation anyone wants to be in after buying a home, but a qualified real estate attorney will be able to give you the clearest answer based on your specific documents and state law.

Wishing you the best as you work through it.

That is such a frustrating situation! You may be able to get the seller's to pay for it, but will unfortunately not be simple. If you can prove that this is a situation that the seller's knew about but did not disclose, then they would guilty of fraud. You would have to be able to prove that they knew about though, and that can be tricky. Your next step would be to threaten a law suit and see if they will agree to pay for the repairs rather than go through the courts (b/c that is a huge hassle!) In Colorado, our contract defines that the loosing party in the law suit has to pay court costs for both sides but I don't know if that is true in Missouri