Can I get a refund after purchase for work done?

You may have a claim against the seller, but it depends on what they knew and what your state's disclosure laws require. In most states, sellers are required to disclose known material defects. If the electrical system was a mess with open wires and code violations behind the walls, and the seller knew about it, they had a legal obligation to tell you. If they actively concealed it, that's even worse. Concealment is treated more seriously than a simple failure to disclose in most jurisdictions. The challenge is proving what the seller knew. If they lived in the home and did any electrical work themselves or hired someone to do unpermitted work, it's hard to argue they didn't know about it. If they inherited the property and never lived there, proving knowledge is harder. Your first step is to document everything. Get a licensed electrician to write a detailed report of the issues, including photos, what's wrong, what's not to code, and what it costs to fix. Then contact a real estate attorney in your state and show them the report, your inspection results from before closing, and the seller's disclosure form. The attorney can advise whether you have a viable claim and what the process looks like in your state. The inspection not catching it doesn't necessarily let the seller off the hook. Home inspectors are visual only and don't open walls. If the issues were concealed behind drywall, they wouldn't have been visible during a standard inspection. That actually supports your case because it suggests the problems were hidden, not just missed. Time matters. Most states have a statute of limitations on these claims, so don't wait on this. Talk to an attorney now.

Typically, after closing, you are responsible unless you can prove the seller deliberately did not disclose or tried to hide from you.

Probably not, unless you can prove the seller knew about the dangerous wiring and intentionally hid it. If it was behind walls and didn't show up in the inspection, that's considered a hidden defect, and unless you have emails or documents showing they knew, you're likely stuck with the bill. You could talk to a real estate lawyer to see if you have a case, but unfortunately this stuff happens and it's really hard to recover money after closing.

This is a frustrating situation, and it happens more often than people realize after buyers move into an older home. The short answer is that it can be difficult to go back to the seller for repairs after closing, but it depends on whether the seller knew about the problem and failed to disclose it. In most home sales, once you close, the property is considered accepted in its current condition. Inspections are the buyer’s opportunity to discover issues before the purchase is final. However, there are exceptions if something was intentionally hidden or not disclosed when the seller was required to disclose it. Here are the key things that usually matter: 1. What the seller disclosed If the seller filled out a disclosure form stating there were no electrical problems, but it can be shown they knew about unsafe wiring, there may be grounds to pursue it. 2. Whether the issue could reasonably have been discovered If the problem was hidden inside walls and not visible during a normal inspection, that can make the situation different than something obvious. 3. What your contract says Real estate contracts often include language about inspections, disclosures, and the condition of the property at closing. These details can affect what options you have now. 4. Talk to a real estate attorney If the repairs are significant, the best step is to speak with a local real estate attorney who can review your contract and disclosures. They can tell you whether this is just part of owning a home or something that may involve misrepresentation. In most cases, sellers are not responsible for problems discovered after closing unless there is proof they knew about the issue and failed to disclose it, but it’s worth having a professional review the situation if the repair is serious.

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