Undisclosed Hidden “Feature Deck”

Setting the scene: The client and the Realtor loved the beautifully fenced rear yard, the grass surrounded by concrete and a patio, the table, chairs and umbrella, the very large deck and gazebo, for our client (the buyer) the rear was the major attraction of the house.
Arriving at the house and looking out the kitchen window the deck looked out of place, a moments thought and it looks like a swimming pool has been covered with decking. Going out and looking at it, there is an area of board that can be removed. Once removed it showed a in-ground pool with stagnant water.
On further inspection it was obvious that the complete bottom of the pool had sunk substantially, destroying the integrity pool. Then the soil behind the unsupported side walls collapsed leaving the concrete walkway around the “deck” unsupported. The deck had no foundation and was supported by undersized posts on a concrete block and the concrete patio that was in imminent danger of collapsing.
Later the Realtor told us that the total cost to remove the deck, then the pool, fill it all in, rebuild a smaller deck etc was between twenty and twenty five thousand dollars.