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Barry Stone is a highly respected professional home inspector and columnist based in
California.  I obtained his permission to feature his articles.  

"Wayne, I'm glad to know my articles are appreciated and put to good use. Please feel free to
republish them...    Best Regards, Barry Stone".



Barry Stone: Agent disregarded home inspection

By Barry Stone
Inspector s in the House
Posted: 08/02/2009 12:00:00 AM PDT

Q: When I bought my home, my Realtor arranged for a home inspection. She had me write a
check to the inspector but didn't tell me when the inspection was to take place. So I missed the
chance to attend. To make matters worse, the home inspector never gave me or my Realtor a
report. I asked repeatedly for a report, but the agent put me off with some excuse about the
inspector having marital problems. Finally, it was time to close escrow and she convinced me to
let the inspection go and just buy the house. After moving in, I kept finding problems, like leaky
plumbing and outlets that didn't work. So I hired another home inspector. He found a long list of
problems, including a damaged foundation. I've tried complaining to my agent about all of this,
but she doesn't return my calls. What should I do?


A: Any Realtor can make a professional mistake, but your agent seems to have gotten it wrong
on every count: Choosing an unqualified home inspector, leaving you out of the inspection
process, dismissing your concerns about the home inspection report, allowing the deal to close
without full disclosure and ignoring your concerns. A Realtor who treats clients with such callous
disregard, with so little concern for professional ethics, should not be allowed to practice real
estate.

A good agent would have recommended a competent, reliable home inspector with a proven
track record of dependable performance. A good agent would have arranged for you to attend
the home inspection and receive an oral review of the inspector's findings. A good agent would
have made sure that you received the report and would not have ignored the inspector's failure
to produce one.

When no report was forthcoming, a good agent would have arranged for another home
inspection and would have demanded a refund. Above all, a good agent would never suggest
that a client close escrow without full disclosure of defects. And a good agent would not fail to
return phone calls from a concerned client.

Your mistake was not taking a stronger stand with your agent. You should not have allowed the
deal to close when your concerns were being ignored. You had every right to receive a home
inspection report, and it was the duty of your agent to represent your interests in that regard.
When your requests for that report were not honored, it was time to stop the deal, to insist on
another home inspection, and to demand another Realtor to represent you.
Now that the proverbial milk is spilled, it is time to assess the damages and address the issues.
You'll need estimates from reputable, licensed contractors to repair the defects in your home. If
your agent won't communicate with you directly, have an attorney forward those estimates, with
a cover letter that will give her some sleepless nights. You should also file a complaint with the
state agency that licenses real estate agents.

As for the home inspector who accepted payment without providing a report, he should tender a
full refund or explain "why not" to a small claims judge.

Barry Stone is a certified building inspector and nationally syndicated columnist based in San
Luis Obispo.


**

Note from Inspector Homes Inc. / Wayne Blackburn

Oahu, Hawaii residents:

Have you had something similar happen to you? Tell me your story, and I might just publish it on
this website.  YOUR STORY MAY SAVE SOMEONE ELSE.  I firmly believe Consumer education
is the best tool, to help safeguard others. Please include your name, inspection address,
problems encountered, outcome, and all the details you are willing to share.  I can assure
discretion. E-mail me
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