I am representing the Buyers in this transaction. The Listing Agent was on vacation with her family when we had the walk through with the Seller on Monday night. We discovered that the radiator closest to the boiler was not eminating any heat and 1 of the basement switches when used, tripped 2 breakers, as was the condition when we had the Home Inspection 2 weeks ago. Both of these issues were itemized in the Inspection Report and subsequent addendum, but eluded the attention of the contractor. He was asked to inspect, repair as needed and certify certain specific issues with the Plumbing, Heating and Electrical systems. He issued letters to the effect that each system had been professionally installed and was operating in a safe manner, but since he had to make no repairs on anything, disclaimed any guarantees or warranty on their future operation. Duh, what is the purpose of having systems certified if the inspector will not stand behind his professional opinion? When I was finally able to reach him by phone, his main claim was that this had been presented to him as a rush job. Yes, we were certainly trying to pull off a Thanksgiving miracle, as the contract had only been written on the 1st of November and we intended to settle on the 20th, but it was only to be a rush to get to the property, not to walk in and write 3 letters that meant nothing. We all felt very bad for the innocent Seller. He had done what he could and was relying on the professionalism of the contractor who had done the original certifications for him when he bought the property himself. Now he had to wonder what was the actual condition of the property when he bought it some time ago. This is a true example of Buyer Beware, you never know what unscrupulous scoundrels are out there to take your money and do nothing (or at most, very little). When I pressed the man further about the emptiness of what he had done and provided, he all of a sudden realized who he had been hired by and no longer wanted to talk to me. He said that the Seller could call him and he would talk to him only. I told him that I was with him and doing him the favor of dealing with the unpleasantries of the situation (I was just doing what his agent would have done had she been there.) The only way that he would ever hear from the Seller again would be in the form of a report against him with the Better Business Bureau. I hope the Seller will take this a step or 2 further, because he was truly ripped off and it is most likely that this man has gotten away with similar actions against many others as well. Someone has to do something, so that things like this can at least be slowed down, if not eventually stopped altogether.
 

4 Comments on What does "CERTIFICATION" mean anyways?

Too bad you had things that did not get picked up as they should be. This is the sort of thing that should not happen.

11/21/2007 11:28 PM by Bob & Carolin Benjamin - E Phoenix Arizona Real Estate (The Benjamin Team - Keller Williams Integrity First Realty )


Good for you for having the gutts to make that call!  So, did you close on the house?

11/21/2007 11:42 PM by Natalie Langford, Winchester, VA Real Estate (Realty Direct of Shenandoah Valley)


Bob and Carolin, Thank you for your commiseration. It is just further eveidence of the crucial importance of due diligence. You can take no one's word for anything, you must verify, verify, verify!

11/22/2007 07:07 AM by Kim Jones (EXIT Generations Realty)


Natalie, Thank you and it is so important to take a stand when we are faced with an injustice. Not that anything will happen over night, but nothing ventured is surely nothing gained. By the way, you may not have recognized my photo (even the people from my office don't realize it is me - the wonder of good hair and make-up), but we met during the VAR Convention last month in Williamsburg. I was the only one there from Baltimore. That is my claim to fame! Funny you should ask about whether the house closed... Look at today's blog post.

11/22/2007 07:17 AM by Kim Jones (EXIT Generations Realty)


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Real Estate Agent: Kim Jones (EXIT Generations Realty)
Kim Jones
Perry Hall, MD
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EXIT Generations Realty

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