Home inspection

SciaccaAZ · #**1 Home inspection** 11-03-2007, 03:42 PM

Hi everyone! After months of waiting and wondering, and switching realtors to a fabulous realtor, and of course, dropping the price, and then dropping it again and again, we have a buyer. They had the home inspection on Wednesday and were back again the following day. At one point, someone (inspector?) chiseled away at an inside wooden window frame about 3 inches on both sides and quite a ways down into the frame. There was old termite damage there which we disclosed in the paperwork so it should not have been a surprise to anyone. However, now our frame is considerably damaged and obviously chiseled at to the point that it needs to be replaced completely. I had no idea that the inspection would cause physical damage to our property. Is this normal? Can an inspector do such a thing without asking us first? We have of course speculated that the buyers are firm on wanting to buy the property so they requested that this be done, but that is simple speculation and ultimately we are left with a damaged window frame. I left a message for our realtor, but I wanted opinions of others who are not involved in the deal. Thanks everyone!

coastal · #**2 Re: Home inspection** 11-03-2007, 06:20 PM

You left a message for your Realtor?
Has your Realtor called you back? Is there a reason your Realtor has not called you back?

A good Realtor would call you back within an hour or if they "took the day off" within 24 hours. Do you know your Realtors hours?

Do you expect your Realtor to work 24 hours a day 7 days a week?
I work 7 days a week 10 - 15 hours a day but I don't think that is the norm.

Did your Realtor ruin the window frame? Who picked the home inspector?

I'd call the home inspection company.

How bad was the termite damage? Was it a window frame that should have been replaced anyway?

Why were you trying to sell a damaged house? Is there a reason you did not want to repair the damaged window frame? You could have asked more for the house if everything was in good condition.

SciaccaAZ · #**3 Re: Home inspection** 11-03-2007, 06:32 PM

Okay, first of all, I don't expect my realtor to work 24 hours a day.

He did not do the damage. It was done during the inspection.

Secondly, we are not trying to sell a damaged house! Our house is in great condition. The termite damage was minimal to none. We live in Arizona and termites are very common out here. I do not know who the inspection company is as they were hired by the buyers. We are certainly prepared to make any necessary repairs!!!!

I did not expect to get attacked in such a way. I simply asked a question. Geez!!!

gregharaksin · #**4 Re: Home inspection** 11-03-2007, 07:23 PM

I've never heard of a home inspector doing anything like this. a termite inspector maybe, since he will need to fix any termite damage and guarantee his work for a year (at least in CA). Who did the termite inspection?

I hope an AZ agent can answer your question. The buyers side is normally responsible for damage during an inspection in CA. But termite inspectors do poke around looking for termite damage and dry rot, and it may be something you needed to repair anyway.

BarryC · #**5 Re: Home inspection** 11-03-2007, 10:58 PM

I'm an agent in the Scottsdale area and I've never seen my inspector damage someones house. I know accidents do happen, but this doesn't sound like an accident.

On the other hand, be real careful with this. You say you've been dropping and dropping the price on the home and now you have a buyer. I probably wouldn't make a stink about it unless your home doesn't close escrow and the buyers opt out of the contract. At that point, I would probably go ballistic on the inspector though.

Good luck on the sale.

coastal · #**6 Re: Home inspection** 11-04-2007, 05:51 AM

Has your Realtor called you back yet? The reason for the "attack" is that I have home inspectors screw things up all the time and I am always blamed for it. It's never my fault, I don't even help them choose the home inspector. I give them the phone book and tell them to choose one so that I am in no way steering them in any direction as who to use. In the end when there is a problem I'm always the first one they call with their nasty words and bad attitudes.

It would be so much nicer if they just called the people who were responsible... The home inspector.

Realtors are also not Lawyers. If there is some damage that you have issues with and the home inspector does not want to pay take it up with a Lawyer.
More than likely a new window will cost less than $300. Do you want to wreck the sale of your home over $300? Do you want to spend the time and energy fighting a $300 claim in small claims court?

DebbieJ · #**7 Re: Home inspection** 11-07-2007, 10:01 PM

A few days have past since you asked the question...I was wondering if you got the issue resolved? I have not heard of an inspector doing damage like that...in my area it's not normal. Not sure about the contracts in your area...in mine, the inspection items can be negotiated, depending upon how the contract was written. The buyer probably would have wanted the window frame replaced anyway. If your home has been on the market awhile, and you are ready to sell, it is probably worth the $300 to be done with it and move on. In a buyer's market, buyer's ask for a lot and end up getting a lot. Some properties have been on the market so long that sellers just want to sell. Hope that helps. Good luck with the sale.

SciaccaAZ · #**8 Re: Home inspection** 11-08-2007, 11:48 AM

Hi there. It was the termite inspector who did it. The buyers sent their BINSR and they want a lot done including fixing the frame, which we are, of course, agreeing to.

Lewi · #**9 Re: Home inspection** 11-08-2007, 05:08 PM

Nice to hear you found out the answer you were looking for. It is common for the termite inspector to "probe" into damaged wood to determine the amount of damage.

Coastal: you may have reacted a bit harshly to someone asking a question.

DebbieJ · #**10 Re: Home inspection** 11-21-2007, 08:00 PM

Did the home sell?

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