Special offer

Agents Stay In Contact With Your Out Of Town Sellers And Please Check Your Detached Garages Often And This Is Why

By
Real Estate Agent with Pro 100 INC., REALTORS

 

 New Agents - If you don't know what mold is  please visit this site and become familar with what it looks like.

http://www.inspect-ny.com/sickhouse/mold.htm

Recently I aquired a listing from an out of state seller who had his property listed with another company for over a year without any offers.  This home was listed at $292,000.00 and a very beautiful home.  The agent who had the listing didn't think to contact her seller about the mold problem going on in the basement or maybe they just was not aware that it could evolve into such a big mess.   After a year it has now got in under the baseboards which means it is now into the walls.  Which means to do it right you are going to have to go in and replace that section of the wall.  Here are just a few pictures:

  

Always check behind doors, around the baseboards and inside of closets.  Mold can start anywhere.

If this had of been caught earlier and was treated and certified the seller wouldn't be looking at a costly expense now.   

Also, When showing your property always check those detached garages.  This same property has a detached garage.  Sometime over the course of the year when the other agent had the listing a water pipe broke and it was never detected.  I went in to take pictures of this detached garage and this is what I found.

  

I sure wasn't happy to have to tell this to the seller.  And you can imagine what his feelings were toward the other Realtor.  This had to be going on for some time to cause this much damage.  This just goes to show that this detached garage was never shown or this problem would have been caught long before all this damage was done.

Protect your reputation and be aware of what is going on with your property listings. 

Comments (6)

Jared Wangsgard
Holladay, UT
Wow! that's alot of mold. Thanks for the info.
Apr 23, 2008 07:01 AM
Elizabeth Clark, GRI - South West Missouri Real Estate 417.850.2422
Pro 100 INC., REALTORS - Joplin, MO
Property Manager - Buyers Agent - Listing Agent
Your welcome Jared.  Just protect yourself and always check your properties - you never know when something like this could happen.
Apr 23, 2008 07:02 AM
Cynthia Tilghman, Realtor® Onslow County NC Home Specialist
Kingsbridge Realty, Inc - Hubert, NC
Elizabeth,
No, that would not be good news to have to deliver.  Sometimes we do have to be the bearer of bad news but it seems this situation could have been handled sooner by the former agent and the seller would not now be facing such  large and costly repairs.  Good advice for all.
Apr 24, 2008 09:35 AM
Elizabeth Clark, GRI - South West Missouri Real Estate 417.850.2422
Pro 100 INC., REALTORS - Joplin, MO
Property Manager - Buyers Agent - Listing Agent
Thank you for your comment Cynthia.  The seller handled it better than I would of.  It was just such a shock to walk in and find that in that shape.  Hopefully we will find out something  soon on this home.
Apr 24, 2008 11:59 AM
Thesa Chambers
West + Main - Bend, OR
Principal Broker - Licensed in Oregon
oh my gosh - what a mess - by the way your music - well not to be rude - but when I am blogging late at night and others are sleeping or I am in the office - it is an issue
Apr 25, 2008 05:30 PM
Elizabeth Clark, GRI - South West Missouri Real Estate 417.850.2422
Pro 100 INC., REALTORS - Joplin, MO
Property Manager - Buyers Agent - Listing Agent
Hey Thesa, no problem with the music.  I was thinking about removing it anyway.  It was just one of those fun things you do when you first new to AR.  I've noticed a lot of folks don't have it - must slow down the SEO - you think?  Thank you for your comment.  Have a great day!
Apr 26, 2008 05:46 AM