As foreclosures increase, it is becoming more and more typical to see homes with overgrown lawns or "excess, undesirable vegetation growth" as our local code and ordinance officers call it around here.
The Atlanta Journal Constitution published an article today about real estate agents being ticketed for eyesore properties. "Agents say...the city's picking on them because they are easy targets. The city, they say, should be applauding their efforts to get foreclosed properties into the hands of new owners who will properly care for them. City officials say they just want some of the blight cleaned up."
One agent plead no contest and paid $3,311 in fines last month. The city's ability to levy the fine against the agent appears to depend upon the specific listing contract and the duties that the court interprets the agent as being authorized to perform on behalf of the owner. I'm sure that was for more than overgrown grass, but we need to be aware of this growing issue.
All REO agents and foreclosure specialist need to very carefully review the listing agreements that the banks and asset managers utilize when listing properties.
I recently had a warning posted on one of my listings. I called the code officer and explained that I was not authorized to directly manage the maintenance of the property, that the asset management company sub contracted all work through a field service company, and I provided him with both their phone number - but this scares the heck out of me anyway!
Are code officers in you area beginning to target real estate agents, yet?
photo credit: respres (Jeff Turner at Flickr.com)
It is amazing how the entire world is the realtor fault, I had a listing the HOA was screaming at me that I had to mow the lawn from an owner occupied home,,, the HOA was going to report me to the board I stated that if I touch a blade of grass I could be sue if they wanted it mowed GO AHEAD... the owner contractor did not show up "when spring had sprung" the owner had to get a new contractor... THE ENTIRE AREA WAS MY FAULT....
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