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Up a Canyon Without an Inspection

By
Real Estate Agent with Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado EA1321548

Today I was supposed to have an inspection on a Fannie Mae owned property.  I notified the listing agent on Friday morning that the buyer would like to have the home inspection today (Wednesday).  She said she would call the asset management company to have the property de-winterized and the propane on so the utilities would be on in the home.  The property is up a canyon on the side of the mountain.  It has a well, septic and propane.  I followed up with the listing agent on Monday to make sure the utilities would be up and running.

From my home, I have an hour and fifteen minute drive to the property.  When I got up to the property, the snow from our two snow falls last week hadn't melted yet.  I was hoping our 82 degree temperature yesterday would have put a dent in the snow melt.  Fat chance!  The snow was up to my knees.  I trudged through the snow to the door.  The inspector had gotten to the home to do the exterior inspection ahead of time. 

I was greeted with bad news.  None of the utilities had been turned on.  And of course, there is no cell service at the home.  The buyer arrived and I explained to her the unfortunate news.  She stayed with the inspector inside the very cold house with no heat while I drove the half hour drive down the canyon to call the listing agent. 

I was only able to leave a message for the listing agent.  In my message, I let her know that we would need to amend the contract to extend the inspection deadline.  I then politely told her that the inspector was going to need to be paid a trip charge because he was going to have to return to the property to complete the inspection.

I drove the half hour back up the canyon to explain to the buyer what her options were.

Aren't incompetent asset mangers just a pain in the a$$?

To be continued....(I hope)

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Keller Williams Real Estate, LLC

Broker Associate, CNE, CRS, GRI, SFR

Servicing buyers and sellers in the Denver metro area since 1993

Three easy ways to contact me:

email me directly Dawn@downhomeindenver.com

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call or text me directly on my cell: 303-332-8025

The choice is yours.  Let my expertise work for you!  Servicing the Denver Metro area/ Aurora, Centennial, Denver, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Littleton, Lone Tree and Parker

*** Voted one of Denver's 2011, 2012 & 2013 "FIVE STAR REAL ESTATE AGENTS" by an independent survey of recent homebuyers to find the best in client satisfaction.***

                                               

 

Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

Yes - but I think the listing agent should also have followed up to make sure it was done. Definitely either she or the asset manager should pay for the inspector's time.  What a pain . . .

Mar 31, 2010 02:17 PM
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

Dawn, that's a bummer and a half!  We city agents really take stuff like utilities and cell phones for granted.

Mar 31, 2010 02:25 PM
Greg Nino
RE/MAX Compass - Houston, TX
Houston, Texas

That sucks! It's not just asset mgrs! I know plenty of listing agents who list foreclosures who do the same thing! no cell phone service? Where the heck is this place? Wow!

Mar 31, 2010 02:53 PM
Russel Ray, San Diego Business & Marketing Consultant & Photographer
Russel Ray - San Diego State University, CA

I hope the continuation is better than the foreword. Hang in there!

Mar 31, 2010 03:49 PM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Margaret ~ it is so frustrating. 

Patricia ~ I usually sell in the city, but this is a referral that wanted to live in the foothills.

Greg ~ There are lots of places that we loose cell phone coverage when we drive into the mountains.  It is beautiful  and peaceful up there, but remote too.

Russel ~ I'm hoping that as well!

Apr 01, 2010 03:31 AM
Adam Malachi
A 2 Z Realty LLC - Castle Rock, CO
QSC,CDPE,CIPS,CNE,CRB,CRS,GRI,MRE,SFR

Hello Dawn,

Good post!  That's sad but very true regarding coverage in the mountains!

Hank you very much for sharing!

Adam

Apr 01, 2010 04:30 AM
Jill Schmidt
Aurora, CO

Dawn - What a major pain and inconvenience for so many!  I wonder if Fannie Mae will reimburse - good luck on that one.

Apr 01, 2010 04:55 AM
Carra Riley & Declan Kenyon
Brokers Guild Cherry Creek Ltd - Westminster, CO
Helping people Transition at all ages!

Dawn...It seems this story is like a broken record, it just continues to play out in all parts of the country.  Whatever happened to being professional and doing the job they're receiving compensation to perform.  No wonder Realtors have a tough time building and maintaining a decent reputation!

cosmic cow

Apr 03, 2010 04:32 AM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Adam, Jill and Carra ~ the listing company called the asset management company.  And the asset management company called their vender to de-winterize, but they never showed!  It is just one crazy situation.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Apr 03, 2010 02:35 PM
Shanna Hall
Real Estate Solutions - Kirkwood, MO
I love selling houses!!!St. Louis, MO 314-703-1311

I have had this happen before and the assesst company did pay for the return trip and give us more time to do the inspection...  I hope it all works out!  Although I did have cell service the whole time...

Apr 07, 2010 03:17 AM
Andy Chaudoir
Professional Inspection Services - Georgetown, Texas - Georgetown, TX
Your Home Inspection Connection in Central Texas

Hello Dawn - I often come across homes that aren't "ready" for the inspection.  It is frustrating when you've done your part to make sure it is.

Apr 11, 2010 06:50 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

Did you ask that they turn on the utilities for the inspection?  A lot of home are still "winterized" and you've got to remind them . . . on to #2

May 16, 2010 02:54 PM
Dawn A Fabiszak
Private Label Realty ( Denver metro area, Colorado - Aurora, CO
The Dawn of a New Real Estate Experience!

Carla ~ My first request for the utilities to be turned on was the Friday before the inspection.  My second reqest  was on Monday before the inspection and on Wednesday they still weren't on.

May 17, 2010 02:54 PM