My Worst Final Walk - Through

I think real estate agents could write a book about the adventures we experience while practicing the art of selling real estate.  Your roof repair situation reminds me of a time, an ex-contractor, replaced a roof on his home in escrow.  He used 1/2" staples rather than 3/4".  He then wanted to certify that roof, which wasn't code.  My buyer walked from the transaction, at the eleventh hour!

Sorry you had to go through this stress Bob. I would have felt the same way you did if it was me. Your job is to make you clients happy and I take the final walk through very seriously.

Stuff happens.

I've found my self on BOTH sides of this picture.

A little widow lady who could hardly push a broom, trying to make the property presentable, crying because she realized she could not do it.

A buyer who finds a garage full of old paint cans that wanted to go ballistic.

I'm a professional. I handle it.

And if there is not a professional on the other side, sometimes I have to do more. 

Clearly the seller and their professional representation are embarrassed and believe this unprofessional. And they are right. If your blog was what you intended....you would have identified the culprits. 

Isn't the promise of certain discovery what keeps folks honest?

Hi Bob,

Good job on getting that one closed!

I think you just discovered a new topic category on ActiveRain.  Off the top of my head I can think of several options:

• My Worst Closing.
• My Worst Buyer.
• My Worst Seller.
• My Worst Referral.
• My Worst Partner.
• My Worst Broker.

There must be millions of My Worst topics.

In fact, maybe Bob Stewart could create a new contest! 

Slanderous?  Slander is making false statements to the defamation of another party. Libel is PRINTING or WRITING false statements to the defamation of another. I think they'd have a tuff-row-to-hoe in court as first they'd have to prove THEY were the people allegedly being defamed (which would be difficult since no names, addresses or identifying information is given) and secondly .. that what you are saying is false.  Hopefully they are better at being a real estate agent than representing themselves in court, but wait--- THAT doesn't seem to be the case either, based on your description.

Hi, Bob "RealMan" Timm . The other commenters have been spot on.  I too see nothing wrong with your post at all. There is no information that could relate it to a specific location, let alone an agency or person. From the way they're handling it, I have to wonder who read it to them...

Thanks for sharing & let it ride!
Bruce

Great Job, Bob "RealMan" Timm ! I had a similar walk-through last year.  The night before the closing we walked through and I suggested delaying the closing due to the amount of "stuff" still in the house.  The seller agreed to have it all done and I knew that was impossible.  The buyer electronically closed before we (buyer's representative) and yours truly could verify that the place was acceptable.  Needless to say, I spent the day helping the seller move and even finished a load of laundry for him.  Where was the seller's agent?  Getting her nails done!! 

Sounds like the Seller was not adequately informed that he should have made preparation to move in a timely manner.  Also repairs that were contractually agreed upon should have been completed by a licensed contractor and receipt ready at the final walk-through.  Bottom line is your post is not slander (verbal) or libel (in writing).  No names were given as I can see and they were probably not false statements...just the facts.  

Hey Bob,  I think you should not only keep this blog up but also publish the names of the guilty parties.  And keep in mind it is not slanderous as long as it is true.

Bob "RealMan" Timm I definitely hope you keep the post up. I also agree with Bob Crane that the names should be posted. I will be appalled if the real estate commission requests its removal.  I have been a Director of the National Association of Realtors and have never heard of a state that would include this in their scope of regulations.  I also feel that having served on the grievance committee, professional Standards Board and as President of the Greater Las Vegas Association of REALTORS that we need to speak out to clean up our industry.

Good morning Bob. I wish this were unusual, but in my experience it isn't. 

Hi Bob, since you didn't mention address, names, etc. how do they know you're talking about them and not someone else?

Sounds like you just reported the facts, with some editorializing.

I honestly don't see a problem with this post.  The listing agent should have informed their client to be out of the house-make sure it is empty and ready to be transferred over to the new buyers.  A final walk thru is exactly that, and the house should have been vacant.  When we close a transaction in Texas the title company will not fund the closing until they know buyer and seller let the title company know it is okay to fund.  This would have been a better way for this to be handled in this case since the seller was not out.  It would have saved a lot of stress and problems if the sellers would have just already moved out, and had the repair done correctly-the agent should have done their due diligence and let you know prior to your buyers arriving.  You did a great job representing your client!

Bob, I don't see a problem with the post. I do see a failure to communicate, which is where 95% of our difficulties originate. We can all sit back and play armchair quarterback now that this situation is over.

The seller's agent doesn't want her reputation to be harmed in any way because some people may figure out the firm and/or Realtor involved. That is a small risk, only if the parties involved are talking about it. News does travel! However, she should have communicated with the seller that a final walk-through would need to be done at least 24 hours in advance. We used to do them the day of closing but if there are problems that need to be corrected, that doesn't allow time for those issues to be addressed, without escrowing cash or some other solution.

I have had sellers not want to pay for a hotel the night before closing, and they have camped out on an air mattress. I've also had sellers not get all their "crap" out of the house at closing time. (This was years ago, and thinking back, it was crap in the yard, not in the house). I had to move heaven and earth to get rid of the junk to appease the buyer. 

I don't think this post is detrimental to anyone. No-one is named. Maybe it could have been "Members Only", but if this is what you want to blog about, no one should force you to take it down. 

Keep us posted!

Bob, I came back specifically to see if anything new has transpired with this issue. Has the co-brokerage dropped their objections?

I am always appalled when someone (like the seller's agent) is more concerned with their being exposed for their bad behavior and lack of professionalism than they are for actually having behaved badly and showed a lack of professionalism.  

We need more transparency in this industry, not less.  People need to be much more careful about the agents they entrust with the sale or purchase of one of their largest assets.