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Jackson Stieb, eXp Reality (eXp Reality)

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Rainmaker
1,683,912
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

What Bob Crane and Barbara Todaro  said.

Jul 17, 2016 08:05 AM
Ambassador
6,393,494
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Are you an agent, a buyer or what?  How were you nearly ruined?  Permits don't necessarily solve problems like this, nor do licensed contractors.

But chances are that the issue can be solved without financial ruin if you have competent contractors it may just be a simple fix.

Jul 17, 2016 02:46 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

It starts at the beginning of every conversation you have about real estate and never ends.

Jul 17, 2016 03:38 AM
Rainmaker
4,572,183
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Responsibility begins when obtaining a license.  

Jul 17, 2016 02:32 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

If you were working with the listing agent than she owes you pretty much nothing, IF she was a dual agent she should have at least disclosed the illegal addition.  If however, this agent claimed to be your buyers agent than she is responsible.  Her fault. 

Most contracts stipulate that any repairs needed to be done before closing need to be by a professional... but you also state that the home inspections found nothing, so that part is confusing.  I have never had a home inspection (even on brand new) where the inspector came up with nothing. Who picked the inspector? 

A good buyers agent checks for permitting and also a good inspector picks that up illegal additions in their inspection.  You can always tell by just looking.

Unfortunately  you were not represented,  No need to temper your words...she did a crappy job.

Eve

Jul 17, 2016 02:08 AM
Rainmaker
444,170
Dianne Goode
Raleigh Cary Realty - Raleigh, NC
Realtor/Broker

An agent's responsibility begins with the agency agreement and legally it ends with the closing -- although of course lilability extends farther.  In NC agents are held responsible to disclose unpermitted space, so the listing agent has an obligation to disclose it, and the buyers agent has an obligation to investigate the status of any additions.  That said, some additions/improvements are going to slip past because there's no obvious indication they were  done after initial construction.  

Jul 16, 2016 11:14 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,139
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

It begins when you get a license and never ends. Your estate may be held responsible for the damages you caused even after you die.

Jul 16, 2016 09:25 PM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Michael Jacobs nailed this one...

Jul 17, 2016 09:42 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Jackson Stieb - the responsibility may start on the day you sign them as your clients - however, it continues as 'relationship for life'!

Why should it end? May be from legal perspective, I guess...

Jul 17, 2016 03:29 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

The agent is there to represent you and help negotiate. An agent cannot do the home inspector's job, attorney;s job, termite guys job, surveyor, lender, etc. Those people are responsible for their parts of the transaction.

Jul 17, 2016 12:50 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,705
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hope they are clients for life.

Jul 17, 2016 10:38 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

As a fellow Californian I can tell you that a permit check would not have helped them any.  A permit doesn't look to see what size nails you've used.  They check things to sign off on the construction (assuming they ever come out), but they look for the major stuff (from what I've seen).  In my city of Thousand Oaks a records search is a required part of the transaction, but it still won't tell you if the nails were too long or who did the work... or if the work was even done!  I had a house listed that had permits pulled for a garage conversion and a pool... but it had neither.

 

I don't recommend permit searches unless there is a discrepancy between what the assessor and appraiser says or if the client is concerned.

Jul 17, 2016 04:48 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

I would think that your inspector would have pointed out all of these issues to you with the inspection report.

Jul 17, 2016 04:15 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

     If "nothing came back from the home inspection", and then you found this problem, you should contact the inspector and ask what they intend to do about it.  

     If the Inspector (who missed a glaring defect) says "nothing", then see an Attorney.

Jul 17, 2016 03:29 AM
Ambassador
3,727,873
Patricia Kennedy
RLAH@Properties - Washington, DC
Home in the Capital

This is the kind of thing that a home inspection usually red flags.  If your agent talked you out of getting an inspection, it's one thing.  And if permit checks are the norm in your area, same thing (they are not here). I'd ask, where does the buyer's responsibility begin and end?

Jul 17, 2016 02:35 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

it's the job of the buyer's agent to do that....but as listing agents, we also do it to make sure the seller has done everything correctly....if there is a permit outstanding, we have a final inspection and a signed off permit....if none were pulled, we have the seller walk into the building dept. with his head hanging and pull a permit.... take the penalty and get it done right...

so, to answer your question, the responsibility starts at the beginning and does not end until closing....

Jul 17, 2016 12:15 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

With you as the agent

Jul 17, 2016 12:11 AM
Rainmaker
5,005,659
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

When you get a license and never ends.....24/7

Jul 16, 2016 11:54 PM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

I would have to say everything in the middle of those starting and ending points.

Jul 16, 2016 11:42 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

24/7 if you want to be successful.

Jul 16, 2016 11:41 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

An escrow refused to close because the roofer put-in longer nails than needed and they protruded out by a 1/4 of an inch all around the eaves of the home. Rust could develop, rot potential and aesthetics all came into view & consideration. We had to hire a man, to go around and snap off that 1/4 inch before we could close. In this case, the remedy was a money driven solution not an argument. Point: Agents must solve all problems no matter what or what is the point of licensed help?.

Jul 16, 2016 11:30 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

Licensed day, still working on the end

Jul 16, 2016 11:15 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

The others have answered.

Jul 16, 2016 09:59 PM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

It starts with an Employment Contract

Jul 16, 2016 09:45 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Not clear whether you are representing buyer or seller here, so any comment as to your role in the transaction is hard to make.

Jul 16, 2016 09:37 PM