Simple rules for disclosure, inspections
Letters to the Editor
By Inman News, Wednesday, May 7, 2008.Bookmarking Sites
Re: 'Home inspection advice called 'anti-Realtor'' (May 6)
Dear Editor:
After 30 years as a Realtor the same problems keep coming up: What to disclose, who to use for inspections.
It is a very simple fix. I tell my sellers: "If you have to ask, 'Should I disclose something?' then you have to disclose that item."
And I tell all of the inspectors: "You are here to tell the seller and the buyer what the condition of the home is." Simple.
Ray Tate
Broker
Paso Robles, Calif.
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Submitted by Karl Lingenfelder on May 8, 2008 - 6:46am.
Love Paso Robles, Tate ! Nice Country.
Sound advice and Agents should let their Sellers know up front that this is the way it has to be. It is ethical and keeps buyers and agents out of trouble.
I suspect that you find that most disclosures do not affect the sales price. Agents know and their buyers should learn that most homes have some problems. Even new ones.
So be fair, honest and ethical and stay out of trouble.
Karl Lingenfelder
President/CEO
www.viewr.com
karl@viewr.com
Submitted by Lee Carlson on May 12, 2008 - 11:31pm.
In my 27 years of selling R.E. Never have I been asked " Should I disclose something". I make it a point to tell every buyer to get a Home Inspection, by someone of their choice and to make sure the Inspector has a lot of training and experience ! You should also be offering a "Sellers Home Disclosure" signed by the seller. And , finally, Offer a Home Warranty ! As they say in the world of Boxing, "Protect your self at all times " !
If a Realtor recommends an inspector, you are opening yourself to being party to a possibly poor quality inspection and no Realtor needs to go to court ! It's too easy to avoid problems. If someone asks who I recommend as an inspector, I simply tell them to look in the Yellow Pages and get references !