Home inspector made false accusations!!

[tfarabians]

What is the name of your state? WA
Our buyers had a home inspector come through who claimed we had Fungal Rot on support beams under the deck of our house. We have had 4 licensed contractors who A)have told me fungal rot is a disease on fruit not wood B) have told us there is no sign of wood decay C) can't find anything wrong with our back deck at all.

If the home inspector costs us the sale of our home do we have any legal recourse against him for these false statements? We are working with the buyers who are bringing out their own contractors to take a look, but once these statements are in the buyers head its pretty hard to get them out. Not to mention now we would have to disclose this false information on our form 17?

Thanks!

[JETX]

Originally Posted by tfarabians

If the home inspector costs us the sale of our home do we have any legal recourse against him for these false statements?

No. The report by the inspector is his OPINION.

Further, you are NOT correct when you say that wood cannot get 'fungal rot'. The following from a website:
"Other insects such as a variety of ants, beetles and bees often simply use the wood for home and breeding space. Their damage is not so extensive, but does provide an access for water to get into the wood. It's not uncommon to see extensive fungal rot in areas where insects have penetrated."
[url]http://www.rotdoctor.com/log/Linsect.html[/url]

[FlyingRon]

Common wood rot is FUNGAL ROT.

[CraigFL]

Well whatever.... but I feel for the OP because I recently had a deal killed by a home inspector and an appraiser. They are both so legally well protected that there is almost nothing you can do about it. With real buyers so nervous these days, if you can find them at all, it takes almost a perfect report to not get them on the run. Our buyer's inspector also found something that was NOT wrong and it became a point of contention for the buyers. When the appraiser made mention of it as a possibility and used it to devalue the house slightly under the offer price it allowed the buyers an out and killed the deal.

[HomeGuru]

Originally Posted by tfarabians

What is the name of your state? WA
Our buyers had a home inspector come through who claimed we had Fungal Rot on support beams under the deck of our house. We have had 4 licensed contractors who A)have told me fungal rot is a disease on fruit not wood B) have told us there is no sign of wood decay C) can't find anything wrong with our back deck at all.

If the home inspector costs us the sale of our home do we have any legal recourse against him for these false statements? We are working with the buyers who are bringing out their own contractors to take a look, but once these statements are in the buyers head its pretty hard to get them out. Not to mention now we would have to disclose this false information on our form 17?

Thanks!

**A: did you actually inspect the deck yourself?