Unauthorized Home Inspection

[kevinblackwell]

What is the name of your state? CA
A prospective buyer hired a home inspector to inspect my vacant home without my knowledge or authorization. My realtor told prospective buyer and her agent that he had to get authorization from me first. They inspected my home anyway, pulling floor molding away from the walls and pulling up carpet in a bedroom closet. I then had to take my home off of the market and lowered my price below market comps, due to disputable information produced by the unauthorized home inspection. The inspection was done to my home without any offer by the buyer. My home was damaged by the inspector and prospective buyer without authorization. Can I sue the buyer, agent, home inspector?

 

[PghREA]

In other words, the Home Inspector found things wrong with the home which either needs to be fixed by you or disclosed to prospective buyers. You lowered your price, so I'm guessing you chose not to fix whatever they found and you want to sue everyone.

 

[kevinblackwell]

PghREA,

Absolutely not! There was unauthorized work done on my home. It was not simply a visual inspection. The buyer submitted no offer on my house and used a realtor to gain access. I don't believe she even used the same realtor to placed a bid on another home in the area. In any case I have a responsibility of disclosure, but I don't have the requirement to let anyone in my home to pull up carpet or molding or anything else affixed to the building...unless I agree to this as part of the sale of my home. As goes for the Inspectors report; it correctly identified some problems; completely missed others that I was already fixing, but worse, incorrectly, or should I say subjectively, stated other problems that were not code violations given the age of my home. The biggest part of this unethical act is that my home sat visible with these areas pulled up while other perspective buyers visited. I had no way of knowing the condition for three weeks. Being in the military I had to take it off the market repair and replace damage and then I fixed the front porch standing water issue which was due to be disclosed and was to be fixed. At the very least the realtor and home inspector will be reported to their respective governing boards or associations. Let me guess, you must be a realtor?

 

[pojo2]

Something is missing from this story. Wanna' share?

 

[kevinblackwell]

Pojo2,

Sure. My home is now in escrow. It should close and go to a wonderful lady (school teacher) in beginning of July. It was sold below listed price. I had recently married and moved into my wife’s home. I needed to sell mine. I am in the military and travel frequently. I am honest. But I am angry that a buyer can come in and disrupt my house and discredit its market value.

For instance, the home inspector said that I have shingles over wood shake shingles. What an idiot, I do not! He was also not sure if a tank-less water heater vent was to code, but could not state what it had to be. He was correct about the standing water on the front porch (brick pavers), but we just had a torrential rainfall. I had since installed better drainage; there has been no problem since (even with worse rain).

I understand REA’s comment; however I lowered my price to keep “down” with the falling home market. I am not out to cheat, omit information, swindle, etc. I wanted to sell my home. I’ve already put so much work into my home. It hurts to see folks treat your home like sh*t. So I am angry. This is why I will report this whether I take it to court or not. Sorry if I have appeared to be a merely litigious person.

 

[PghREA]

Many buyers do have home inspections done prior to placing an offer on the property.

The Home Inspectors are not suppose to disturb the property during the inspection.
If carpet was "pulled up" and molding removed, you have an issue with the inspector.
If the prospective buyer pulled up the carpeting and removed the molding, then you have an issue with the prospective buyer.

As far as the prospective buyer discrediting your homes value, that's his opinion which he is permitted to have.

due to disputable information produced by the unauthorized home inspection.
This could have be countered by another home inspection from a licensed Home Inspector.

I agree with Pojo that there is more to the story.

 

[kevinblackwell]

Thank you both.

But unless my realtor said go ahead and then he realized when I saw evidence of an inspection how bent-out-of-shape I got, he could have placed blame on the buyer, inspector and other realtor. It would make sense, since I initially fired him for this happening. But this is far as I know or can even speculate.

If the prospective buyer has a right to pay someone to come in and perform an inspection, then I have nothing to complain about. I think next time I sell a home it will be FSBO. I'm no genius, but I'm not an idiot, either.

Again, thanks for your input. I'll simply put this behind me.

Respectfully,

Kevin

 

[Shay-Pari'e]

Thank you both.

But unless my realtor said go ahead and then he realized when I saw evidence of an inspection how bent-out-of-shape I got, he could have placed blame on the buyer, inspector and other realtor. It would make sense, since I initially fired him for this happening. But this is far as I know or can even speculate.

If the prospective buyer has a right to pay someone to come in and perform an inspection, then I have nothing to complain about. I think next time I sell a home it will be FSBO. I'm no genius, but I'm not an idiot, either.

Again, thanks for your input. I'll simply put this behind me.

Respectfully,

Kevin

YEP! Keep trying to sell *Lemons*.