DEAR BARRY: When I bought my home, my Realtor arranged for a home inspection. She had me write a check to the inspector but didn’t tell me when the inspection was to take place. So I missed the chance to attend. To make matters worse, the home inspector never gave me or my Realtor a report. I asked repeatedly for a report, but the agent put me off with some excuse about the inspector having marital problems. Finally, it was time to close escrow and she convinced me to let the inspection go and just buy the house.

After moving in, I kept finding problems, like leaky plumbing and outlets that didn’t work. So I hired another home inspector. He found a long list of problems, including a damaged foundation. I’ve tried complaining to my agent about all of this, but she doesn’t return my calls. What do you think about this situation, and what should I do? –Gloria

DEAR BARRY: When I bought my home, my Realtor arranged for a home inspection. She had me write a check to the inspector but didn’t tell me when the inspection was to take place. So I missed the chance to attend. To make matters worse, the home inspector never gave me or my Realtor a report. I asked repeatedly for a report, but the agent put me off with some excuse about the inspector having marital problems. Finally, it was time to close escrow and she convinced me to let the inspection go and just buy the house.

After moving in, I kept finding problems, like leaky plumbing and outlets that didn’t work. So I hired another home inspector. He found a long list of problems, including a damaged foundation. I’ve tried complaining to my agent about all of this, but she doesn’t return my calls. What do you think about this situation, and what should I do? –Gloria

DEAR GLORIA: Any Realtor can make a professional mistake, but your agent seems to have gotten it wrong on every count: choosing an unqualified home inspector; leaving you out of the inspection process; dismissing your concerns about the home inspection report; allowing the deal to close without full disclosure of defects; and ignoring your concerns in the aftermath. A Realtor who treats clients with such callous disregard, with so little concern for professional ethics, should not be allowed to practice real estate.

A good agent would have recommended a competent, reliable home inspector with a proven track record of dependable performance. A good agent would have arranged for you to attend the home inspection and receive an oral review of the inspector’s findings. A good agent would have made sure that you received the inspection report and would not have ignored the inspector’s failure to produce one. When no report was forthcoming, a good agent would have arranged for another home inspection and would have demanded a refund from the first inspector. Above all, a good agent would never suggest that a client close escrow without full disclosure of defects. And a good agent would not fail to return phone calls from a concerned client.

Your mistake was not taking a stronger stand with your agent. You should not have allowed the deal to close when your concerns were being ignored. You had every right to receive a home inspection report, and it was the duty of your agent to represent your interests in that regard. When your requests for that report were not honored, it was time to stop the deal, to insist on another home inspection, and to demand another Realtor to represent you.

Now that the proverbial milk is spilt, it is time to assess the damages and address the issues. You’ll need estimates from reputable, licensed contractors to repair the defects in your home. If your agent won’t communicate with you directly, have an attorney forward those estimates, with a cover letter that will give her some sleepless nights. You should also file a complaint with the state agency that licenses real estate agents.

As for the home inspector who accepted payment without providing a report, he should tender a full refund or explain "why not" to a small claims judge.

To write to Barry Stone, please visit him on the Web at www.housedetective.com.

***

What’s your opinion? Leave your comments below or send a letter to the editor. To contact the writer, click the byline at the top of the story.

Show Comments Hide Comments
Sign up for Inman’s Morning Headlines
What you need to know to start your day with all the latest industry developments
By submitting your email address, you agree to receive marketing emails from Inman.
Success!
Thank you for subscribing to Morning Headlines.
Back to top
Only 3 days left to register for Inman Connect Las Vegas before prices go up! Don't miss the premier event for real estate pros.Register Now ×
Limited Time Offer: Get 1 year of Inman Select for $199SUBSCRIBE×
Log in
If you created your account with Google or Facebook
Don't have an account?
Forgot your password?
No Problem

Simply enter the email address you used to create your account and click "Reset Password". You will receive additional instructions via email.

Forgot your username? If so please contact customer support at (510) 658-9252

Password Reset Confirmation

Password Reset Instructions have been sent to

Subscribe to The Weekender
Get the week's leading headlines delivered straight to your inbox.
Top headlines from around the real estate industry. Breaking news as it happens.
15 stories covering tech, special reports, video and opinion.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
Unique features from hacker profiles to portal watch and video interviews.
It looks like you’re already a Select Member!
To subscribe to exclusive newsletters, visit your email preferences in the account settings.
Up-to-the-minute news and interviews in your inbox, ticket discounts for Inman events and more
1-Step CheckoutPay with a credit card
By continuing, you agree to Inman’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

You will be charged . Your subscription will automatically renew for on . For more details on our payment terms and how to cancel, click here.

Interested in a group subscription?
Finish setting up your subscription
×