What would you do...

[cmdarlin]

if you came home after a long day at school and then working on a house to find that the appraiser and inspector came to check out your current home and did not leave it as they found it?

That is what happened to us yesterday. The realtor called me Tuesday night and told me that they were coming as the bank finally accepted the buyer's offer. We came home and walked into the house to find the livingroom lights on, my coffee table out in the middle of the room and debris from the ceiling all over the coffee table, couch and floor. (livingroom ceiling wasn't fixed as DH couldn't do it).

I walk into the kitchen to find my microwave was unplugged and then look down the hall to see that DH's clothes closet is wide open allowing cats access, which is a no no. (anyone who has cats will understand) Next is the bedroom... everything looks ok till I look over at my bedside table to see that the alarm clock has been unplugged! WTH???

We go to the back hallway to find the other two bedroom doors were left wide open. Another 'no cat' zone, and that the basement light was left on too!

The kicker was to go into the diningroom to find the french doors blown open because they did not lock them when they left! I have my thermostat set on 63 because our electric bill was out the roof. The temperature in the house when I got home was 55 degrees. I was freezing! There was a window unit A/C on the floor, in a corner that had been moved onto the middle of the floor and boxes for packing out of place too.

DH just exploded. I called the realtor and you know what she told me??? "We're trying to help you...." Yeah, I said, but leaving my doors unlocked doesn't help me one bit, especially when we have the untrustworthy neighbors and my furnace is running to catch up cause people they let into our home were irresponsible. Are they going to help me pay another $300 electric bill because they were trying to 'help' me????

Then she hangs up telling me that she is going to call them (but I bet she doesn't) and then tells me "I'm sorry you and DH are so upset, sweetheart." I absolutely hate it when people talk to me like that. I am not your sweetheart... you don't know me!

Ok.... *Deep Breath*.... it just pissed me off and I needed to vent.... Thanks for putting up with me.

Debbie

[ladykemma2]

let it go...

[rosey7415]

i don't agree with ladykemma. you have a right to be pissed!! if coming here and venting makes you feel better.......have at it!!! i would be pissed too, especially with leaving the doors open....who would be responsible if you were robbed?? would the "sweetheart" (lol) realtor be?? yell and scream, and ONLY THEN.....let it go.........

[Momto2Boyz]

I understand they are trying to "help" you, but who would have been responsible, if someone had walked in that back door and taken everything you own?

I'm a huge door locker and I would be livid if someone came into my home and left the doors unlocked, let alone wide open!

I would be calling the appraisers themselves to complain, and I would fully expect an apology. There isn't much more they will do about it, but I would expect an apology for sure. And if I owned the inspection company, and one of my employees left a home like this, I would want to know about it!

My advice, would be to deal with it how you see fit. If you talk to your realtor again, or the inspection service, be calm, but firm when you voice your opinions (a little sugar goes along way when you are complaining!).

I hope you get a solution you are happy with, and don't have to resort to kicking anyone in the knee caps (or am I the only one who would do that? )

[annymoll]

I think it was irresponsible for them to leave your doors open. I think it was inconsiderate of them to leave things unplugged and not they way you left them. I do think they were very good to you if they allowed you to live in the home, while it was in forclosure, without having to make payments.(If that is the case.)It had to help you save money in a difficult time. I say let it go, and move foward.

[mombottoo]

How RUDE!!!! I am with you I would have blown a gasket and that is putting it mildly. If anyone needs into your home in the future I would tell them they can't come unless someone is going to be there. I would also write a complaint letter to the head offices for both the appraiser and the inspector and if your realtor is not the broker at her office I would let them know too.

[sabrelvssammy]

debbie- i have to disagree with letting it go....but that's me....

first of all that realtor owes you an apology for 'patronizing' you.... she works for YOU....i would be calling her back (but in my position she would have been apologizing all over herself last night and there would be no 2nd call necessary...) yes...i am THAT mean !!! and when she was done apologizing to me she would have been on the phone to the others and i would have been receiving a call from them apologizing....

there is no excuse for them to not have left the place in the exact condition that they found it... and they need to be told about it...you are unhappy and you do not appreciate coming home and finding your home in that condition....and they need to know so that maybe next time in someone else's home they are a little more considerate and aware of what they are doing or not doing....

give them a call (not the realtor) and find out whether she called them or not...if she didn't...i would be reaming her a new bottom-hole.... times are tough for any segment of the real estate industry (from realtors to appraisers and everyone in between) she needs to watch her p's & q's because although you can't cancel the whole transaction (well technically you could, but that wouldn't be wise)...but word-of-mouth can be the best or most destructive advertising anyone can get...if she doesn't straighten up....i would make damn sure everyone knew how she conducted her business...and don't be afraid to tell her that either....

and by the way while you have the appraiser and others on the phone..if they aren't aware of the situation....now is the time to let them have it too....

okay everyone...now that you all think i am a super #$%@#....i'm really really not.... i just am finding out that more and more people walk around the earth with no accountability and if we don't start standing up for ourselves....when is it ever gonna end....this is her house...her belongings and they treated it all with total lack of respect.... i would be terribly pissed too....in fact i had a contractor that left my back door wide open and if it weren't for my cats being 'chickens' of the outdoors i could have lost them....that is pure negligence and he is darn lucky that nothing happened to my 'babies'....

ok- i will shut up now....

[Judi Dial]

I think that it was unprofessional for them to do what they did. I also think that you have every right to complain.

I have a lot of books in this house...I have a lot of boxes of books in this house, and have for years. A few years back a young man came to spray our house for Terminix. He said to me, "If you got a dumpster and got rid of the books, this could be a nice house!" and I complained to his boss and told them never to send that person to my home again.

I don't care what their opinion is, it's my home, and you have to treat it (and me) with respect.

The same goes here. They left your place differently than they found it and that is not only rude, but unprofessional.

My !
Judi

[sabrelvssammy]

hey debbie....post your realtors phone number here...

we'll take care of her.... haha....

[eanddmom]

I would have called everyones supervisor and yelled my head off to them. That is insane they may be helping you sell your house but they work for you. They are getting a commision off of your house selling. I'm ticked off just thinking about it. I would also think about writing a commentary to the local newspaper.

[Contrary Housewife]

If appraisers and inspectors are licensed in your state you can call the agency that handles that and complain about the unprofessional behavior.

[cmdarlin]

Thank you to those of you who understand how we felt. Its just very fustrating, especially after we told the realtor about our problems with the neighbors. These are the people who wanted us to pull out the wood stove and sell it to them for $50 when we found out we were going to lose the house. If things are locked up or nailed down, they figure they have the right to it.

I 'will let it go' as soon as I contact the appraisal and inspection company. Yes, the bank may be nice enough to let us stay there but I do not feel that it gives people who are working for the lender's bank, the right to leave our home that still has our personal property inside of it, wide open for anyone to just walk right in and possibly steal.

Heck, if they go around just unplugging stuff, makes me wonder if they were going through drawers too. Know what I mean? I personally would have better respect for someone.



Debbie

[HomeschoolMom]

I would have been upset too and you had every right to call and complain. Good for you. Customer service has gone so far downhill it really doesn't exist any more. If people don't complain it'll never come back.

P.S. Judi - if that fellow had of told me to get rid of my books to have a nice house, I might have mentioned that if he read a few books he might have a 'nice' brain! What a doofus!

[say_tay]

I had a similar problem with a realtor not respecting my requests when showing the house. We were renting, and would get "You aren't the owner" anytime we complained. I KNOW how frustriating that can be.

I "fixed" the problem by posting signs to the "prospective buyers". My daughter was 5 days out of ICU, and my requests were for her health, not to be difficult.
The HUGE, but neat sign stated "For the safety of my seriously ill child I have requested to the realtor enforce the following rules when in the house: (no smoking, taking off shoes, no one with an illiness etc.) " Then I put a picture of my daughter in ICU next to the sign. I also posted neat little "Please re-lock me" "Whoops, Last time you forgot to shut me off" signs in problem area's.
It took ONE showing with the signs for the realtor to show me a little more respect.

[forHISglory]

Debbie,
You have already talked to the realtor, which is a good first step. Next, talk to the broker of the real estate company. Then contact the appraisal company and go to the top. Finally, contact the Better Business Bureau and file a complaint. Let the appraisal company know that you are filing a complaint. Take pictures of how they left your home. That complaint will stay on their record for quite some time. You can find which BBB is closest to you if you look them up on-line. The St. Louis BBB does a very good job. The manner in which you were treated is unacceptable and disrespectful.