River City Home Inspections

Company states: The contract I have is with a client that is not ***I was hired to inspect a home and I did my job that I was hired to do [redacted] did not agree with my findings so she is filing a complaintWe had interacted because I was looking for my flash light that I had leftWhen we met in the back yard I was still looking for my itemSo [redacted] is disagreeing with my findings but again I am not her client and I was doing my job that I was hired to do

I am rejecting this response because: It is false The inspector now has changed his story times with respect to why he was on my property, three days after the inspection, with his "partner" and their large dog When I came across the inspector and his "buddy" loitering about by the water heater on the side of the house for several minutes as I approached, he thought I was a realtor and introduced himself as the inspector, and asked if he could show his buddy around the property, since it was for sale I was surprised he was on the property in the first place, and thought he was a realtor, actually, at first I said "yes" but then thought it was inappropriate, so I sent my husband up to ask the inspector why he was on the property, and why his dog was in the middle yard, wandering around unattended The two were sitting on the front porch, with the door wide open The inspector told my husband he had come back to look at the laundry connection, and entered into a lengthy conversation about how the prospective buyers were his friends, and he was looking over the property while they were in escrow, because he lived down the street He also bragged about several other plans the buyers had for the house, at length After he left I talked to my realtor, and complained (again) about someone having gone through the house and turned off all major appliances (including central heat and air), left cellar lights on and cellar door jammed, disabled waterheater (which cost $to repair after the inspector left) My agent inquired of the buyer's agent, and the inspector told them he went back for his hammer I can produce the emails and texts for each time I discovered new damage to my property as a result of the inspector's visits (both monitored for the first visit, and then undocumented trespass on the follow up visits) I also have the bill for repair This individual was astonishingly careless to the point of deliberate, in my view

The Home Inspector was hired by the prospective buyer of my property.  The contract between the inspector and the buyer is included in the large file I uploaded with the complaint (the first set of pages was his request for repair, then he had his contract, and finally, the home inspection...

report).  Would you also like to see a copy of the bid to buy the house?  The offer includes a clause on hiring their own home inspector, and appraiser.  The buyer told us the buyers were his good friends.sorry ... the inspector told us the buyers were his good friends ... The problems seemed to start after the inspector received the code from my realtor (the "listing agent"), so that he could conduct an inspection on behalf of the buyer.  My husband met the inspector on site, and remained outside, waiting for the inspector to finish - which took about an hour, without incident. However, the inspector returned to gained access following the inspection, because he knew the code.Over the next three days, it was clear that someone was letting themselves into the house and altering the state of the main appliances (HVAC was turned completely off, cellar light was left on all night, cellar door was jammed so that it did not close, three way switches to lights were tampered with so that they were always in the logical "off" position, dishwashers were both tampered with, the tankless water heater had been disabled (the system shuts down when tampered with - the electrical box and plumbing on the side of the house were damaged)).  I reported to my realtor twice daily, each time we identified a new problem, but she did not really take me serious, and did not change the code until the following Tuesday.On the Sunday following the inspector's Friday morning inspection, I found the inspector in my side yard, with his boyfriend and his large dog ... the summary starts here on the website post you are following up on... and the whole story is pretty frustrating to say the least ... In any event, I can forward you the realtor contract; the original offer was for full price, but terms started changing, once the inspector delivered his report and recommendations.  In the mean time, I have attached my response to the buyers on the condition of the house, which was finally delivered to them through my realtor two days ago (well after the damage to negotiations was complete).  [redacted] 1.       The lowest “lap” on the three-lap siding can be cut off with a saw (or small hand tool) to ensure no wood to cement contact – however, this condition was approved by the Sacramento City Inspector2.       There are no sprinklers “under the sod.”  The original sprinkler system in the front yard, installed in 2000, was essentially destroyed when the wrought iron fence was installed (where the PVC pipes remain).  The system was seldom used.  The valves are essentially new.  The 4th valve has never been connected to the system (it was installed as a spare).  An adequate sprinkler system requires two simple lines for each small “square” of new sod, on each side of the front yard.3.       There are no drainage problems in the back yard.  The water was “leaking” out of a temporary planter box that has no bottom.4.       The downspout is available, and needs to be reconnected.5.       The reference to a thermostat is totally incorrect – the device has printed on it ADT Security Services Sounder” … it is left over from the hard wired alarm system.6.       These globes were purchased from Home Depot for $20.7.       The discharge line to the tankless water heater was recently removed, evidenced by the “clean” opening to the pipe.  The last individual seen loitering on the side of the house was the inspector. The front house heater has been deliberately tampered with, and shut down automatically and is now in a state of disrepair (hot water was available the morning the inspector showed up).8.       The front house washer/dryer connection cannot be moved.  The plumbing is designed for a small stackable unit, which will easily clear the door.  The vent should be directed under the house, once the stackable unit is installed for actual use.  The only alternative is to remove the side door and the side porch … something we ruled out at the time the addition was designed.9.       The sink is from Home Depot.  It cost under $100.  I do not recommend caulking the sink, as it will likely be one of the first things easily replaced.10.    There is weather stripping on the door, remains intact and without damage.11.    The light switches are 3-way; the light can be turned on from either entry. The inspector turned the ceiling fan and light off manually (from the pull chains on the fixture) while the switches on the wall were turned to the "on" position, which essentially put the circuitry into a logical "off" position “always”.12.    The oven is new. Connecting a gas fixture in an empty house, is not a reasonable risk, as the house is unoccupied.13.    The range hood is new.  The light bulb was not something that came with the hood.14.    The range hoods are both ventless, and do not require further venting through the roof.15.    All outlets were secure.16.    The dishwasher was secure.17.    The outlet has been tampered with, and a wire loosened.18.    The ceiling in the kitchen, while seriously unaesthetic is not “broken”.19.    The cabinet above the refrigerator should be moved, once the size of the refrigerator that will be installed, is identified20.    I do not believe in kitchen garbage disposals.  I have composted for 15 years with no issue.21.    The handrail, uninstalled is available, but this is not a code issue.22.    The “smart vents”, uninstalled are available, but this is not a code issue.23.    The foil that was attached to the rafters has started to tear, and is above the HVAC unit – it requires taping closed (the wind from the attic vents must have loosened the rafter foil)24.    See number 1 response.25.    The overhang was professionally installed; the installer name can be provided.26.    The wood flooring obviously will be left behind with the house – extra was ordered on purpose27.    The site plans for the house are for sale, not free.

Company states: The contract I have is with a client that is not [redacted]. I was hired to inspect a home and I did my job that I was hired to do. [redacted] did not agree with my findings so she is filing a complaint. We had interacted because I was looking for my flash light that I had left. When we met in the back yard I was still looking for my item. So [redacted] is disagreeing with my findings but again I am not her client and I was doing my job that I was hired to do.

Review: Inspector came to property to perform inspection as scheduled, on 2/13/2015, stayed 45 minutes and departed. Inspector returned more than once, on unauthorized and undocumented visits, using the access code given to him by the listing agent for the inspection on Friday morning. On 2/15/2015, I came across the inspector in my side yard, with his large dog, and his male "companion". He stated he was showing his "buddy" around my property and my house. I returned to work on my back yard, but then sent my husband to inquire why he was on site. His large dog was wandering about the property, and the inspector and his companion were sitting on the porch, with the front door wide open, as well as the screen door. He stated he had come back to check on the dryer/washer hook up. The inspector and his companion and dog were on the property for at least 90 minutes. We reported our concerns to the listing agent each day as we found problems (Friday night, Saturday, and Sunday.) When the realtor inquired of the buyers' agent what the inspector was doing on the property on Sunday, he stated he had forgotten his hammer in the basement, which concerns me, since an inspector with a hammer doesn't make much sense ... unless he is damaging the property on purpose. Starting on 2/13/2015, and continuing daily through 2/15/2015, several critical systems in the house were tampered with, including: 1) Tankless Hot Water Heater was disabled 2) The HVAC system was turned off 3) The attic door was not replaced 4) the cellar door was improperly closed and jammed 5) the dishwasher plug was damaged 6) the other dishwasher was turned on so water was left in the unit to mold 6) the 43 page report included several falsehoods and multiple recommendations, tailored to the current sale negotiations, on behalf of the inspector's "friend" who he indicated wanted the property "really bad" and so he was "watching over" the house for him since he lived close by (15th street, 9 blocks away, inspector walked to the house)Desired Settlement: Compensation (possibly out of the prospective buyer's "in earnest" deposit) for the risk associated with, and the actual damages perpetuated by the Inspector's careless, if not deliberately wreckless, activities on the property, as well as compensation for the time spent researching and reporting on the several errors and misrepresentations in the report, which directly interfered with, and further delayed the process of selling my house and ensuring all systems in working order.

Consumer

Response:

The Home Inspector was hired by the prospective buyer of my property. The contract between the inspector and the buyer is included in the large file I uploaded with the complaint (the first set of pages was his request for repair, then he had his contract, and finally, the home inspection report). Would you also like to see a copy of the bid to buy the house? The offer includes a clause on hiring their own home inspector, and appraiser. The buyer told us the buyers were his good friends.sorry ... the inspector told us the buyers were his good friends ... The problems seemed to start after the inspector received the code from my realtor (the "listing agent"), so that he could conduct an inspection on behalf of the buyer. My husband met the inspector on site, and remained outside, waiting for the inspector to finish - which took about an hour, without incident. However, the inspector returned to gained access following the inspection, because he knew the code.Over the next three days, it was clear that someone was letting themselves into the house and altering the state of the main appliances (HVAC was turned completely off, cellar light was left on all night, cellar door was jammed so that it did not close, three way switches to lights were tampered with so that they were always in the logical "off" position, dishwashers were both tampered with, the tankless water heater had been disabled (the system shuts down when tampered with - the electrical box and plumbing on the side of the house were damaged)). I reported to my realtor twice daily, each time we identified a new problem, but she did not really take me serious, and did not change the code until the following Tuesday.