Not Fully Disclosed

Does the new disclosure law protect a home shopper? Not necessarily.

Frances Leveille, Long Beach (April 26) wrote that the new disclosure rules offer needed protection to the buyer, and how her daughter, purchasing her first home, noticed on the disclosure that about 20 years ago, a landslide had affected a small part of the lot.

Our son, also a first-time home buyer, was interested in purchasing a home. Escrow began, and the sellers stated in their disclosure statement that they merely had a “dripping faucet in the kitchen.”

He hired a licensed and accredited home inspector for $185. What he found, obviously, had existed for many years, but was not disclosed.

The important items, consisted of a leaky roof and dry rot throughout the home. The forced-air system was hanging together, barely, by wires that could have been pulled apart by a hand. Tile was falling apart in the stall shower.

The sellers did not wish to use our state-licensed workers to do the work. The repair was done by fly-by-night workers, not approved by the Contractors’ State License Board or, in fact, even listed in the telephone book. Naturally, that deal did not go through, and escrow was canceled.

Sellers do not disclose all they know, unfortunately. Buyers are not protected unless they hire a general consultant, contractor or building inspector. It is money well spent.

PHRYNE BARRI KONAT

Van Nuys