Out of-state investing issues. What would you do?

[Lilah Johnson]

So we have been cleared to close for awhile now. Since the end of December, beginning of January I would say. We were given a screenshot of 3 months worth of rent roll; a very generic screenshot as they said they could not get a copy from their property management. Aside from this, we agreed with the seller that they would fix certain electrical hazardous issues found during inspection and issues with a water heater, with another inspection afterwards to ensure everything was done. After a few weeks, we were told by our real estate agent we could request the second inspection. Directly after the second inspection being done, our agent told us the seller didn’t get to fix some of the issues and she wasn’t told about it until after the second inspection was done. So we wasted money there. She volunteered to fix a grounding wire issue herself after closing. Not sure if that is a usual practice by a buyers agent so we found that odd. We requested to be notified again so we can inspect a third time once all issues were corrected. Meanwhile, title was notified of violations that the seller needed to rectify. We did not see an electrical issue on the inspection violation list given to us but were told by our agent, before the third inspection, that all issues were taken care of/inspected by the city including electrical, and were cleared. During our first inspection, In particular, our inspector found that electric service panel wiring was done in basically a way that an unlicensed electrician would do it (haphazard with Romex wiring). We wanted that rechecked and that was an issue our agent said was done per the city’s violation list, but we didn’t see this on that list. Our agent offered to check it herself, and the water heater to which we declined. Today our inspector went out and only checked the water heater, nothing else. Which wasn’t the only issue needing to be rechecked but most likely at the direction of our agent this was the only thing rechecked. We asked for a copy of the cleared violation issues by the city to which we were told there isn’t a report just a verbal “clear” given to Title by the city. So now Title is just waiting for us to let them know when we can sign.

Being an out of state investor, hopefully you can understand how apprehensive we are at this point. I don’t know if we are being unreasonable with what we have requested to be fixed (which was agreed to by both parties) or if we are being lied to, which we hope isn’t the case. We do not want to be difficult buyers for our agent, but also don’t want to be taken advantage of.

If anyone can shed some light on things as far as verification of violations by the city (do they really not give documentation for cleared violations?); if it’s usual that buyers agents go as far to fix things themselves; and if shotty wiring is even a thing to fight for to be fixed. What would you do? Any words of wisdom would be greatly appreciated.