All Forum Posts by: Colt Callison

Unfortunately that probably won't get you anywhere since your complaint is with the wrong person. If WA State is anything like it is in Kansas, only Buyer and Seller can decide what happens with deposits or earnest money. If BOTH do not decide on the same outcome, nothing can be done by the Agent or Broker. It is strictly a contract between buyer and seller. The only two ways a company (such as a title company) can release those deposits is with the consent of both parties in writing or by court order. 

If you have an agent, I would tell them to send message that if the money is not released by a certain time then you'll have to seek legal means and you'll also go after any court costs and fees for attorneys, time and trouble. That usually gets their attention and has helped some of my clients in the past. 

Hope that helps. 

As a full-time real estate agent, I am completely against home warranties. I've found that some companies will even give me a $75 check if I get some information on the appliances in the home for their records. Obviously this is to their advantage for some reason, and not for the protection of my clients, so I don't even bother. But if they're willing to pay that much to an agent on a policy that cost around $450, then there's not much left to cover items in your home. Especially if you take out the commissions that are paid out to their salespeople. The fact of the matter is they know there is a very unlikely chance that something will go wrong within the first year of ownership, and even if it does, they usually hide behind a disclaimer or two. I always recommend to my clients to self-insure themselves with an emergency fund, and I would suggest the same to you. Glad to see a lot of help on this topic. Good luck.