All Forum Posts by: Sara C.

@Mike Cumbie finally have an update! The situation has become more dysfunctional unfortunately. The homeowner canceled on my contractor on 3 separate occasions, but let us know an HVAC tech had determined the issue to be a dryer vent leak. This doesn't surprise me as it has a very long run across the townhome. We have offered to fix it, or provide funds to do so (mind you - I have not seen any documentation of the issue, only verbal). Homeowner would like to move the vent to a new location, as they don't like the current design (which was original to the house... not something we changed. I do agree it's not great). I see this as a new project, and offered that they could put my funds of the repair toward that. They were very upset by this suggestion. 

The toughest part of this is how the communication has been handled. I've tried to be very business-like but kind and upbeat. The homeowner will not communicate with me directly, only through the realtor that did the deal. So it's all been by phone via the realtor or email directly to the homeowner. The realtor has become increasingly unprofessional and yesterday accused me of concealing the issue, and "of faulty workmanship and or lack of proper building practices and the renovator should be responsible and cover the cost of this repair, whatever the solution is."

Phew, I've been pretty upset about it. I just want to fix the darn issue and they won't give us access or communicate with me directly. I realize I might have a blind spot here, but I really do want to fix it and move on. 

Thanks for listening!
 

@Andy R. thanks for the information about code! I'm very interested in learning more about this and finding documentation (just in case). Do you know of a resource that states the building code for this particular case?

And yes, there's more in the contractor's warranty than I shared, but I agree it's loose language and not nearly specific enough. Take it as a learning experience everyone! Don't do what I did and trust your gut :)

I'll share an update once I get our contractor over there for a service call. 

So grateful for all the feedback. Thank you. 

@Matt P. yep definitely will fill you all in! We didn't drywall over any leaking ducts. But I understand how it could seem that way to the homeowner perhaps (if this in fact is the leak source). There were no water issues during reno. 

@Mike H. true about mold. Good point. 

@Mike Cumbie now this is GOOD. Stealing this with your permission! :)

@Gary Siver this duct sweating issue is a HUNCH my realtor has (he used to be an inspector). He asked if the ducts were uninsulated and I said yes, and he's passed that on to the homeowner. So this is all speculation (b/c they can't identify any other cause), but I'm worried the homeowner is going to ask for the duct replacement as they believe it should have been done during reno. 

My actual contractor has volunteered to go over there tomorrow to get to the bottom of this. 

This is all great feedback - thank you. @Wayne Brooks appreciate your example about the sewer line. Makes total sense! And @Matt K., just reviewed the contract... there's a lot there but I think the content below covers it.... 

I will say, this is a huge learning exercise for me and I definitely wouldn't do it again in this way. I did not list the specific scope of our remodel in the warranty... regretting that FOR SURE.

(Contractor) hereby warrants that the construction work performed at {address here} is free from defects and incorporated into this Limited Warranty for a period of 1 year from the date of substantial completion, date of commencement of use, or date of notice of completion, whichever occurs first.

Thanks everyone. Do you think it's somehow unethical or wrong of our team not to replace or insulate the ductwork? It's between floors so it didn't occur to me. Their defense is they couldn't see it on inspection (although... they actually didn't do a home inspection), so there's no way they could have known. Also, please note this hasn't actually been determined as the cause of their leak. Only a suspicion.

@Caleb Heimsoth it's for a year, so May 2019. 

@Account Closed yes, they didn't want a home warranty, they wanted us to personally guarantee our work. And yes, I'm regretting that :) Not because we don't stand behind it, but I worried about issues just like this. Now I wish I had pushed for a standard home warranty. 

Having an issue with a past buyer that's making my blood pressure go up. Would love any feedback.

We flipped a house that was a full gut renovation (hoarder, cat house) and sold it last May (pics here). The buyer was nervous about purchasing from a flipper so requested a "contractor warranty" that warrants the improvements we made (not wear and tear; only failure or things not working as they should). Even though I did not want to continue my relationship with this buyer, we agreed to get the deal done. 

Flash forward to now. They have a very slow leak in their downstairs ceiling and can't identify the source (it's a 2 story townhome). Our realtor team is acting as the mediator between us and he believes it's condensation from the ductwork, which is in-between floors. The HVAC was newer and was one of the few things we didn't replace during this renovation (we did have it inspected). Both my realtor and the buyer (now homeowner) are telling me we "SHOULD" have insulated the ductwork during the renovation. 

I was not aware of that, and it could very well be true, but because this was not something we altered during the renovation, I don't feel it's our responsibility to address it now, after the home is sold. We were never asked about the ductwork prior to sale. 

I certainly don't want to get into a big project of tearing out the ceiling drywall and insulating it now. I also don't feel that we should be held responsible for identifying the source of the leak. If it turns out to be indeed an issue with the work we performed, I would pay to fix it.

Thoughts, ideas, etc? Feels like such a sticky situation to me, but maybe I'm overreacting. 

Any advice is appreciated here. 

Sara

Agree about City of Decatur, if it's walkable to the square. Another suggestion is close to Emory University and Hospital. Lots of parents / family visiting that area need short term housing and there's not a lot hotels near by. Plus it's close to everything!