Barry Stone
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Builder unwilling to repair defectsSep 13, 2020 6:00 am - Q: Our home is about a year old, and our builder has been unwilling to repair defects we've reported to him. The first thing we noted were cracks in the porcelain floor ...
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Buyer finds undisclosed electrical problemsSep 06, 2020 6:00 am - Q: I just purchased a home that was renovated two years ago, and city records show the work was permitted. The people who sold the house to me had bought it after all th...
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Disagreement over roofing disclosureAug 30, 2020 6:00 am - Q: I have a general complaint against some home inspectors. Often, I find conditions listed as faulty in home inspection reports are found to be no problem at all when e...
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Code compliance vs. common senseAug 23, 2020 6:00 am - Q: We were ready to close escrow on our home when the buyers' home inspector stirred up trouble over the roof repairs. The house is about 45 years old and has two layers...
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Buyer finds undisclosed electrical problemsAug 14, 2020 6:00 am - Q: I just purchased a home that was renovated two years ago, and city records show that the work was permitted. The people who sold the house to me had bought it after a...
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Fire safety with wood shake roofingAug 09, 2020 6:00 am - Q: In a past article, you cautioned readers against the use of wood shake roofing because of fire-safety issues. Haven't you ever heard of fire-retardant shakes and shin...
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Complaints against unresponsive homeowner associationsJul 25, 2020 11:00 pm - Q: I live in a condominium, and the homeowners association (HOA) has been unwilling to make any kind of repairs. The worst issue is drainage. Rain runoff for most of the...
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Inspection leads to property damage, medical billJul 19, 2020 6:00 am - Q: As a Realtor, I represent mostly sellers. Recently, a prospective buyer accompanied his home inspector into the attic and managed to fall through the ceiling, causing...
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Does "buyer beware" still apply?Jul 12, 2020 7:00 am - Q: In one of your articles, you said "buyer beware" is no longer the rule when buying a home. Our recent homebuying experience overrules that opinion. After closing escr...
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Smoke alarm requirements for landlordsJul 05, 2020 6:00 am - Q: As the owner of a 12-unit apartment building, I encourage my tenants to maintain the batteries in their smoke alarms. However, when tenants move out, I often find the...