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How much would it cost to have the Fire Marshall check out a detail in a house?

F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Yeah I'm buying a house but the deal is kind of stuck. 🙁

I had the inspection done and he found that the fire protection of the roof was not done correctly. This is a town home so the purpose is to protect the neighbors house from a fire in my unit.

I asked the sellers to fix it (among other things) but they only offered $500 in cash and no work on their part.
I countered and asked for $3000 so I could have it done properly, including other details...
They don't think it's going to cost that much and is having a contractor look at the cost.
I have a feeling they still won't budge so I want to resolve it by having the Fire Marshall over and actually check it. The inspector recommended I did this if the sellers started bawling.

To top it off I can say I was the first guy offering (same day as listed) asking price, put down $1000 in ernest money, applied and got approved for the loan, agreed to push the closing date forward by 4 weeks (making me loose 1 month of rent money @ $1625, didn't ask them to fix other semi big issues.

How much would it cost to have this done?

edit:
***Update***

The sale fell through. Fire marshall said two of the items I presented to him was breaking the code.
Sellers still didn't want to fix it ---> deal is off.
 
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
Click to expand...

That was my thinking. I know they go to places of work with thier fire trucks and do suprise inspections and dont ask for a dime so I dont think there will be any cost to have him swing by and take a look see to make sure it is up to code and if not he can then take the precaustiong with the owners to bring it up to code correctly. You may want to play that hand and tell them if you call and have it inspected they may have to pay right away before they can even sell the house if it is a violation of any codes. May put a fire under thier butts and go for your deal just to wash thier hands of it right away to be on the safe and dept free side.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
Click to expand...

I just like to know if it is safe. I e-mailed the marshall's office.
The contractor is brought out by the sellers and I'm just afraid he going to give them a low estimate.... (yeah I don't trust anyone).

I feel like just getting out since the sellers are super stubborn. The problem is my $1000. I'm not sure if it will be refunded to me or not. There's a techicality about who's fault it is the deal fell through.
 
Originally posted by: funboy42
Originally posted by: SampSon
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
Click to expand...

That was my thinking. I know they go to places of work with thier fire trucks and do suprise inspections and dont ask for a dime so I dont think there will be any cost to have him swing by and take a look see to make sure it is up to code and if not he can then take the precaustiong with the owners to bring it up to code correctly. You may want to play that hand and tell them if you call and have it inspected they may have to pay right away before they can even sell the house if it is a violation of any codes. May put a fire under thier butts and go for your deal just to wash thier hands of it right away to be on the safe and dept free side.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm hoping for! 😀

I'm just afraid of any liabilities if I budge and accept the house and I know there is something (potentially) wrong adn don't fix it.
If there is a fire in my house and the 2 neighbgors burn down too their insurance company might go after me.

 
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: SampSon
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
Click to expand...

I just like to know if it is safe. I e-mailed the marshall's office.
The contractor is brought out by the sellers and I'm just afraid he going to give them a low estimate.... (yeah I don't trust anyone).

I feel like just getting out since the sellers are super stubborn. The problem is my $1000. I'm not sure if it will be refunded to me or not. There's a techicality about who's fault it is the deal fell through.
Click to expand...
The fire marshall should be able to tell you if it's safe and up to code for no cost (except the normal costs of taxpayer dollar).

You should have a contractor of your own give an estimate on the work. If the seller's estimate is very low and your contractors is higher than you could average a deal between the values or just tell the sellers contractor to do the work at the expense of the seller (your concessions).

If you want to back out of the deal right now then you would not be the one at fault. The owners are responsible for the quality/safety of the house they are selling, as well as filling out a property disclosure statement. If that fire hazard was not written into the disclosure and deemed the responsibility of the buyer as per the contract and discovered by the buyers home inspector than that is grounds for further concessions (money from the seller) or nullification of the deal/contract.

These types of problems discovered by home inspectors up here are reasons for people legally backing out of their purchase. I see it all the time.
 
Originally posted by: SampSon
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: SampSon
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
Click to expand...

I just like to know if it is safe. I e-mailed the marshall's office.
The contractor is brought out by the sellers and I'm just afraid he going to give them a low estimate.... (yeah I don't trust anyone).

I feel like just getting out since the sellers are super stubborn. The problem is my $1000. I'm not sure if it will be refunded to me or not. There's a techicality about who's fault it is the deal fell through.
Click to expand...
The fire marshall should be able to tell you if it's safe and up to code for no cost (except the normal costs of taxpayer dollar).

You should have a contractor of your own give an estimate on the work. If the seller's estimate is very low and your contractors is higher than you could average a deal between the values or just tell the sellers contractor to do the work at the expense of the seller (your concessions).


If you want to back out of the deal right now then you would not be the one at fault. The owners are responsible for the quality/safety of the house they are selling, as well as filling out a property disclosure statement. If that fire hazard was not written into the disclosure and deemed the responsibility of the buyer as per the contract and discovered by the buyers home inspector than that is grounds for further concessions (money from the seller) or nullification of the deal/contract.

These types of problems discovered by home inspectors up here are reasons for people legally backing out of their purchase. I see it all the time.
Click to expand...


My thought too. I'll just take the sellers contractor and have him do the job for the amount he quoted.

I'm in VA and here the seller doesn't really have to fill it in. They just have a waiver saying they don't know anything basically.
Don't ask.... I have no fscking clue how the dirty real estate market works here. Believe me I tried to understand but ... damn.
 
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: SampSon
Originally posted by: FrustratedUser
Originally posted by: SampSon
Call the fire marshall and ask.
Up here that type of inspection is a public service. The fire marshall isn't going to be able to tell you how much it is to fix it. It's his job to tell you if it's safe and up to code.

The contractor or contrators should tell you that.
Click to expand...

I just like to know if it is safe. I e-mailed the marshall's office.
The contractor is brought out by the sellers and I'm just afraid he going to give them a low estimate.... (yeah I don't trust anyone).

I feel like just getting out since the sellers are super stubborn. The problem is my $1000. I'm not sure if it will be refunded to me or not. There's a techicality about who's fault it is the deal fell through.
Click to expand...
The fire marshall should be able to tell you if it's safe and up to code for no cost (except the normal costs of taxpayer dollar).

You should have a contractor of your own give an estimate on the work. If the seller's estimate is very low and your contractors is higher than you could average a deal between the values or just tell the sellers contractor to do the work at the expense of the seller (your concessions).


If you want to back out of the deal right now then you would not be the one at fault. The owners are responsible for the quality/safety of the house they are selling, as well as filling out a property disclosure statement. If that fire hazard was not written into the disclosure and deemed the responsibility of the buyer as per the contract and discovered by the buyers home inspector than that is grounds for further concessions (money from the seller) or nullification of the deal/contract.

These types of problems discovered by home inspectors up here are reasons for people legally backing out of their purchase. I see it all the time.
Click to expand...


My thought too. I'll just take the sellers contractor and have him do the job for the amount he quoted.

I'm in VA and here the seller doesn't really have to fill it in. They just have a waiver saying they don't know anything basically.
Don't ask.... I have no fscking clue how the dirty real estate market works here. Believe me I tried to understand but ... damn.
Click to expand...
Sellers can waive the property disclosure statement here as well. Typically a statement that proclaims the sale is being done "as is" is drafted and signed by all participating parties. If you didn't sign that you can still easily back out of the deal. You will also have more leverage with concessions.
 
It wasn't advertized to be a 'Sold as Is' deal but my realtor said I needed to sign a waiver for something sounding like it.
I asked why and she said that's the way sellers do it because having a property disclosure is a good way to set yourselfd up for a lawsuit...... that's what she said 😕

 
The rules and what happens to the earnest money is even more unclear than anything else in this business.
I hated it before and hate it even more now.
 
I am waiting for the other sides final reply to my counter offer. If they still won't budge I'm getting this guy out to have a look. I told my realtor to use this as one of the playing cards.

I'm stressed out. :Q
 
I've had the local fire chief out to the house on several occaisions...all non emergencies... all at no charge (other than my tax dollars 🙂)

My parents have too.

All you gotta do is call, explain what's going on and they'll either tell you over the phone not to worry, or they'll come check it out.
 
April 1 update:

Deal is off. Sellers wouldn't fix or give me cash to fix the issues that were actually violating code.
I also got fed up with the sellers slow and lazy behaviour.
 
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