Inconsiderate Realtor

Jaybird180

Jaybird180

Final Approach
Joined
Dec 28, 2010
Messages
9,036
Location
Near DC
Display Name
Display name:
Jaybird180
The house next door is up for sale, a foreclosure (sort of)

The tree in the front yard fell last night and is in my yard. I wanted to cut my grass.

I called and emailed the realtor. An hour later a crew was there to cut the lawn and I asked them if they were going to remove the tree. They refused and said they hadn't been cleared to do so. They guy said on their way over the realtor called and asked them to photograph the tree, so she got my message. She didn't return my call. They guy said she was on vacation to which I retorted that she's obviously working and it was the courteous thing to do to call me back. He said it would likely be a week before anything happens with the tree.

And get this....one of the guys is her boyfriend. So it's a high degree of certainty that he'd get paid.:mad2:

How much rent do I charge?
 
Well, unless the realtor owns the house, you're talking to the wrong party. If it's owned by the bank I would just cut the tree up myself and send them a bill for my time expecting to never be paid.

Good chance it's still owned by the seller, who doesn't give a ****, and is probably having to short sale it. In which case the bank isn't going to do **** and the seller isn't going to do ****. The realtor may but isn't required to do ****.

Just take care of it yourself and save the headache.
 
With each new landlord, I expect the worst. So far I've not been disappointed. Nothing ever gets fixed and they always try to screw me. Sucks but what can you do about it? :dunno:
 
Redundant title. Forget the realtor, you need the property owner/manager(unless the realtor is the mgr). BTW, every state has a board of realtors which has a complaint system. Many are online, but I would gather your info, and send it to the board by cert mail. Also fill out the online form, and if they are not a broker, advise the broker of your work, and let them know they are getting a bill in the mail WRT the tree having fallen.
 
It would seem the realtor would want it cleaned up in order that the property look presentable. How long has it been like this? If it remains like this for a time rent a chain saw and get rid of it . Stop whineing.
 
Rent a chain saw, cut it up, and leave it all in their front yard.
 
It just fell last night and you expect them to have it cleaned up already? On labor day weekend?
 
You can't get the tree removed, how will you collect rent for it? As others have said...rent a chain saw, cut it up, stack it in their yard. MAKE SURE YOU TAKE PICTURES FIRST. You may have to prove the tree fell into your yard.
 
In many places, if a tree falls in your yard, it is your problem. The exception is if the owner of the property where the tree was had been notified that the tree is a potential hazard due to a specific condition.

Rent a chain saw and cut up the pieces in your yard. Either keep the wood for firewood, or offer it up for sale or for free, or put the pieces in the neighbor's yard.
 
Why not just tie a rope to it and drag it off your property?
 
Send a email to the owner that your going to clear it for her at a rate of XXX, remove the tree, send a bill, if its not paid go to city hall and file a mechanics lien. You'll get your money.


The realator will understand what a mechanics lien is, and that it will prevent her from selling the home to collect her commission.
 
JOhnH said:
In many places, if a tree falls in your yard, it is your problem. The exception is if the owner of the property where the tree was had been notified that the tree is a potential hazard due to a specific condition.

Rent a chain saw and cut up the pieces in your yard. Either keep the wood for firewood, or offer it up for sale or for free, or put the pieces in the neighbor's yard.
Click to expand...

Better yet......

Cut up the tree and throw the logs through the windows of the house the tree was in........

I bet the realtor returns your call in a New York Minute...:yes:;):nono:
 
Jaybird180 said:
The house next door is up for sale, a foreclosure (sort of)

The tree in the front yard fell last night and is in my yard. I wanted to cut my grass.

I called and emailed the realtor. An hour later a crew was there to cut the lawn and I asked them if they were going to remove the tree. They refused and said they hadn't been cleared to do so. They guy said on their way over the realtor called and asked them to photograph the tree, so she got my message. She didn't return my call. They guy said she was on vacation to which I retorted that she's obviously working and it was the courteous thing to do to call me back. He said it would likely be a week before anything happens with the tree.

And get this....one of the guys is her boyfriend. So it's a high degree of certainty that he'd get paid.:mad2:

How much rent do I charge?
Click to expand...

You document it and call your insurance agent before you have it removed and let them subrogate, this is why you carry insurance.
 
Just put a sign out........"FREE FIREWOOD!"

'You cut' and remove. Someone will be around in 15 minutes.
 
The realtor is retained by the Seller to be their agent and sell the house.

Nowhere in a realtor's agreement is the term "lumberjack" used.
 
I'm still trying to figure out where the airplane was when the tree fell :goofy:
 
How big is the tree? Most trees can be cut up in an hour or less.
 
Henning nailed it about calling your agent...but he left out that, in the grand scheme of things,...this is petty...and no "real" reason to file a claim...

I cannot speak for anywhere else but in NC, if you are told you have a tree that is a danger to others life and/or property and it turns out to be true...you are liable in a big way. Trees make a mess when they hit buildings.

Again, I can only speak for NC but if it was here...the tree that has fallen on your property is your problem.

I have 10 houses listed for sale now...*I* (not the realtor) take care of any issues that arise with the properties...not the listing agent...I think someone mentioned property manager...THEY could be contracted to handle these issues...but with the bank owned/short sale thing going on...I'd bet you are SOL.

As harsh as it may sound, the realtor does not have any responsibility to you in any manner except maybe to be courteous. In these scenarios, I'd bet SHE can't authorize the tree to be removed without talking to the owner...whoever that may be...

I'd suggest doing it yourself or being patient...
 
I'd call again, leave a message saying that you're going to chop it up and leave the debris in the yard. Good luck cleaning that mess up.
 
Wait a reasonable amount of time given that it's a holiday, bank owned, etc., and if nothing happens ... then cut it into a few pieces as necessary (just one would be ideal), wrap a chain around it, and use a suitable vehicle to pull it back into the yard from whence it came. They'll eventually finish the job.
 
Check your local laws. If they are responsible for removing the tree from your yard, give them a few days. It's not the realtor's responsibility until the owner says it is. I guess the owner is a bank. Getting things done in a medium/large company takes some time.

If not, cut it up yourself or pay someone to do it.

If its their responsibility and no one contacts you this week, i'd cut it up myself and drag the pieces onto their doorstep. Just pile em on.
 
JOhnH said:
In many places, if a tree falls in your yard, it is your problem. The exception is if the owner of the property where the tree was had been notified that the tree is a potential hazard due to a specific condition.

.
Click to expand...

This is the correct answer.
 
Matthew said:
Rent a chain saw, cut it up, and leave it all in their front yard.
Click to expand...

Rent a chain saw, cut it up, and sell the firewood. Should pay the cost of the chain saw.
 
JOhnH said:
In many places, if a tree falls in your yard, it is your problem. The exception is if the owner of the property where the tree was had been notified that the tree is a potential hazard due to a specific condition.

Rent a chain saw and cut up the pieces in your yard. Either keep the wood for firewood, or offer it up for sale or for free, or put the pieces in the neighbor's yard.
Click to expand...

Exactly.

The Realtor has nothing to do with it.
 
Is there no HOA?
Mine would be all over that.
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
Is there no HOA?
Mine would be all over that.
Click to expand...

Best answer sofar.

To further elucidate: The tree is split at the trunk, its a Bradford Pear. Its still attached to the trunk in their yard but has fallen onto my property. I live in suburbia and the leaves are about 2 feet from my driveway. Its going to ruin my grass - not that I have the greenest thumb but its not the brownest either.
 
Jaybird180 said:
Best answer sofar.

To further elucidate: The tree is split at the trunk, its a Bradford Pear. Its still attached to the trunk in their yard but has fallen onto my property. I live in suburbia and the leaves are about 2 feet from my driveway. Its going to ruin my grass - not that I have the greenest thumb but its not the brownest either.
Click to expand...

pictures?
 
It's Labor Day. Nobody is going to drop everything to get the tree out of your yard on their day off.

Give them a day or two. It's just grass, it will grow back.
 
Bradford Pear???...sigh...jiminy crickets...go finish the dern thing off with an axe or crosscut saw..drag it next door and get back to POA...

Time elapsed...30 minutes...
 
Post an ad for free firewood if they cut and haul it on Craigslist. tell them they can take all the wood to the property line. Problem solved. You will not get satisfaction from a bank owned short/repo house thing. Never, ever, trying to will just reduce your quality of life. Perhaps it ain't fair but just like us jerks flying around without radios best thing is to deal with it as simply as possible and move on.
Edit I just looked up bradford pears that ain't a tree that is shrubbery. Get out there with some pruning shears, be gone in no time.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top