Don't Buy or Sell with Re-Max Westside Properties *Consumer Suggestion ..stir the realtors juices

I was a first time homebuyer and was clearly taken advantage of because I was young and inexperienced.

The Buyer Specialist for Re/Max "Bizzy Blondes", Sherry Kolenda, did not do everything within her power as my agent to make the process easier. First was the 30-day escrow. It was something Sherry suggested, yet knowing that interest rates were dropping how difficult it would be to have the loan process complete in 30 days, due to many other people refinancing and also submitting their loans. Then when it appeared that the Escrow would not close in 30 days there was no mention of extending the escrow until a loan could be obtained. She then placed the blame on me for not letting her know regarding the progress of the loan, so that she could have extended escrow on my behalf.

The second was pushing on me the idea that the Seller should be compensated due to Escrow not closing in time. Sherry's original idea was that I confirm with the Escrow Agent to let the Seller have some of the deposit money, before Escrow closed. I refused to do this, but I did tentatively suggest to compensate the Seller per diem until Escrow closed only if Sherry agreed that it was a good idea. She supported it fully, and wanted me to convey that idea to the Escrow Agent, so that it would seem the idea came from me. She never mentioned that legally I am not obligated to pay the Seller anything if Escrow does not close on time. There was no written legal binding document to that effect either. And that if worse came to worse that the Seller would just back out of the deal, everything would stop, and I'd get my deposit back and look for another property. When I discovered the truth from my Broker I made it clear that I was not compensating the Seller, and that Sherry's as my Realtor should have been looking out for my interests. She took that as an offense and kept pushing me to pay compensation to the Seller. She never did inform the Seller that I would not compensate them. If she had then things would have run their normal course.

During the entire process of Escrow, because I could not obtain my loan quickly enough with in 30 day, Sherry was entirely too persistent. She was calling the my Broker up to four or five times a day demanding to know the progress of the loan, when all the paper work had been submitted and there was nothing anyone could do to hurry the process along anymore. She also was calling me everyday to inform me how angry the Seller's were that Escrow had not closed on time. She wanted me to hurry the process of the loan up by speaking to the broker, as if there was anything I could do. Towards the end when she no longer wished to take calls from the Seller or Seller's agent regarding the loan process my broker had to field all the calls.

After Escrow had closed and I finally took keys to the property, there were several points of the contract that had not been fulfilled. The garage door opener did not work, and there was no way to get in touch with anyone (HOA, Seller) to have it reset or fixed. This meant that I could not park in the parking structure. The refrigerator, which was part of the contract sale did not work either, the light bulb inside the appliance had been stripped and there were no warranty papers for any of the appliances that were part of the contract sale. The Sellers had also stripped the entire property taking toilet seats, all the light bulbs, and the batteries to the smoke detectors, and showerheads. When I made my complaint to Sherry particularly about the garage opener and the refrigerator, she stated that there was nothing more she could do. If I wanted compensation then I should take the Seller to small claims court. I have contacted Sherry again stating that she should do her job and earn her commission by resolving the issues of the garage opener and property appliances or I am within my right to start legal proceedings against her, the Seller, and the Seller's agent.

As my representative and realtor, Sherry has not been very helpful in the least. She has not done her job. She obviously thought this would be an easy buy and sell and quick commission with little or no work on her behalf. It was nightmare for me and still is as I am still getting Sherry to act on my behalf to resolve the above issues as of 4/16/01.