Letter regarding vandalism?

[Tony V]

Hey Betty.....all they are trying to do is back out of the deal using you to do it.........if you were to state what they wish...the ""reason for breaking the deal"" lands in your lap...

Sort of like when they blame the appraisal for a deal not happening when the borrowers credit is crap...

 

[ghrousseau]

Received the following e-mail/request from realtor (buyer's agent) regarding a property that I appraised for lender/client for a purchase.

"The property on 123 xxxxx St has been broken into again! the property has been repaired twice already. The buyer wishes to back out but we are going to need your help. We need a letter stating that due to the continual vandelism on this property it is difficult to get appropiate property value. Any help you can give us would be deeply appreciated. I am trying to get my clients money back."

My questions are:
1) Would such a letter be a breach in client confidentiality?
2) How would you handle this?

:icon_question:

Tell them to provide the seller with the police report. End of story.

 

[Betty H Church]

Thanks to all those that responded with advice. This was my reply to the agent.

It would be in conflict with USPAP (the appraiser's bible) and would also be a breach in client/lender confidentiality, to supply a letter as requested regarding value issues with the property in question. Sorry, and I hope you are able to find a solution. Like our mayor has suggested in the past, the thumbs should be cut-off of those who commit such acts of vandalism (grafitti).

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

If your comps were from the same general area they would be similarly influenced by the high incidence of vandalism; therefore, your value should stand.

The REALTOR and purchaser are not your client. Politely inform them of this and then stop with the communication. As previously stated..."nothing good can come from this!"

 

[c w d]

Thanks to all those that responded with advice. This was my reply to the agent.

It would be in conflict with USPAP (the appraiser's bible)

I would never refer to USPAP as a bible. It's the Uniformed Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice to which all appraisers must comply and are bound by law. A bible is a book wildly contradictory and open to the most outlandish of interpretations...........scratch that.....I stand corrected. USPAP is a bible.

 

[Mike Garrett RAA]

LOL....I often refer to is as ..."the bible"; however, it really isn't that nor is it a law.

 

[Marcia Langley]

Wow, Mike,

You mean Colorado has never enacted USPAP into state law? I thought almost every state had done that.

 

[Mike Boyd]

Tell the agent to call the police, not you.

 

[Tim The Enchanter]

Tell the agent to call the police, not you.

And put on better locks.

Or hide inside with a thumb chopper for when they come back.

 

[Smokey Bear]

I would never refer to USPAP as a bible. It's the Uniformed Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice to which all appraisers must comply and are bound by law. A bible is a book wildly contradictory and open to the most outlandish of interpretations...........scratch that.....I stand corrected. USPAP is a bible.