Penny Boutte, Realtor-I am writing as the father of a buyer, and about my interactions with Penny Boutte, most of which were after the close of escrow. During the purchase, I know Penny navigated the turbulent difficult seller waters, managing setbacks and the seller’s mantra constantly threatening to cancel the deal. As I mentioned, most of my interactions with Penny occurred after close of escrow, when a realtor would normally be done. While she was moving in, we discovered that all the return air registers had been covered over, apparently when the seller installed new flooring. There was also a rusted out duct involved. None of this was known prior to close of escrow. My first thought was that the seller ought to have disclosed covering over the return air. That gets all tied up in what did he know and how he defers responsibility to those he hired to install the flooring. Overnight, Penny remembered the First American Home Buyers Protection Plan. She contacted First American, confirmed coverage, and initiated the claim. Unfortunately, after a month of dithering, First American announced they would deny the claim because the damage was preexisting. The adjuster said First American provides no coverage at whatsoever on preexisting damage in any of its policies. Penny pressured the sales manager, pointing out their advertising claimed such protection. FAHW Regional Sales Manager reversed the position and paid the claim.
Buyer, Lodi, CA- jhurlbut3
