HomeMy WebLinkAbout4207 Rockview Ct - Correspondence - 04/30/2000 (2)MARK A. ROBINSON
April 30, 2000
Mr. Felix Lee
Director of Building & Zoning
City of Fort Collins
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580
Dear Mr. Lee:
I am writing you today to describe a situation that happened to myself and my wife recently regarding a
home inspection company. Although, through contact with your staff, I have learned that your department
does not currently regulate such companies through a licensing process. I hone Chit you will take a moment to
read my account and consider whether a licensing and regulation process might be beneficial to citizens of the
City and perhaps even to home inspection companies as a whole.
I have attempted to communicate with the company in question to try to come to an acceptable resolution
to this matter and have met with considerable resistance. Most recently, on April 27, 2000, this company hand
delivered to my home a letter stating in part that any attempt by me to lodge complaints to regulatory agencies
would result in immediate legal proceedings to prevent and seek remedy for such actions. Because of this, I
am hesitant to cite the specific name of the company. I would consider releasing the name of the company to
you at some later time with some guarantee of confidentiality. It is one of larger of the 15 or so companies
listed in the Yellow Pages under Home & Building Inspections (their display ad is quite impressive). It should
be noted that this company (and/or its owner) does have a contractors license and a radon testing license from
your office. However, neither license appears to be applicable in this case.
The right to peacefully petition the government for change is constitutionally protected and I really don't
appreciate this company's apparent attempt to deny me that right. The following is simply an account of my
experience and my opinions as to whether the way the laws appear to be currently written are as good as they
could be or not. As a former management employee of a state regulatory agency, my personal experience tells
me that perhaps something could be done to improve this situation.
In the process of selling an older home in the City of Fort Collins, the couple who ultimately purchased
the home used a standard real estate purchase agreement which includes a provision for them, at their own
expense, to have the company of their choice inspect the home. We agreed to this provision. They selected a
company -and -the inspection was performed. As a result of the inspectiorrseverai items were identified as being
in need of repair. From that set, the buyers selected to focus on four (4) of the more expensive items,
specifically the hot water heater, the furnace, the slope of a drain pipe and the main water shut off valve.
Wanting to do the right thing, I first contacted the Public Service Company of Colorado's Repair Care
service center. We had maintained Repair Care coverage on the furnace and hot water heater for about 2 1 /2
years. Repair Care is a type of insurance where, for $14.99 per month, PSC will hire local licensed plumbing
and heating companies to repair items covered under the insurance. The company that the PSC sent out was
Climitech. The technician examined the furnace and hot water heater, but was unable to locate the problems
that were cited in the inspection company's report. Specifically on the furnace we were looking for a carbon
monoxide leak. The technician provided me a written report indicating that both the furnace and hot water
heater were in good shape and that he could not find a carbon monoxide leak. Further, he put a preprinted
sticker on the furnace showing the date of inspection and checked the box "Safe For Use."
4207 ROCKVIEW COURT • FORT COLLINS, CO • 80526
PHONE: (970) 377-8413 • FAX: (970) 377-8414