The Occupational Hazards of a Realtor
As occupations go, a day in the life of a Kitchener Waterloo Realtor is generally pretty safe. However, while showing houses for sale on the weekend, I was amazed how many had no railings on the stairs to the basement. I personally know 2 Realtors who suffered serious injuries losing their balance on staircases. In one case, a lawsuit ensued and the Realtor was awarded damages. While I suspect the house insurance provider paid the compensation, it may have affected the homeowner's ability to get house insurance subsequently.
The sale of a house will often involve a home inspection. A home inspector will flag a missing, broken or improper railing. As with any safety issue, we ask the seller to fix the problem as it's as much a hazard for them while continuing to live in the home as it is for the incoming buyer.
To save everyone some potential grief, I advise sellers to check their railings. Realtors should insist they're in place before the house goes on the market. As the Sergeant used to say on Hill Street Blues, "let's be careful out there".
Jeff Gingerich
Sales Representative
Century 21 Home Realty Inc. Brokerage
Office: 519-570-4663
Direct: 519-505-4488
http://JeffGingerich.com
"Delivering results since 1989"
Posted by Jeff Gingerich
on April 11, 2011