Sonata Park is one of four Public parks in the residential community of Seven Hills. All of the parks are connected by trails for walking and biking. The trails are maintained by the master Home Owners Association. Along the trails you will also find smaller play-grounds and open spaces to run and play. You will find lots of different sporting facilities in the parks like; soccer, tennis, basketball, baseball and volleyball.

The parks are well maintained and you will always run into your neighbors as they are out walking their dogs or taking the kids for a bike ride. You'll often see the dogs chasing all of the little bunnies that live in the parks.

You can even book the picnic and BBQ areas for large family parties. Contact the City of Henderson Parks & Recreation Dept. for details

In addition to the daily activities the City also hosts several events in the park, mostly in the summer. The events are usually a concert series or local theatre group doing Shakespeare in the Park. The schedule is always changing and can be found at this link.

Below you will see a short video that was taken as we walked through the park, I think it captures the feel for this great space! Make sure to pay attention to the amount of homes that over look the park, this is one of the reason the homes in Seven Hills in Henderson are so desired. The open spaces really provide expansive view corridors from many of the different neighborhoods and allow for lots of family fun.

Here is a map to help you understand the location of Sonata Park, it has a different name (one I've never heard of) on the Google map, so don't be confused. Sonata Park is tucked deep in the community and many people don't even know that it exists.

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This topic for discussion is provided by Spectrum Inspection Group. Spectrum seeks your advice and comments on this so they may decide how to act upon this issue. Here is the dilemma:

No Disclosure

We were recently involved in an inspection on an REO home where the Selling Agent and buyers were very worried about mold. They had somehow gained entry into the home before it was "officially" on the market and observed an extensive amount of water damage and mold. But the Listing Agent, through the Asset Manager, had the damage repaired and mold remediation performed before the home was placed on the market.

When the Selling Agent inquired about the damage the Listing Agent informed her that the home was being sold "AS-IS" and that there was no SRPD being provided. No disclosures about the property condition were going to be provided. They had an accepted offer to purchase contract in place.

The SRPD is the Seller's Real Property Disclosure Statement. True enough, especially with a fully signed NRS 113 waiver in place, the bank who owns the home is not required to make any disclosures about the material condition of the home.

But in this case it was the Listing Agent who arranged and coordinated the repairs that were accomplished. Forget about the SRPD, think about the "Duties Owed"

The DUTIES OWED BY A NEVADA REAL ESTATE LICENSEE specifically states:

Licensee's Duties Owed to All Parties:
A Nevada real estate licensee shall:
1. Not deal with any party to a real estate transaction in a manner which is deceitful, fraudulent or dishonest.
2. Exercise reasonable skill and care with respect to all parties to the real estate transaction.
3. Disclose to each party to the real estate transaction as soon as practicable:
a. Any material and relevant facts, data or information which licensee knows, or with reasonable care and diligence the licensee should know, about the property.
b. Each source from which licensee will receive compensation.
4. Abide by all other duties, responsibilities and obligations required of the licensee in law or regulations.

Our inspection revealed that the home was plumbed with Kitec® plumbing and that a plumbing system leak was the cause for all the previous water damage the home had sustained. The leak and the damage had been repaired but the issue that caused the damage (Kitec® plumbing) still existed in the home.

This particular home was a Woodside Home. Woodside is currently in bankruptcy and no Kitec® replacement actions are going to happen on any Woodside homes until the bankruptcy is completed. If or when the buyers move into this home and then happen to develop mold related health issues do you think that the Listing Agent is going to be immune from litigation?

I am not an attorney and as such I do not provide legal advice. But as is the case with most home inspectors I always am cognizant of the potential liability that may exist in any inspection situation. There is no doubt in my mind that unless the Kitec® in this home is replaced, and replaced soon, there will be other water intrusion issues occurring and further water damage is imminent. And when the homeowner is unable to obtain relief from the Kitec® class action lawsuit they will be looking for other ways to obtain remuneration for the repair and replacement expenses they will have incurred. The buyers are already questioning the responsibility of the Listing Agent to provide the disclosure they seek.

Once they lament to an attorney that the Listing Agent was aware that previous damage existed and failed to disclose any information about the issue it seems to me that it is very possible that the Listing Agent could be held liable and end up in court

What say you? This is a true scenario and the deal is still in escrow. Although our inspection firm represents the buyer the Listing Agent and the seller are not our enemies. Home inspectors are licensed by the Nevada Real Estate Division, just like real estate sales people and our guiding regulations NAC 645D.460, which outlines professional conduct, states:

A certified inspector shall:
1. Perform his duties with the highest standard of integrity, professionalism and fidelity to the public and the client, with fairness and impartiality to all.

In light of the information we possess and in consideration of our responsibility to the standards that we are required to observe should we advise the Listing Agent of the potential liability that exists?

Paul J. Donohue, RHI, RREI, CREI
President, Spectrum Inspection Group Inc.

8345 Coyado Street
Las Vegas, NV 89123

Phone: (702) 269-6716
Web: www.INSPECTLV.com
Email: spectrum@inspectlv.com

THAT'S RIGHT, IT'S APPROVED!

No need to wait months to get bank approval of this one, we can get you in for the Holidays.

This home in the Northwest area of the Las Vegas Valley, is just under 1700 square feet and it's approved at $112,000 with 1% back to the buyer. That works out to just over $65.00 per square foot. It has 4 bedrooms (all upstairs), 2 1/2 baths and a 2 car garage. All appliances are included. To top it off it's in a great cul-de-sac.

There is a Home Owners Association (HOA) managed by Desert HOA Management Inc. The Cimarron Gowan Community Association has quarterly fees of only $37.50. You can't beat that!

It does need some minor TLC, like most short sales, but it is a great value for the condition. I don't think you will need to change the carpet as it is fairly new. Take a look at the video below and you'll see all of the details.

Who do you know that would like to get into a new house in the next month? Act fast as I know this will not last long at the current price.

Here is a map to help you with understanding the location. Check it out, it's close to lots of terrific Las Vegas amenities.

View Larger Map

Have you ever previewed a home and noticed that there is no light fixture in the ceiling of the room but there is a wall switch on the wall?

Chances are pretty high that the wall switch controls a "Half-hot" electrical receptacle.

But how do you know which receptacle the switch controls?

Normally (well normally in Las Vegas) electrical receptacles are installed with the ground prong down. Refer to the photograph to the right for further clarification.

Half-hot electrical receptacles are generally inverted in orientation from the rest of the receptacles in the room. The half-hot receptacle has the ground oriented toward the top of the receptacle. See the photograph to the left. In electrical terminology when a component has live power present it is referred to as being "Hot." In a half-hot duplex receptacle one side of the plug receptacle always has power and the other plug receptacle is controlled by the wall switch; hence the term "Half-hot." In one room of the home the top portion of the receptacle may be controlled by the wall switch while in the adjoining room the lower portion of the receptacle is controlled by the wall switch. Rarely will an entire home be oriented the same way.

When a room has multiple wall switches installed, a properly wired home will have the first switch closest to the entry door serve the half-hot receptacle to provide illumination for the room. To ascertain whether it is the top or the lower portion of the receptacle that is controlled by the wall switch, all you need to do is ensure that your home inspection firm provides the level of detail necessary to appropriately mark both the receptacle and the switch.

SPECTRUM INSPECTION GROUP inspectors identify the half-hot outlets and the corresponding wall switches in the course of their inspections. We provide the prospective homeowner with an explanation of half-hot receptacles both verbally and in the report. In our orientation we explain not only the issues found but disclose to the prospective buyer information about the positive features found in the home. This would also include whether or not: A water softener is installed A reverse osmosis is installed Properly sized air conditioner breakers are installed The age of the water heater The main electrical panel is properly bonded and grounded. Air conditioner differential temperatures And more than two dozen other informative disclosures.

If you have any questions about anything structural or mechanical please feel free to give us a call. We're here to serve. Paul J. Donohue, RHI, RREI, CREI President, Spectrum Inspection Group Inc. 8345 Coyado Street Las Vegas NV, 89123 spectrum@inspectlv.com www.INSPECTLV.com