Every perspective buyer should see this episode. Rebekka got bad advise from her real estate agent and paid the price.
That aside...
Tomi, Ben, . There is no way they were unaware of their pest infestation. Disgusting! They should have disclosed this to Rebekka (or any buyer). If this isn't it should be means for a lawsuit.
I've never been moved to post anything about a TV show before, but I felt the need to vent . I wonder how the "Moving On" producers, directors, and staff responded as the horror unfolded.
Good luck, Rebekka!
Stuart
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-11-05 at 12:04 PM.]
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-11-05 at 12:44 PM.]
I agree with the previous post! I have never posted on a discussion board before, but cannot believe what happened on this episode of Moving Up.
I am not a realtor, but I am pretty sure Rebekka had some legal recourse. The disclosure statement each home seller signs is a legal document. If they knowingly provide false information they can be sued. When Tomi and Ben declared they had the rat problem solved when they moved in, they demonstrated their knowledge of a huge pest infestation. That should have been on the sellers disclosure.
All of the drama could and should have been prevented if Rebekka's realtor had done their job and advised her to get a home inspection. Bad Realtor, Bad!!!
that house had to be the most distgusting place! I bought our home also with out an inspection 15 years ago, but we knew we were going to rip it to the studs, Rebekka was planning to move in with her fiance and make a nice home for them. I felt so bad for her, breaking up with her fiance and having the mess to fix up. Buying a home is stressful enough. Kudos to you Rebekka your home is a showplace. Your Grandmother is a sweetheart. You know how lucky you are!
How could Tomi and Ben not hear squirrels running around in the rafters?? I also couldn't believe that they put alot of work into the kitchen, where It's really sad for the children - unsafe house and they don't get to pick out how they want to decorate their rooms I guess what surprised me the most, was the fact they didn't even seem to be upset by all of the work that Rebekka had to do. Rebekka now has a beautiful house for her and grandma to live in. Rebekka, I hope that you and grandma have many wonderful years in your house
Tomi and Ben . I think someone from Social Services, Building Codes or The Child Protection Agency should check on these people to make sure the work they did on their new house is up to code and the place remains clean. I can't believe the dirt they left behind. . Those children shouldn't have to live in such conditions. As for the fantasyland, . Talk about a dysfunctional family. Yuck!!!!!
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-10-05 at 08:01 AM.]
I was disgusted on how messy they left the house in the first place. I am in the process of moving this week also, as a empty the room it is being cleaned. And that kitchen if that was redone I would love to see the before picture of it. It looked liked it was redecorated 20 years ago. Kudos to Rebekka you did a great job and your Grandma is great for helping with the money situation. Find a really good lawyer, hope you sue.
I too felt so sorry for Rebekka. Every home buyer needs to know that unless YOU hire a buyer's agent, the real estate agent is working for the seller. The sellers knew about the squirrels; she mentioned them. And they had traps set, but perhaps they were to catch hobbits. I hope she at least looks into the possibility of legal recourse.
I'm watching this right now. Never ceases to amaze me how people can live...
Tomi sums it up as she just stated "it's all about me" - the kids look less than thrilled with mom's obsession. Grow up for crying out loud. Hey, I love Shrek, but I'm not about to decorate my new house like a swamp.
I too have never had a tv show move me to post, but this is ridiculous.
Poor Rebekkah. I am disgusted, just as all of you are. I used to underwrite professional liability for an insurance company and we insured realtors. Unfortunately for Rebekkah (sp?), if you waive a home inspection, you generally waive a lot of your rights. If they disclosed they had a pest problem that may be enough to protect them, but I don't profess to know the laws. I typically am not for lawsuits, but this would probably push even me over the edge.
I'm watching the end now - Great job Rebekah!!!!! She seems to be a good person with a big heart. I wish her and her grandmother the best of everything.
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-10-05 at 08:04 AM.]
I have never posted to a discussion board, but the episode of "Moving Up" made me sick to my stomach! I couldn't watch when it showed maggots in the light fixture! How gross! I can only say I would like to hope that Rebecca would have some legal recourse. I would have wanted to burn the place to the ground, so good luck Rebecca, you made [it] look like a palace.
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-11-05 at 12:21 PM.]
OMG! I also agree w/ the writer who suggested that the local building legal-eagles should inspect what Tomi & Ben did to their new home, sure looked like alot of electrical's they cut out of the walls around the kids' closets. If they had no conscious about burning a hazardous woodburning stove or the faulty wiring in their own home ..... well, 'nuff said!!!!!
The child protection services HAD BETTER get involved! If they could afford to buy a $400,000 home, they could have at least afforded a maid to clean ! I would be mortified if I lived in those conditions, let alone KNOW that the TV viewing world would SEE it ! Pity the poor parents of Tomi & Ben... and Ben's dad showing up to help rebuild !
It WAS all about TOMI!.....Ben just agreed with her. You could tell when he spoke of it and her childish ideas of decorating that he was "whipped".
It's NOT about not growing up, Tomi...hee, hee look where Neverland got Michael Jackson!! It's about being the GROWNUP when you're raising children!... ?? You are raising those kids believing in fantasy, , how to get what you want by not disclosing the truth, and how to laugh in the face of honest hard working people when you deceive & lie!
I hope Rebekka get's her day in court YOU SHOULD BE ASHAMED!.. !..
You damned yourself thinking you were being cute-sie with your comments about what Rebekka did. With what she was dealt with and you admitted infront of the WORLD your deception, SHE is to be commended !
You want a Hobbit hole????...if there were Hobbits, they would be mortified !
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-10-05 at 08:08 AM.]
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-11-05 at 12:26 PM.]
Tomi & Ben should be ashamed of themselves. I feel sorry for their children. Tomi looks & acts ridiculous throughout the entire show. . She needs to come out of fantasy land and focus on housekeeping. How could anyone have the nerve to sell a home knowing their was something stinking so bad they had to sleep with the windows open! Hopefully other people will learn from this show. There are unscrupulous people out there who don't care who they hurt. Rebekka is so lucky she had a grandmother able to help her out. She could have ended up in bankruptcy over the whole deal while Tomi would have been wickedly laughing her way to the bank.
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-11-05 at 12:29 PM.]
I know in KS if you don't fully disclose the condition of your house you have grounds for a lawsuit, but you have to initial individual categories that you looked over everything.
I think Rebekkah got her revenge in the end by having a much nicer home and knowing she's going to live real well.
Her Gramma rocks!
As for Tomi and PWHubby - to make your children live in it is beyond appalling.
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-10-05 at 07:58 AM.]
At the end of the show, I was hoping Tomi and Ben would have to turn around and sell their new house quickly. I figure, no one in their right mind would drop a dime on a house with stupid-looking circles cut into the walls. .
After seeing that, I found it easier to believe they didn't know that their house was a pit. , they could be that clueless.
[This message was edited by mod_ivy on 04-11-05 at 12:31 PM.]
after a few minutes of watching what poor Rebekka went through I felt she should have been on In a Fix instead of Moving Up. I looked at my husband and said I hope they took up a collection for her and her grandma. How could Tomi and Ben go on national TV knowing that all will see that mess. I would be embarrassed!
If one thing good comes out of this it will be that first time buyers will learn that an inspection form a licensed inspector is ALWAYS worth the extra money.
quote:Originally posted by queenlillian1962: after a few minutes of watching what poor Rebekka went through I felt she should have been on In a Fix instead of Moving Up. I looked at my husband and said I hope they took up a collection for her and her grandma. How could Tomi and Ben go on national TV knowing that all will see that mess. I would be embarrassed!
If one thing good comes out of this it will be that first time buyers will learn that an inspection form a licensed inspector is ALWAYS worth the extra money.
Tomi and Ben obviously didnt care how they left it because they did the samething with the new house, only with out the dead squirrels and rats. Im sure the wiring is not done right, the new door ways are not done right and that wood burning stove is also not done right. As a matter of fact I bet the carbon monoxide leaking into the attic is what killed the squirrels in their old house.
Tomi & Ben definately knew about all the problems in the house...how could you not know about the animals or the major termite damage. Plus when Ben mentioned the higher ceiling he studder with something about Did they have and structural problems? Yeah, he knew. You could also tell by their reactions to the news that she had to gut the place. Tomi definately needs to grow up and understand that she is living in the real world and not some fantasy land.
From the looks of what they were doing to their new house, it looked like Ben didn't really know what he was doing. Looked like he didn't know anything about electrical wiring and this pesky little thing called CODES..
Well, looks like they're going to muck up and even more expensive house...they're well on their way to it...
I too have been moved to say some thing by what I saw. The realtor gave bad advice, but then again he/she was representing the seller, not the buyer. An experienced realtor would easily recognize the deficiencies of this property and the difficulties in selling (and getting top dollar and their commission). The advice to make an offer, foregoing the contingency of a home inspection, in my opinion was a deliberate and deceptive act. Although I’m sure the cost, physically, mentally and emotionally far exceeded any dollar amount Rebekka expected to spend on a home. I certainly hope she can find peace and happiness in her new home (a gorgeous one at that!), look to the future and not dwell on this tragic incident. And if you can sue their pants off… GO FOR IT!
It's really sad for the children - unsafe house and they don't get to pick out how they want to decorate their rooms 
I guess what surprised me the most, was the fact they didn't even seem to be upset by all of the work that Rebekka had to do. Rebekka now has a beautiful house for her and grandma to live in.
I also agree w/ the writer who suggested that the local building legal-eagles should inspect what Tomi & Ben did to their new home, sure looked like alot of electrical's they cut out of the walls around the kids' closets. If they had no conscious about burning a hazardous woodburning stove or the faulty wiring in their own home ..... well, 'nuff said!!!!! 
You could tell when he spoke of it and her childish ideas of decorating that he was "whipped".
It's about being the GROWNUP when you're raising children!... ??
