Response from Mark and Kristin Sturges on 2/19/2024

Kari, My Client/Son was also disappointed to have to terminate the contract to buy your home. However, the current condition of your sewer line and the Orangeburg sewer line that it contained would have required $8,000 to replace the line based upon an estimate from a licensed excavator. The evening after the sewer and home Inspection, your real estate agent called us and asked what issues were identified from the Inspections. We initially told her we would send all the issues in writing the next day, but your agent needed to know immediately, because you had your own home inspection on a house you were under contract to buy in two days. So we told your agent that the major concern was the Orangeburg sewer line (last 15 feet) needed to be replaced. Your real estate agent stated (on your behalf) that you would not and could not pay for the sewer line repairs and that we should "Terminate Now". According to YOUR real estate agent you had your inspections of your new home you were buying in a few days. She wanted us to "Terminate Now" so that you didn't waste money on inspections if we were going to terminate due to the sewer line replacement. We felt that we were doing you a favor by acting quickly since negotiations were at a DEAD END! Also, we did not receive your 2022 sewer line inspection until AFTER we had paid for our inspections and received the reports. Had we known the issues with your sewer line we would not have proceeded with our own inspections. Therefore, we felt your lack of disclosure about the condition of your home (Sellers Property Disclosure provided to us was Blank - you wrote nothing) was a justifiable reason to ask for reimbursement of our inspection costs. Regarding the permit for your furnace. We requested that you have the furnace inspected and permitted. Your real estate agent on your behalf stated you refused to have it inspected and permitted or to pay for any repairs. Your realtor also represented that the furnace was "relatively new". Later we discovered that it was not close to being new but installed in 2002. That would make it very close to its life expectancy. (Not disclosed by you in the Sellers Property Disclosure)! We also discovered that there was a fire in the home. When we asked your real estate agent about the fire and its possible cause. We were told that you had no knowledge. When we pointed out that the Regional Building Department showed permits for Repairs Due To Fire, only then was it disclosed by your agent that a neighbor did tell you about it after you bought it. (Not disclosed by you in the Sellers Property Disclosure) If you were not aware of any of these facts, then your issue is with Your real estate agent and not us! Your real estate agent certainly knows the reason for our termination and should have shared this information with you.