I hope they sue this realtor and make him pay not only for all the damages but for the emotional state they’re going through and the loss of the money from the time they would’ve sold to the time they actually sell

I’m a broker in NYC and I used to work for Compass here. No matter what company it is, these sellers have a right to sue. They have all the evidence and the E&O insurance would’ve covered this because the agent is liable. Even if it went to arbitration they still would’ve won with all this evidence.

This is your typical West Hollywood/Beverly Hills agent that got on TV because he is young and good looking. Good looks has nothing to do with how effective and trustworthy a realtor will be. I feel for this couple and I hope they win in court. However, choosing an agent because he/she was on a TV show is the worst qualification for hiring an agent I have ever heard of!

It's a classic, visitors are touching everything, switching everything on. Selling my house, I found 3 days later lights on in the attic, the barn backroom. This home build is wrong, if you can turn your fire place using a regular switch placed in a random place, it's a potential hazard. Of course, it's the realtor job to check everything before leaving the house.

They’ve got the evidence. The agent screwed up, either turned on the fireplace and failed to turn it off, or failed to notice that the potential buyer had.

I'm surprised the fireplace doesn't have an auto-shutoff feature if something like this is a possibility

With big companies like these you don't bother with trying to resolve things outside of court. They don't respect anything but actual legal action. You file your lawsuit and then they will come to the table.

My advice is to never leave the home unoccupied. While selling my parents Palos Verdes home a dozen years ago, the buyer's agent gave them the keys and they secretly started to remodel while the house was in escrow. I had to get the estate attorney involved. Since both realtors were high profile and well-established, I wasn't expecting anything so underhanded and illegal.

As an agent its your duty to turn everything off. What a nightmare situation.

Although whomever turned the light switch on may have accidentally forgot to turn it off, i believe this case falls into the Reator showing the listing Fault.. because he did not make sure everything was turned off before the leaving the property. Good thing the owner has security camera & bills to show the timeline, this should be valuable evidence to use against him in court.

Having a fireplace gas switch that looks like a light switch is not a good idea.

I had a realtor refuse to let me out of listing agreement even after he was found to be fraudulently purchasing the home for himself. It was a disaster, 4 years in court and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal fee’s. Crooked lawyers in every corner of the realestate industry & the CAL Dept. Of Realestate was useless. Even discovered I wasnt the only one in a lawsuit for similar fraud by this realtor! The whole real estate industry is crooked.

Usually those fireplaces have a Thermostat and automatic shutoff. Strange

I am a retired home inspector any time I did a Home Inspection I wore a Body Camera. It has saved me several times from false allegations' and it also saved me from potential problems, since I could go back through the footage to see if I turned off the Stove etc.

Any fireplace that will run forever with no auto shut off is very dangerous. Was there no thermostat to shut it off? Was there no security system? Was there no interior cameras? This property has levels of safety issues that if put in place would have prevented this problem. The owners could have had this issue at anytime with no precautions

Even if a party who was being shown the property turned that fireplace on, it was up to the agent showing the property to check everything when he left. Kuddos to this couple for having security cameras!

Wait. The gas fireplace doesn't have thermostatic control or an auto-off timer? That's just plain dangerous.

Realtor's honesty? LOL

Why bother wasting time through mediation? You don't do mediation on cases like this. A mediation in residential real estate contract usually occurs when there's a disagreement and discrepancies between buyer and seller during breach of contract pending escrow. This case is NOT about that. This is about "gross negligence between LISTING BROKER and the Seller. You go straight to court and file a lawsuit for the entire cost of rebuilding plus carrying costs, prorated property tax, prorated HOA dues, utilities, and other losses incurred from losing the Buyer if fell out of escrow and potential other buyers. But given the 7-8% interest rate, that chance is slim, nevertheless you should.

So they had a natural gas fireplace that doesn't have a thermostat but instead has a on/off switch. I don't think that's code.

Compass is not honest ever. They try to sell within there own circle.

Thank goodness for the neighbours to alert them.

RLA specifically states mediation first. It costs roughly $600 to file the paperwork in CA. Only after that can they go to court. The need to follow their contract otherwise Compass can sue THEM for breach of contract. People seem to forget that these contracts are legally binding and you can't just "go around" them. For those saying that is what E&O is for, you need to keep in mind that E&O insurance doesn't always cover agent neglect. Having said that, as a Broker, I would have reached out to them ASAP and resolved this issue. Hypothetically speaking, if I were those sellers, I would consult an attorney to see if there is a way to cancel the current escrow and then let the time run out on the 3 month listing contract. Then hire a better broker to represent them.

Honesty and Integrity are not the words I would use in describing a real estate agent. Cant wait until the Courts limit these realtors commission rates.

I've seen realtors get distracted by questions from clients when showing a home and they get pulled in multiple directions. This was an accident obviously, but a company as large as Compass should take care of these clients since I'm sure this issue does not happen very often.

As a real estate agent of nearly 7 years, HERE is what most people don't know about us, but should: All "successful agents" really only need to be good at 2 things; marketing & marketing!

There should always be a walk thru by the realtor after a showing to make sure everything is turned off , lesson learned !!

This is why when we put homes on the market we visit the home each day to make sure all doors and windows are locked lights and water is off and the stove is off sometimes things get hectic during showing when it’s more than one buyer during showing and realtors don’t catch everything, I do hope they sue and get every penny loss and then some for the negligence

With Big Money...comes Big problems.

The Realtor left the fireplace on. I had a realtor that left my gate open, allowing people to easily break in and destroy the new bathrooms, not to mention the window that they came through. The thieves even left the front door open. All the realtor had to do was lock the gate😢 I sold the property AS IS.

That’s a tough one. Where I live insurance companies require someone to check on the house every 48 hours, so this would not have been covered. Most fireplaces these days also have thermostats on them, and smart thermostats have apps that can alert you. I have seen similar damage to houses due to freezing and the insurance didn’t pay for anything, and if they did it was only to fix the leak and not the damages.

If you are not in the financial market space right now, you are making a huge mistake. I understand that it could be due to ignorance, but if you want to build generational wealth and cultivate financial knowledge, you must be in the market...

Compass needs to forgo the selling fee at minimum. They SHOULD reimburse the total cost of all repairs in addition to any other costs incurred.

We all make mistakes and sometimes they’re $200k mistakes…. Just fess up and take accountability and make t e situation right and work through the shame of your mistake… Now your reputation is destroyed. Great job, and typical. A man not wanting to take accountability for his actions.

It's better to keep going home to check on your property every day when you give the opportunity for strangers to walk in. Always check your home right after they leave.

I have to tell you I watch million Dollar listing all the time I never saw this guy before on TV

So, put that fireplace switch on an auto-shutoff after a few hours or some set temp is reached.

This is what home insurance is for. The insurance company will pay first and then try to subrogate whoever they think is liable.

If the gas fireplace could raise the temp that high, it might have been installed wrong but local code may not have a rule for a temp limiting switch or if it may have failed.

Omg. I hope they sue. The evidence is right there. That utility bill..Wow! What a nightmare and also so heartbreaking & sad. They would win in court. Cmon now. 💯

Compass is like Walmart when in comes to picking out realtors. So is EXP and The Agency. They're like the LA County Sheriff and Milwaukee Police. When you're 18, you're hired! Majority of realtors have zero clue what they're doing anyways when it comes to fully comprehending the ins and outs of purchase contracts and how homes are built and how things function. They're just focused on pocketing your money. It takes ten minutes to upload your listing on the MLS and the rest is just sitting down, waiting for selling agents to come along and take portion of your commission. NAR really does need complete overhaul and Dept of Real Estate really needs to flip on the switch and change things around. When you need to appear on TV and internet to get hired as a realtor, there's something wrong with you in what you do.

First, this was a mistake - that the E&O insurance will take care of. That's why it is required when you get licensed. Although no where near anything like this, when I recently listed my home, several realtors clearly were not thinking. One turned on all the exterior light switches in order to determine which was the light for the kitchen - but never shut them off (one would think if you turn a switch on and nothing happens, you turn it off). Several others left interior lights on (so clearly the agent in this video wanted to show the buyers the fireplace working, then forgot to shut it off). The best: one of the realtors walked out leaving the front door totally open! The key still in the door - the door wide open. I had security cameras on because this was my vacation house - so I saw what happened. This meant 3 hours of driving every time another realtor was off in la-la land while showing the house. Finally, I put child guards on the light switches - problem solved (at least the lights on part).

Fireplace switches should be outlawed without a safety. Anyone, could have accidentally bumped the switch while walking and talking, not noticed it. Its unfortunate, but i dont see this holding up in court, without witnesses saying he intentionally flipped it.

People feel like they “know” someone just cause they’ve seen them on social media or television. You don’t actually know them or their integrity. A lot of these public figures especially in real estate deal in shady business practices and now they’re trying to dodge responsibility.. smh. That being said, I’ll save my tears for those working overtime just to pay rent and put food on the table, not the couple moving from one luxury mansion to another lol.

He turned it on to show the clients, then forgot to turn it off.

There’s no chance in hell that fireplace in a house that looks like that doesn’t automatically shut itself down. My little two bedroom condo in Chicago doesn’t look anywhere near as modern as this home does and the fireplace switches off by itself if left on over 12 hours.

Sounds like the real estate agent was trying to make it look homey for the showing. The builder is at fault unless it was a DIY project the couple did. Those fireplaces should always be on a timer to prevent these accidents.

I’m a Realtor with Rodeo Beverly Hills and I hope you find a Realtor you feel safe with and is willing to help you without thinking of the monetary benefits! I’m so sorry!!! Yes speak to as many Realtors as possible until you find the perfect match for your needs!

Sue the agent and the compay for half a million dollars, that way that company will think twice about trying to get away with anything.

As a realtor after showing a home to a potential buyer you always do a walk through after to make sure everything is off before locking up and leaving the home. The couple should sue.

So the switch to turn on the fireplace looks exactly like a light switch. What could go wrong?

Never forget 2008 in the housing crisis that was caused by so many real estate agents and their lenders

Definitely somebody turned the fireplace on honest mistake not turning it off, but scumbag!!!!! move not to let this couple out of a contract😢

When you go by your feelings instead of numbers, reviews, and reputation. You're not required to "have a connection" with your realtor. That's what your partner is for. And just because he was on TV once doesn't make him a good realtor. It makes him good TV.

He shouldn’t even waste money fighting them. That realtor is so guilty it’s INSANE.

I’m so sorry to hear about this terrible situation. You guys seem like a beautiful couple and this could have been prevented. May God watch over you and get you through this bad thing. Blessings,Carlos ✝️🙏❤️😊🇺🇸

Proving who was at fault might be tough was it the realtor? Was it the couple that was there for the showing? Was it a complete accident? Looked like a normal light switch to me...

The agent and Compass should do the right thing! They are wrong in my opinion.

Blessings for them that they get their home repaired and sold and get financial compensation

As long as they had homeowners insurance, the insurer will be responsible to pay the claim, assuming this is not an excluded peril on their policy. Then the insurance company can go after Compass, subrogation, and that’s how Compass will end up being responsible. They can also sue Compass separately for their own damages and hardships beyond what the insurance company pays out. At least they have avenues to be made whole.

This is horrible. Isabel should be fired plus sued by the two guys. Have to. So incompetent they are. Compass and this woman, Isabel.

I’ve an agent do a tour while I’m not home sometime the light left on all the rooms, fans is on for 4-5 hours when I came home and I was mad as hell

They should sue, and try to get his license revoked!!

Comparative Negligence- Yes, the agent should have checked that everything was turned off but the way the fireplace was installed without safety measures contributed substantially as well. The fact that the switch looked like an ordinary light switch (Buyers click every switch they can get their hands on) and the fact that the fireplace had no overheat protection that any $20 space heater has was an accident waiting to happen.

Sue those compass people

Let this be a lesson... Each floor/room should have drains and the sprinkler system instantly notifies the fire dept.

My realtor sold me a house with Kitec plumbing. He paid for the inspector so he could manipulate the results. I had to pay 50k to repipe the entire house. I’m still waiting to get reimbursed 4 years later from the Kitec lawsuit. Some realtors will do anything for a sale.

Years ago I put my house up for sale in Pinellas county, Fl with Luigi who worked with Coldwell Banker. I had a second home too, that we had moved in to. One day I went in to the empty property and there was beer cans all over the place and the back window was left open! I then called Luigi and he tells me, “Well what do you want me to do, babysit your house?” He was fired immediately and I went with Remax who sold the home right away. I will never ever do business with Coldwell Banker.

The person who showed this house should have made sure everything was off before leaving….he is responsible.

And then...who is responsible for the damage done to the other apartments?...

I never understood the trend of leaving the agent and strangers in your house alone. The owner should always be in the home.

I hope they sue, this is outrageous. That particular broker should be fired and lose his license.

Hope the couple get this sorted out in their favor. It highlights to me that it's important to check up on things after an open house. I wouldn't feel safe that people didn't mess up my stuff if I had an open house even if I had a realtor. For example, the house next door to mine was for sale,and the sellers were remote. There were a series of open houses. And every time nobody turned off the a/c, and left it for days.

Compass is the worst… very crooked

The only way to fix this is a lawsuit. The real estate agency will quickly settle this to prevent their insurance rates from increasing due to claims.

Sue em… you have proof.. they are avoiding u for a reason

odd. my mom has a built in gas fireplace that shuts on and off with thermostat. can't imagine there are not safety features built in for this. if not, houses would be burning every hour in our country

Oh my goodness! I’m so sorry!

Very well done news segment. Nowadays so many are choppy & almost incomprehensible. Hope these owners get justice from Compass & its agent.

Come on now… you have a switch on the wall that looks like a light switch…. Was the realtor informed that this switch was to the fireplace? And how do we know that the buyers didn’t touch the switch?

I really feel for this couple. There are so many eye-opening news stories about the dark side of these reality home flipping and renovation shows. People need to stay away from them.

comprable negligience. Tbh the homeowner is possibly more at fault for not warning them about the light switch fireplace. I mean seriously i couldve so easily flipped that on, not noticed what it did, assumed it was a dead switch, and never thought twice about it.

Obviously the realtor is at fault. Also, the feature to allow a fireplace to stay on indefinitely is bad design. Someone can easily mistake that switch as a light switch, turn it on, think it's faulty, and then walk away unaware they had just turned on the fireplace.

Why the gas wasn't turned off at the source is beyond me. It had not been used for months prior. Any responsible homeowner knows that when leaving the house unoccupied for even a couple of weeks, turning off the gas is prudent. Also, why was the fireplace switch not clearly labeled or made distinct by use of a different color switchplate/design? Codes in many municipalities require a red switch for gas appliances in addition to Ansul-style fire suppression systems above any gas appliance. That said, I cant understand why the agent and broker are not being held responsible.

I don’t feel like that’s not an appropriate switch for the fireplace. It looks like a regular light switch, there was no label on the switch it wasn’t an automatic power off switch either, I feel like it would be a waste to pay lawyers to sue for a mistake like this. Nothing caught fire.

What kind of job do these two possibly have where they would own a million dollar home? These two don’t look like company executives. What probably happened was the client was playing around when the realtor wasn’t looking, flipped the switch, and the realtor didn’t notice before he closed the place up that the fireplace was on. Probably no one was aware of the function of the switch, thought it was a light, and then thought it was a dead switch when no light came on.

It could have been someone looking at the place that bumped against it. Also, who has a fireplace that is off a thermostat? Mine is not fancy but will shut off automatically if the room gets too hot.

I had a similar issue where I was the seller had a realtor agent who unbeknownst to me represented my renters and they wanted to get out early. I lived in NY and my house was in Texas. They were locked in a 2 year lease they wanted prior to finding this other home which I allowed without penalties of loss of deposit. My attorney had put in a final inspection will be completed prior to the end of month they vacated. They left on the first week of the month and they day they left the put all my ac units on high voiding their deposit. Long story short get an attorney who has experience with these type of dealings they have a line item for everything to cover the home owner. I could have gone after the Realtors license once I found out he also was selling them his own home.

There is literally more than enough evidence to cancel this listing and its foolish for Compass to keep this in contract

Can't fault the broker on this one. The switch appears to be a light switch with no markings nor warnings saying it's for a fireplace. Also, fireplace should have a limit switch to detect an overheat condition and shutdown automatically. The sprinklers worked though as designed. The owners should take the L on this one and get whatever they can out of it. Making it personal against the realtor is a waste of time and money. Again, the switch looks benign, and the fireplace didn't have an overheat sensor or it wasn't working.

It's obvious the fireplace was turned on during the showing, most likely the buyers checking it out. The realtor showing the unit and the company they represent are liable. The realtor should've taken prudent steps to walk through the unit and make sure the fireplace was turned off. The realtor failed in their duty of care, damage resulted.

Confused how a SWITCH can turn on the gas?? There be some kind of interlock for it to never happen again..

I make a point after a realtor showing, to go and check the house at the end of the day or after the showing.

This is messed up. I really hope the best for them.

Wow that's why you shouldn't invite people in, lock everything up.

Maybe someone could invent a system to monitor homes using cameras and sensors and microphone. Especially monitor fire and break-ins. They might call it Ring , Alexa, etc.

My realtor was a drunk jerk who ultimately sold our house but never had our backs.

Insurance company should sue the realtor.

Inexperienced and ambitious realtor. I will never hire a realtor with less than 10 years experience.

Poor guys. Don't ever use brokers unless you absolutely have to. As professional keyholders, they're absolutely useless and there's no value-add to the process. All you really need is a good real estate attorney and/or title company who have their own coordinators and attorneys that can walk you through the closing. I have never used a broker and never will.