By: Randy Travis
Aired: Nov 09 2018
AUSTELL, Ga. - A house-flipping company called Jar House sells homes "as is," much like you might buy a used car.
Potential buyers are encouraged to get a home inspector to look over the property. But is that really enough to protect you?
The company CEO is Zareh Najarian, a 35-year-old Henry County native who began buying cheap foreclosures at the start of the Great Recession. By his estimate the company has now bought and sold thousands of properties.
"Buying a home is supposed to be the happiest time, one of the happiest times in your life," Kayla Bhatt said fighting back tears. "And unfortunately, this has been the worst time of our life."
She and her husband Jimmy would love to give you a tour of their new Austell home. They suggest you bring your own mask, though. We had to borrow ours.
"We have mold everywhere," Kayla pointed out as we walked through their unfinished basement. "We have mold in the walls. On the ceilings."
They're the latest unhappy customers who bought a home from Jar House. The Sandy Springs real estate company says it buys an average of 75 properties every month, sometimes fixes them and then flips them to a new homeowner. All houses sold "as is."
"Basically, assume the worst," Jar House CEO Zareh Najarian explained. "We don't want to mislead you. Hire an inspector."
But a Newnan homebuyer says Jar House never warned him the septic tank system was not functioning properly, even though his lawsuit says Jar House was given just that warning from the previous owner.
"They knew it," complained Matt Thompson.
Meanwhile, a Senoia family has to live in the driveway of their new house, squeezed into an RV, because they discovered mold and termite damage hidden in the "just been renovated home."
They're also suing Jar House, accusing the company of "chosing to conceal" the damage.
"They put brand new sheetrock over mold that could not have grown that fast," protested Shelley Hoppaugh.
But Najarian denies it all.
FULL STORY: www.fox5atlanta...
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