LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / July 24, 2000

RESERVE – For Raymond King Jr., an elderly man moving into his newly-boughthouse with his wife, Shirley, this was a dream come true.

But the dream became a nightmare as the heat index rose and his central air conditioning system, supposedly fixed by the previous owner, couldn’t keep up with the heat.

The previous owner said he’s done all he plans to do.

Now, one can feel the water-soaked carpet and see the house’s roof from inside the air conditioner hall closet and the sheetrock crumbling from the moisture.

Other water line leaks mean the hot water cannot be used to wash clothes and the air conditioner can now only be used for brief spells to break up the heat without further ruining the carpet.

The 15-year-old house, located at 178 Homewood Place, is one story, with three bedrooms and two baths. The 1,178-square-foot house rests on a 50-by-100 foot lot.

After various owners, it was bought on Dec. 9, 1999, by James “Skip”Brayshaw of Ponchatoula for $22,000.

Following what was estimated at $5,000 of repairs, the house was sold to King on May 15 for $52,500.

Listing agent Chad Edler of Latter & Blum said he’s been in touch with Brayshaw, who feels he’s done all he is obligated to do. Told of the airconditioning problem he replaced the A/C compressor in the back yard. Theinterior A/C system was apparently untouched.

Selling agent Ann Harvey was more forthcoming.

“They have been dealt a terrible injustice,” she said.

Air Kare inspected the air conditioning system and said the compressor and the A/C inside are mismatched and recommended $1,400 in repairs.

However, acting for the home warranty company, Air Kare added the state of the air conditioning was a “pre-existing condition” prior to sale and therefore would not fall under the house’s warranty.

Brayshaw said he “bought the house, fixed it up and sold it in an as-is condition.”Harvey said that wasn’t true, however, and pointed out deficiencies listed on the sales contract, including a missing kitchen cabinet door and closet rod, and the requirement that Brayshaw replace the stove, air conditioning and dishwasher.

“That wouldn’t be there if he sold it as-is,” Harvey said.

Brayshaw added that just to head off any potential problems he paid Latter & Blum for a home warranty. Harvey confirmed this but pointed out that ahome warranty doesn’t cover pre-existing conditions. The air conditioningproblem, as indicted by Air Kare, was a pre-existing condition.

Brayshaw said he returned to the house at their request and repaired a plumbing problem under the sink. Harvey said that is true, but it causedanother problem under the washing machine, forcing the couple to only have to use cold water to wash clothes.

Brayshaw also claimed he paid Kajun Komfort to replace the new air conditioner compressor with a larger-tonnage unit to match the inside unit.

Shirley said she never left the house and never turned off the A/C, and if someone came and replaced the compressor they would have been electrocuted without shutting off the power. That didn’t happen.”They have been royally messed over,” Harvey continued. “It’s just a shoddyjob and people don’t deserve that.”Shirley, she added, has diabetes, and Raymond has high blood pressure, and their health problems are being aggravated by their living conditions in this 100-degree heat of late.

“Everybody’s talking, but nobody’s taking any action,” King commented.

“I feel so bad about it,” said Harvey. “It’s a sin and a shame.”

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