Omaha Real Estate Horror Story: The Scheming Renovator
I recently had a client who did a nice job renovating an older house or at least did a nice job on the surface. An offer was accepted and a home inspection was done which turned up a number of issues that needed repairs. This is when things took a turn for the unusual.
The seller made the repairs ... or at least claimed to. I asked him to send me a copy of the repair receipts and he got defensive. He said that the contract doesn't say that he has to provide receipts. I responded with, "That's true but it's the only way we can prove that many of these items were done." He still did not want to provide any receipts.
About two weeks prior to closing the buyer's agent walked through the house just to see if the repairs were done; the house was vacant so this wasn't any inconvenience to the seller. What she found was that the plumbing pipe in the basement rafters that was leaking had not been fixed. Instead there was now insulation tucked around the pipe and the insulation was damp. Also the furnace that needed to be cleaned and serviced was still filthy.
When I informed my client of these issues, I was expecting him to say that these items were overlooked. Instead he got upset and told me that this agent had no right entering the house, that they were allowed only one final walk-through prior to closing to check the repairs, and that he wanted me to tell her to stay out of the house until that walk-through. I let him know that I could do so but that it would make her and the buyers suspicious.
Upon doing their final walk-through of the house, the buyers found that the plumbing leak and a few other items still were not corrected. I called the seller to let him know and he told me that the buyers could take it or leave it. I reluctantly delivered the message to their agent and they decided to walk away from the purchase. The next day the seller said that he would make the repairs, which he had already agreed to, if I would reduce my commission to pay for them. My response, "That's not going to happen." If anything I should have told him that I should raise my commission for having to deal with him. So the deal was off.
Two days later my seller let me know that he would make the repairs, again the repairs that he had already agreed to, if the buyers still wanted the house. By now the buyers had no confidence that the seller would actually make these repairs rather than just cover them up again so they bought another house.
Other frightening tales from the dark side of Omaha real estate:
Omaha Real Estate Horror Story: The Vanishing Listing Agent
Omaha Real Estate Horror Story: The Backstabbing Buyer's Agent
Real Estate Horror Story: Dead Silence
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| Troy Trumm, Trumm Team - 402-943-9494, Omaha NE |
| Omaha Homes For Sale |
| Omaha Real Estate |
Its amazing there are people who just dont understand logic or even common sense. Probably all over a couple hundred dollars too!
THe buyer's agent should have negotiated on behalf of the buyer that the repairs be made by a licensed plumber and a licensed HVAC company and receipts be provided X days prior to closing. You might have actually gotten to the closing table if your seller had agreed to that.
I agree with Lorrie. At the same time I would dump that seller. There are good people out there to work with.
True the buyer's agent should have included in the contract that receipts for the repairs would need to be provided in order to protect the buyer from exactly this kind of seller.
That is the worse kind of seller! You would have thought he would have happily done the repairs as more than likely they will keep popping up if he finds another buyer.