The Joy of Homeownership?????

[Nismo#12]

Here's the quick and dirty. Finance and i settled on our first house on Tuesday. We move in tomorrow (Friday). Well that's all well and good...until....

We stop by on Wednesday to pick up the keys from under the mat there is the fridge in the front parking spot (it's a townhouse) and it's all dismantled. Thanks for telling us...THEN we go inside and they left a bunch of crap in the house shelves, cheap rubbermaid storage drawers even a few pair of SHOES!!! So we're thinking ok Gotta get a new fridge and clean up a bit. FYI: Pennsylvania has a broom clean rule and that's it. Still have nails and holes in the walls and there were colonys of dust bunnies.

The cherry on the sundae hit us today. Carpet cleaners come and tell us it would be worth our while to replace the carpet. the dog stains, which became more apparent since the place was empty. They qouted us at over $1,000 and the guy said it probably do a minimal job.

Going to check the contract about the fridge, But with our wedding at the end of september I feel we'll be knitting sweater for x-mas gifts...

[dj1340]

That sucks, what should have been an exciting day turned into a disaster. Sorry to hear that. Hopefully your contract is of some help.

[Volker]

Now is the time to switch the gift registry to Lowes and HomeDepot and make that wedding party a biga$$ BBQ

Congrats on the home ! I'm sure you will get that last piece solved as well.
Part of our deal back then was an updated dishwasher / range as well.
Not new, but newer, courtesy of the owner.

We never put it in and went with new stuff instead.

[sboyajian]

Did you talk to your realtor?

There are laws about ownership at time of close, things like that. More than likely the seller is on the hook for the fridge.

[Nismo#12]

Originally Posted by sboyajian

Did you talk to your realtor?

There are laws about ownership at time of close, things like that. More than likely the seller is on the hook for the fridge.

I'mw aiting to hear back from our realtor, but that's what I'm hoping

[Rodeo]

Anyone that purchases real estate should do a "final walk through" before forking over any cash. For a 10 am closing, I go to the property at 9 am, inspect it throughly, and then proceed directly to the closing, usually with the sellers, where the keys are turned over. If the property is not in substantially the same condition as when I last saw it, or if the sellers leave a big mess, the price gets adjusted or the closing gets put off until the situation is resolved.

I always go back and change the locks after closing. Its cheap insurance.

Sorry about your situation, I hope you obtain some relief.

Steve

[Nismo#12]

Originally Posted by Rodeo

Anyone that purchases real estate should do a "final walk through" before forking over any cash. For a 10 am closing, I go to the property at 9 am, inspect it throughly, and then proceed directly to the closing, usually with the sellers, where the keys are turned over. If the property is not in substantially the same condition as when I last saw it, or if the sellers leave a big mess, the price gets adjusted or the closing gets put off until the situation is resolved.

I always go back and change the locks after closing. Its cheap insurance.

Sorry about your situation, I hope you obtain some relief.

Steve

We did a final walk through and everything seem good to go. We knew the carpets were needing a cleaning, but never as bad as what they turned out to be. As for the fridge that was a total surprise. They moved out the day after settlement, we were reimbursed for those days, so needless to say that during the final walk through the place was all boxes. Everything came as a huge surprise.

[Rodeo]

Ah! This is the key:

"They moved out the day after settlement"

This is dangerous, as you found out. The sellers became your tenants for a day. Not that unusual, but if you do that, it is impreative to take precautions. I usually get a significant hold back (like $10k, even if its for a day) that my attorney keeps pending their moving out and the place inspecting.

Imagine the nightmare if they decided not to move -- their house fell through or whatever. The only way to get them out would have been an eviction action. I don't know about PA, but around here, that could take 2 months and cost many thousands.

Anyway, look at the purchase and sale agreement and see if the refrig was included. If so you have a legal claim against them. The rug I think you're stuck with.

Good luck!

[Nismo#12]

Update Fridge wasn't included, but doesn't matter cause it was sh** anyways... got a nice LG with the freezer drawer and french doors (energy efficient too). Plus we were going to replace the carpet eventually anyways..JUST SOONER THAN EXPECTED....LOL

Stephen Thanks for the intel I will keep that in mind next time around.....

[holmes711]

Hang in there Wes, it'll get better. Good luck!

[JKVR6M69]

Having your own house is GREAT but at the same time there is always something that requires attention

[Memitim]

Yeah, that initial setup can be a bear. We picked up this place last year (steal of the century ) and immediately dumped a few grand in cash and days of labor into it replacing all of the carpet with laminate flooring and repainting every room. We hate carpet and it was impregnated with that godawful dog stench that it sounds like you had to contend with. I hear what you're saying about nails and holes as well; I think the previous owners had a fetish for those plastic drywall anchors as it took me almost two hours just to rip them all out.

Unfortunately, that sort of thing is the price of admission for owning a home if you don't have the cash to hire other people to do everything for you, but I wouldn't give it up to back to apartment living for ANYTHING. Despite the pains in the ass, it is still a great experience, so congratulations.

[bigtattoo79]

Originally Posted by Volker

Now is the time to switch the gift registry to Lowes and HomeDepot and make that wedding party a biga$$ BBQ

Congrats on the home ! I'm sure you will get that last piece solved as well.
Part of our deal back then was an updated dishwasher / range as well.
Not new, but newer, courtesy of the owner.

We never put it in and went with new stuff instead.

LOL Brother how true. I do not B.S. Anyone. Our wedding registry was gift cards to Lowes and Home Depot. Did still end up with one toster LOL.

To the OP it gets better just hang in there.

Thanks Lance

[Yellowfever]

After owning two prior to my divorce I found NO joy in it. I now find joy living in a little Condo on the Bay in So. Cal with nothing to worry about.