All Forum Posts by: Antwanika Saxon

Your agent should definitely deal with the issue with the seller's agent.  I would not want my buyer asking questions like that directly to the seller or their agent as it could lead to an unpleasant result if emotions get in the way and either side digs in during the moment.  If the agent finds out they are not included, she could work out a compromise, work up the addendum if necessary to clarify and take care of the issue all before you find out there was actually a problem.  

More importantly, if you were not presented with the seller disclosure before your offer was accepted by the seller, in many states where I've done business, you have x days after receiving the seller disclosure to cancel the contract, which also means you have the leverage to renegotiate to make sure what you wanted was covered.   Your agent should have advised you of this, so check your state's rules and, if this is true in your state, make sure your agent is keeping you informed of your rights or ask your agent why they didn't tell you of the time limit, especially if it has passed.    

Dealing with this during the inspection is certainly and option (like others have said), but it is also something that should be easy for your agent to clear up ahead of the inspection negotiations. Now it is entirely possible that you have a lazy agent, but it is also possible that you have been asking a lot of questions of the seller throughout the process (particularly as a first time home buyer) and the agent is "protecting you from yourself", if you will. I have had some clients that questioned so many parts of the process that the seller starts to question their motivation. If that isn't the case here (and I'm not saying it is), I would ask your agent again to just make a quick call and ask. It's probably better to address that beforehand rather than add it on to some other inspection items that may come up. You could still lump it in with the inspection response to get it "in writing", but at least it won't be a surprise.

During the negotiation phase, you can literally ask for anything you want, including the car in the garage and the coffee maker. (I had a guy who wanted my kitchen table, and it was a deal breaker if I said no.) Once both you and the seller have signed the offer, it becomes binding and negotiations are done, so if you wanted the blinds, and they were not included in the SPD, then your agent should have directed you to put them into the contract.

Honestly, I'm not all that excited about your agent. He/She seems to be giving you bad advice. I got this same advice from an agent, and ended up wasting $1200 on a new washer dryer because I followed the contract and left them at the buyer's request, only to discover they didn't want them. 

Your agent works for you, so direct him/her to contact the sellers agent and ask if the seller plans to leave the blinds. If the seller does, have your agent write up an addendum to the contract that states Buyer will leave all blinds in the home at closing." If your agent won't do this, contact their employing broker and complain. You could even go so far as to request a new agent from them if you continue to get hassle and pushback from this agent.

Also as a side note, everyone here is here to share their advice and knowledge. They are just trying to help you with your transaction and answer your question. (We all love to talk about real estate and pretty much nobody wants to listen in real life.) 

 Dannys advice is spot on, as is Chris's endorsement of that advice even if you fail to see that.  Put it in the contract that they stay. Anything can be negotiated in the contract. Ive seen it negotiated that a dog was included in the sale of a house.  

You are missing the point.  If you want something negotiate it and put it in writing

Solid advice IMO

You are missing the point.  If you want something negotiate it and put it in writing

Solid advice IMO

People get weirdly attached to all things housing. Maybe have a $ amount pre-decided and put it to the addendum ("seller to leave blinds, or add $2k in concessions to replace"). If seller just spent $2k to get blinds in to show the house, they may figure they can take them to their new house (and maybe they will fit) rather than "wasting" all that $.  There are many other buyers who would toss the blinds & replace to their own tastes, so not entirely whacko logic. 

People get weirdly attached to all things housing. Maybe have a $ amount pre-decided and put it to the addendum ("seller to leave blinds, or add $2k in concessions to replace"). If seller just spent $2k to get blinds in to show the house, they may figure they can take them to their new house (and maybe they will fit) rather than "wasting" all that $.  There are many other buyers who would toss the blinds & replace to their own tastes, so not entirely whacko logic. 

@Antwanika Saxon

I will default to trusting your agent for the knowledge of your area.

That being said, IMHO everything needs to be written down and specific. Otherwise people are sitting at the closing table asking for credits on Blinds and half open boxes of tile etc. So I believe settling it now on paper is a better option than "trust falling" into the closing.

Asking for an addendum that says "Blinds to remain with property" or "Blinds to not remain with property" does not seem like you are asking for much. With electronic signatures that should take no more than a few minutes. Having everyone on the same page is huge in my opinion.

Good luck in your transaction!

Almost as useless as this thread.   Except he actually gave you solid advice

Keep up the sarcastic replies, you should do well here