All Forum Posts by: Pamela Gondeck

@Chad Carrodus

They lied on the disclosure and said there was no unpermitted work done.

That’s where I’ll be going back to in order to cancel the contract if they don’t rectify it. I got the broker involved and she’s on it. She agreed her realtor was out of line.

For those asking if this matters - in this area, yes. If I want my insurance claim paid out later for hurricane damage, it sure as hell better be a legal bathroom. Some states may allow homeowners to do that work unpermitted, but this was not done by the homeowner, it was contracted out. And FL/Bay County doesn’t allow that.

If this is found later, I would be liable for fixing it and potential back taxes.

@Nicky Reader

But can I get different agent I this point in the deal? World going to her broker help with that?

@Jay Hinrichs

The sellers were required to disclose unpermitted work. Which they signed the line saying there was none. That my out of the contract at this point.

I’m taking on all the due diligence, but I need the realtor to do her part in advocating for me.

This is a potential deal breaker because it they never got hooked up to sewer and just been flowing under the house this whole time, what we thought was a simple refloor and joist repair is about to get foul.

@Bruce Lynn

It’s definitely from after the city started posting permits because the roof these owners put on has one as well as the “repair” the previous owner did in 2005.

I’ll call the city Monday. But if one was required, not pulled and my realtor is telling me it wasn’t required and treating this like no big deal, how should I proceed?

I’m preparing to walk away, but want to give the sellers a chance to make it right.

We’re buying a coastal property and made the mistake of not getting references for an agent in that area. The one we ended up with is incompetent.

Skipping past other issues to the about to be deal-breaker: We’re past the inspection, waiting on appraisal. I discovered last night that the bathroom the sellers added wasn’t permitted. We already knew from the inspection that there was some sort of defect in the sewer pipe that was pumping sewage from the lift pump under the deck/house. When the bathroom was added, supposedly it was also renovated from septic to city sewer. I’m now questioning how it was connected to city sewer without a permit.

When I asked for proof of permitted work and sewage connection, Realtor just responded back that “Not all permits are on line and buyers can put in themselves without permits FYI but will ask”. Nonsense. Owners can pull permits themselves, but legally they are required. Realtor should know that.

Can I go to her broker for help at this point? I don’t trust her to provide input or to advocate for us.

There is a vacation house that’s been sitting on the market for a year and we’d like to offer on it. However we won’t have cash saved for the down payment until March. We could pull from 401k loans, but don’t want to.

Is there a contingency we could get to put in to try to hold it until then? We’re not selling a house to get it.

@Travis Gregory

Ours has specifically told us due to her husband’s health, she’s no longer growing her investments so she’s not competing with her clients. In fact, many of her clients are now waiting on her to start downsizing to buy from her portfolio.

Does anyone have any ways of trying to make sure that tenants really read the lease that they are signing online?  I'm testing out one through Innago and I can see how a tenant could easily just scroll though and click...click...click without really reading.  While yes, they would be held to it, I'd rather they actually know what is expected of them so there is a better chance of them doing it.  

Do you do anything specific like go over it with them in person or over the phone? 

As long as the music has stopped, for now I would let it slide.  Maybe they were just drunk / high / whatever that once and it won't happen again and let it go.  If you have another negative interaction, I might consider non-renewal if you have good chances of filling the vacancy.