Am I Being Unreasonable...

[Deleted]

I knew selling my house was going to be a stressful pain in my butt. 

My house was not on the market yet, and when the offer was made I told my realtor I am going out of town next week on a trip I can not/will not reschedule, my house is being sold "As Is" so tell them to make their offer based on that fact, and that I am not screwing around with inspections and lowering their price later in the process. 

The buyers insisted on a 90-day escrow with 35 days to inspect. We argued this point, but it was the only thing they would agree to. We required a 10K deposit that is released to me as soon as they lift their contingencies and they had to prove they can fund the sale since it is all cash.

I was told they would only be inspecting the well, since they will strip the house and use it to grow in. We negotiated a price based on the fact that my house/shop/granny house are sold As Is and I made it clear to the realtor that I am not giving in on whatever laundry list of repairs they might come up with. They got 25K below ask, and that's all they are getting or I will walk. I was told it wasn't an issue because they would only do a well inspection but she won't tell them that I am not negotiating repair costs with them. And, that kinda has me pissed off.

Now they decided they are doing a ton of inspections on every aspect of my property and the realtor scheduled them for when I will be out of town. She insists I have to be here for this. I have said no. I told her I was going to be gone and it isn't my issue that she didn't tell the buyers that and they "bought plane tickets" here. They can wait, or they can do the inspections later in the day when my son is here. Otherwise, there are 3 dogs in my yard and they can't do them. 

Then she tells me they happen to be in town (they live down the street and all of this "flying in" is a bunch of crap. I know that and the reator knows it. They are one of the major buyers here... I know their name and where they live. Same name on my offer! They seem to use this "just in town for a day or two" to get whatever they want... and I find it really irritating.) So, anyway, since they are "just here for the day" they plan to come by today and spend the day inspecting the property for themselves. With like 10 hours notice, I told her to tell them no. I have plans today, mostly cleaning and selling stuff, but I am not giving into this last minute game they seem to want to play. They can give me 24-48 hour notice like anyone else would...

Am I being unreasonable? Should I really cancel my plans and offer them last minute access to my house whenever they desire it?

[zibazinski]

No.

[Tennesseer]

No.

[zibazinski]

But remember your realtor will pressure you to comply.

[Gardening Grandma]

If you are firm with your relator, she should realize that you are willing to walk and she will lose her commission.
She is working FOR you (or should be)

No, you arent being unreasonable

[zibazinski]

They've probably been all over your property already. 

[dee27]

I found that many realtors only care about the sale and commission but not the disruption to the current homeowner. When we sold our home, some of the demands from the buyer's realtor were awkward. When the contract to purchase is signed, the buyers do not get carte blanche to drop in any time they want. You as the owner have to abide by what is written in the contract within a reasonable amount of time. Tell your realtor that she represents you not the buyer.

[Deleted]

I don't think you're being unreasonable, but since (from my understanding) these are the only people you'll realistically be able to sell your house to, I think you might reconsider how much "playing nice" you're willing to do to just get it done.

I'm not saying to roll over and jump whenever they say jump, but it's one of those situations where you have to decide whether you want to be right or be happy. Selling the house for a reasonable price and moving away would make you happy, correct? If you walk away from the deal because they're getting on your nerves, what are your other options? Stay until they make another, less favorable offer? Or make you miserable to the point you're willing to leave with nothing? I don't get the impression that these are really nice folks. They'll probably just bide their time and wait until you're desperate, even if they have to help you get there. I would try to avoid all that since you want out anyway.

[Deleted]

There are a couple factions buying land here right now, not just the one. I have a second buyer coming later to view my property for a possible backup offer.

My experience in the past has proven that realtors can and do lie. They also are supposed to work for you, but once an offer arrives, then they tend to just want to close and if that involves you bending over for the other party that is what you do. I don't agree. In the past, I had DH who would bend over. I am not going to do that. I told her that when the offer came in and my house wasn't ready to be listed. Tell them offer me what they are willing to pay as is, tell them about the water and my roof/repairs needed, and tell them I will not then renegotiate after they inspect. Period. She refused to do so because we have to "tread lightly" or what if they walk away? 

I do want to sell. I do want to move. I don't particularly care if it is now or next year. The market for this area will grow. The price won't be lower next year. In fact, the prices keep going up because they are running out of people who will sell to them and their goal is to own and control as much of the county as possible. 

I told my realtor I am not open to them inspecting today with no notice. I am cleaning and having company, so just no. Tomorrow is fine, next week is fine when someone is home. I am going out of town so they can work around my son's schedule or they can inspect the following week. I was told they were only inspecting my well and that was the one contingency. Now I find out they are doing a bunch of other inspections, so they can work around our schedule...

The realtor insists she can't tell them I won't lower my price if there are things found on the inspection. Funny, every house I have talked about making an offer on I have been told that is the case because they are also listed "as is" on the MLS. So, I call BS on that. Argh.

[zibazinski]

Make sure your realtor doesn't have a key.

[Deleted]

I don't think you are wrong, but you are contradicting what you said on another thread when you announced you had sold your house:

So, I have wanted to move for a while but hadn't put my house on the market yet. I knew the cartel was buying more land now that they have harvested their weed and are rolling in the cash... I figured in Jan/Feb I would clean the place up and list...



Got a call out of the blue yesterday to see my house. Within an hour I had an amazing offer. So, it is going into escrow tomorrow! OMG.



Without the current cartel buying frenzy in my county, my house is worth about the 90K we paid for it and it would be hard to find a buyer due to my 800 foot well with crappy water...



They offered me $160 as their best and final. Um, OKAY! I would have taken 140-150 and was expecting an offer of about 130. SCORE!

How are they $25,000 under your asking?  Did you make up a number on the spot as in $185,000 for a house that you were expecting an offer of about $130K and is worth 90k?  I think they figured out that they overpaid.  

I'd tread carefully with these guys, Shasta.  Let them inspect.  Let them ask for a reduction.  You don't have to say yes because they ask.  But be careful about pitting one cartel against another.

Good luck!

[NoNamePerson]

Your realtor has selective hearing problems. Then maybe the drug lords are threatening her and her family.  

[Works4me]

Unfortunately, once a property is in escrow, all previous requests are off and it comes down to a matter of negotiation. Between the drug cartels and the bad memories associated with that place, I would like to see you get out of there ASAP and with as much money as possible.

I know that you resent being strong armed and really don't want to you reschedule your trip, but is it possible to do so?

IMHO, at times like this it comes down to your priorities and only you can decide what is most important to you. You have done a remarkable job of finding a way to get yourself healthier mentally and physically. You have also done a great job of figuring out ways to keep yourself solvent. You have even finished raising your boys to be self-sufficient adults. You have done all of this against overwhelming odds that would have killed most anyone else.

Personally, the most important thing to me would be seeing that the property sale goes through ASAP so I would reschedule the trip. I would not be comfortable with inspections going on without me present. I have always been present for inspections when both buying and selling because I want to know what's going on and also be able to clear up errors.


What I recommend is to look deep within yourself and determine what is the most important thing for you to do this next week - be present for the inspections or take your trip?

Whatever you decide to do, good luck and Godspeed.

[Deleted]

Selling a house is a major PITA, I'm going through it now. All of this work to lose 50k, I'm going to be renting the next couple of years.

[dee27]

Shasta,


What was written in the contract in terms of inspections? Was it just a well inspection?

[Shooby]

  It's your house.  You can do whatever you please.  Depends on how urgently you want to sell it.   The sellers want to do what they want to do.  Arguing about it or trying to understand the "Why" of why anyone does anything is a big waste of time.   If you are highly motivated to get the sale done, then let them do their thing.  However if you think they are being too pushy and don't care if they walk away, then don't.  It's entirely up to you.
  I have sold a couple of houses.  I really don't waste my time with the blah, blah , blah.  They either want to make an offer or they don't.  And, listening to what they don't like is a waste of my time unless it is something i can or want to change.  When selling my home, i specifically told my realtor not to bother me with that kind of nonsense.  However, most people are going to do an inspection.  If they are paying for it, then it shouldn't be too much of a problem.  Not sure why your realtor would even want you there for the inspections and so forth.  You shouldn't cancel your plans.  Let the realtor deal with it.  If she won't, then perhaps find another realtor.

[zibazinski]

No one wants people like that going through their home.

[TheOtherMe]

I was always told when selling to not be present for the inspection, that the realtor would be there.  I would be wary because of the cartel issues. 

[resolution]

I would change plans and do whatever was needed to accomplish a quick sale and get the heck out of Dodge.

[Deleted]

My son got his work schedule and is going to be here for their inspection. However, they are being asked to change it from morning to afternoon or pick another day. If they don't like that, tough shit.

I have special clearance to rock hound for my business on a military installation that is closed to the public. This is my single shot, it was planned and approved long ago, and I am going. I am also spending Thanskgiving with my mom who just lost her husband on my way home. I am not changing that either. 

I've said from the start that they needed to choose their price carefully due to my water/roof issues and that I won't dink around with inspection results. I consider those for their information. My house is being sold "as is" and that's what it will be - for the price we agreed upon. They want my house, then they can pay for it. If not, oh well, I will list when I am ready next spring with a different realtor. 

I do want out, but not at any cost and not by constantly being on the defense. I am going offense in this negotiation.  

Yes, in a sense we do pick a number out of the sky to sell here these days. They are offering 60-70K right now for bare land full of sage brush that is 2.4 acres. I have cleared 4.8, a well, house, shop and an extra house. My price is completely fair for what they are currently paying. In fact, it's a bit low now that people have found out they can grow here and no one does anything about it. That's actually in my favor. 

[emma1420]

Nov 13, 2016 20:14:18 GMT -5 @workingshasta said:

My son got his work schedule and is going to be here for their inspection. However, they are being asked to change it from morning to afternoon or pick another day. If they don't like that, tough shit.

I have special clearance to rock hound for my business on a military installation that is closed to the public. This is my single shot, it was planned and approved long ago, and I am going. I am also spending Thanskgiving with my mom who just lost her husband on my way home. I am not changing that either. 

I've said from the start that they needed to choose their price carefully due to my water/roof issues and that I won't dink around with inspection results. I consider those for their information. My house is being sold "as is" and that's what it will be - for the price we agreed upon. They want my house, then they can pay for it. If not, oh well, I will list when I am ready next spring with a different realtor. 

I do want out, but not at any cost and not by constantly being on the defense. I am going offense in this negotiation.  

Yes, in a sense we do pick a number out of the sky to sell here these days. They are offering 60-70K right now for bare land full of sage brush that is 2.4 acres. I have cleared 4.8, a well, house, shop and an extra house. My price is completely fair for what they are currently paying. In fact, it's a bit low now that people have found out they can grow here and no one does anything about it. That's actually in my favor. 

Did they sign paperwork indicating that they understand that the house is being sold "as-is" and inspections are for informational purposes only?  if they did, then they can do as many inspections as they want, and they can walk away based on those inspection results, but they can't ask for a price reduction.

If they didn't sign paperwork indicated that they understood and accepted that the property was being "as-is", then I'm sure they will ask for things post-inspection.  But, I would wait and see what they ask for, if anything.  Selling a house is stressful.  And it may be worthwhile to do $1000 worth of repairs in order to keep the deal moving.  Some of it is going to depend on how much you want to move.

[justme]

You're not being unreasonable if there's other buyers you can sell to. If it's pretty much just them, and you want out, I'd play nice as much as you can.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I don't know if not being flexible is a great idea when the cartel is the only one that's going to make a bid on your place.

[justme]

Yea, not sure I'd ever play offense with a drug cartel...

[CCL]

Nov 14, 2016 11:28:08 GMT -5 minnesotapaintlady said:

Yeah, I don't know if not being flexible is a great idea when the cartel is the only one that's going to make a bid on your place.

Yeah, she's in a unique situation with her place out there.

[Deleted]

Nov 14, 2016 11:12:50 GMT -5 emma1420 said:

Nov 13, 2016 20:14:18 GMT -5 @workingshasta said:

Did they sign paperwork indicating that they understand that the house is being sold "as-is" and inspections are for informational purposes only?  if they did, then they can do as many inspections as they want, and they can walk away based on those inspection results, but they can't ask for a price reduction.

If they didn't sign paperwork indicated that they understood and accepted that the property was being "as-is", then I'm sure they will ask for things post-inspection.  But, I would wait and see what they ask for, if anything.  Selling a house is stressful.  And it may be worthwhile to do $1000 worth of repairs in order to keep the deal moving.  Some of it is going to depend on how much you want to move.

Yes, the purchase agreement states the property is being sold as-is. 

[hoops902]

You can sell a home as-is and unless you're really defined it in a detailed way, the seller can do all the inspections they like and walk away with all their money if they don't like the results. That really makes the language pretty meaningless.

Your realtor sounds lazy.  They probably want you there because either 1.  They're too lazy to show up themselves. OR 2.  They're too lazy to communicate the results to you.  The last thing a good realtor wants is the owner present for showings, open houses, or inspections.  There's no good that can come of that. 

I don't think you're being unreasonable in having your own life and expecting your realtor to respect that, but you sound a bit unreasonable in how offended you seem that they want to do real inspections.  If not unreasonable, you certainly sound worked up over something you probably don't need to be.  You're projecting what may happen and getting yourself worked up based on that.  Heck, you've made your decision, you should be in a state of comfort.  You're not desperate to sell from the sounds of it, if they come back and say they want a lower offer you just say "nope". 

Agree with everyone who says you might need a new realtor though.  This one doesn't sound so great.