prices due to a shortage after the 2008 housing crisis.
Knowing the value of my neighbor's recently sold home, I knew
the value of our home, in spite, of
what the real estate agents told me. I was too high on my price.
They said, "At least put a .99 at the end so the buyers "think"
they are getting a lower price than the full price."
What is too high? Most agents were ecstatic that homes were
selling above list price in one day. They made it sound, as if
it were fantastic.
I told the agent who sold my neighbor's
home in 'one' day that, if I listed my home for half price,
I could sell it in one hour. How impressive
would that be?
We went high. I wanted top dollar, so I went to great lengths to
have the stone floors polished, grout cleaned and anything that
needed painting, painted. The yard was refurbished with potted
plants, magnolia trees and wooden chips around walk ways.
The pool and spa were always pristine. Everything was working
to keep the house and yard in excellent condition. Automatic
sprinklers and timers for the soft water generator and pool cleaner.
The entire yard was renovated a second time a few years earlier.
We added the home theater with custom built cabinets throughout
the house. The patio furniture was rust proof and top grade, and
the LG washer/dryer, only a few years old and in excellent
condition were staying with the house.
I knew our home was in good condition. I had every room
renovated over the years with granite, travertine, marble bathrooms.
Beveled mirrors. All the curtains were new enough that
agents were asking if the curtains were staying.
We met the buyers the day after Open House. Their agent came
late on Sunday and I could hear her saying to them on the phone,
"You have got to see this house, you will love it."
They came around 5 p.m while my husband was still there to
show them the features of the built in theater and BBQ.
He left, but they didn't. They stayed until
8:00 p.m or longer. It was dark as I stood outside in the
open garage, entertaining their young daughter who was
playing with our dog. What were they doing that they
needed to stay so long in our home?
When they came out, I was so glad they
were leaving. But Wait!
What's that lingering in the dark, in front of our house
behind our palm tree? The buyers and their agent?
They were still hanging around the yard talking about it.
I was guessing they were discussing the finances in the
dark.
That should have been a clue to their
negotiating tactics.
Out of the dark, the wife and little girl slowly walked up to
me, standing in the light of the garage while her
husband and the agent lingered back in the dark.
She was very sweet and slightly shy, hugging her
crying daughter who did not want to move to another house.
She said, "Your home is so lovely. The people who get
it will be so lucky."
I thought, "Why is she telling "the seller" this, if she
wants the house so badly?" Those are not
negotiating words.
After a few lower offers from them,
they came in at full price and
we signed the documents. I thought that was it.
Dream on.
They wanted the house so badly, they requested our
home be off the market for 30 days, if they put down
a $27,000 deposit, waiting for the sell of their home.
We said, "No."
Then we settled on 17 days.
Little did we know that an inspector came in, along with all the
added inspectors they personally hired to evaluate the home.
Obviously, a tactic to lower the price.
After the inspectors had given their "what-if" this would happen;
or "looks, as if" this happened (guessing) scenarios, the buyers
wanted a $39,000 discount.
I said, "No." But everyone else on my team caved in
to say they could give them a $15,000 discount.
Maybe, I don't deal with the same reality, as people who
work in the real world, making deals of "eat" or "not eat,"
but I knew these people were desperate for my
home and maybe they could not afford it. After all they were
still young in their mid 30's. I think that they are
of the generation where they expect to get things
they want that they cannot afford; but would work
the system, to get it.
Besides the government, I don't think I have ever witnessed
a bunch of incompetent people than the
appraiser and inspectors.
The inspectors acted as if the house was suppose to be new
and everything had to be replaced. In particular the 1980's
air condition that was working fine.
I said, "If it's running, it works, it's staying."
In the past, I have replaced old appliances with newer ones;
only to have the newer ones break down sooner than the old ones.
One reason is because the newer appliances are made
of plastic parts.
The equipment will not last half as long as the old ones
that were made with metal parts.
A Sear's service man told me that years ago, as he was
replacing a metal part with a cheap plastic piece
in my washing machine. It's history now.
So we have an air conditioner that works great, although,
dated 1980; and the inspectors told the buyers it was not
"energy efficient." I am surprised they did not recommend
a solar panel roof and a, tank-less, hot water heater.
The discounted offer on the home was not the end.
They pushed and pushed by giving us one inspection
report after another expecting us to pay for equipment
or things that were working.
The appraiser blatantly lied on his
report and everyone was afraid to challenge him. Glad I wasn't
there. It would have been my first homicide.
The buyers refused to have another appraiser come in
with an accurate appraisal
that would qualify them for a larger loan.
Maybe, that was a tactic on the buyer's part.
They had just sold their home, above market
value, giving them the ability to put down a large deposit
on our home, so they would not need a large loan;
however; they convinced
the real estate agents that because the appraisal was lower
than expected, we should come down on our price.
Fool me once...
I said, "The price will not come down based on a
false appraisal report.
I read the report, when no one else did.
The appraiser reported that we had vinyl floors
when they were all stone.
No renovations were noted in the report.
Where is the justice?
The buyer's agent told our agent that the buyer's found a
less expensive home in the same neighborhood.
I guess they thought this new tactic would make me
"jump" to sell my house, due to competition.
I put too much time and money into my home.
"I will just keep it," I told our agent.
They can have the other house.
Of course, our agent freaked
and their agent freaked and they both kicked in some
commission to help the buyers get the home that I felt,
they didn't deserve.
In the meantime, the 104 degree heat and the Santa Ana winds
killed the potted plants and one of the magnolia trees.
Although, the sprinklers were running on time; they were not
timed for disasters. My husband visited the property the week
before escrow closed and over watered what was alive.
He saw that the lights were left on when no one was there.
After getting all the inspector's "what-ifs" reports;
the false appraiser's report; if only to finagle
a discounted price; I was already PISSED.
Since we were living in Montana and the buyers
had more access to our home in California than we did;
and they were in and out of the house weekly with inspectors;
you would think that they would see the potted plants and
magnolia trees dying and water them, knowing this would
be their home in one week.
But, nooooo! They preferred to nitpick about things
that 'might' happen; not about things that 'did' happen.
After all, there are only pennies invested in dead flowers;
compared to what-if the air condition is not energy
efficient, what-if there is asbestos in the attic.
My only what-if: the Big One hits.
I had already buried St. Joseph, the Saint of home and family.
I am not Catholic so I wasn't sure he would listen to me.
Burying a small plastic St. Joseph
statue, head down, by the For Sale sign brings a 'sale'
when you pray to him.
Thank you, St. Joseph.
Escrow was suppose to close Friday.
They had the nerve to asked our agent
if they could "move in" before escrow closed.
They had 'wheeled and dealt,' heartlessly, to get
something that they could not afford.....Now they want
another favor.
Our agent said, "Absolutely,... not!"
I called the pool man to let him know that escrow had
closed and his services were no longer needed.
That's when he told me he thought the
salt generator to the pool was not working.
The machine that kills the algae in the pool.
Should he fix it?
I told him that the buyers have decided
not to use his services.
If the buyers didn't appreciate how well we kept the
place running....they soon will.
That pristine pool and spa, in the heat, will probably be
covered in algae by the time they move in.
Finally! There is Justice.
P.S. At least the air conditioner is still working.
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