Good Will. I Love the Real Estate Business!
I've heard lots of stories about deals gone bad or strange happenings in the real estate world at the end of this year. Everyone wants to talk about the year gone by here in Wichita Kansas, good and bad.
I have a win-win goodwill story of my own.
This deal was signed sealed and scheduled for closing. The house was in probate as the previous owner had died and her kids were selling it. A few days before closing we find out the probate lawyer has not done his job and the paperwork hasn't been before the Judge yet.
First delay. After many phone calls and much finagling we get a new date set. Again that date approaches and the lawyer is not finished. Now we're five weeks overdue and my clients lease is running out at the end of the month with no chance of extending it. On top of that they have the moving truck reserved and help lined up.
We now schedule the closing with one day to spare and as that date approaches, yep, not ready. This time though the lawyer has an appointment with the court for the 2nd, two days after my client will be out on his ear.
So what do we do. The selling agent asks his client if we can take possession four days early, on a Friday, the day before Halloween, so they can move over the weekend. They agree so everything is going to be all right. The owners spend Thursday and Friday morning finishing up moving and cleaning. They left the house spotless.
When I called my client Friday evening they were moving, loading the truck for the second time and almost finished. It would take one more trip in the morning.
And this is where everything could have gone terribly wrong. Saturday morning my phone rang and I was informed the basement was flooded. Of course you call your Realtor, he's the one who sold you the house.
The sump pump had quit working. Remember, we haven't closed yet and all their stuff is already at the house, moving truck returned, no where else to go and the basement is full of water.
So of course I rush over and indeed, the sump pump has given out. No reason, it must have been working yesterday as the basement was dry. The seller agent called the insurance company and they might be able to get to it today, Halloween. In the meantime water is still running into the basement.
Can't wait. A trip to Home Depot to buy a new one, home for tools and shop vac and then back to install it. Then we spent the rest of the day and into the evening installing the pump, pushing water back into the pit, pulling back carpet and trying to dry everything out. The carpet pad is of course ruined and the carpet itself needs some professional help.
I completely missed Halloween and handing out goodies to the neighborhood kids. Good thing Lisel was there to take care of that.
My clients are now living in a house they don't own yet with nowhere to go, I'm out the money for a new pump and the carpet layer wants to get paid. We closed Monday amid promises of payment for the disaster. We had no choice really but to trust the sellers.
In the end the carpet was fixed, the carpet guy paid by the sellers and a check came to my mailbox to cover the pump four days later.
This was a situation where there very easily could have been some big losers and upset people. As it turned out everyone did the right thing, did what they said they would and some even went beyond the call of duty. My clients are in their dry home, the seller is cashing her check and everyone is living happily ever after. So far.
About the Author: Realtor in Wichita KS, Trader/investor, Market club member, Opera addict, Have dogs, gardening and that's me. Realty World Alliance Wichita Kansas. The right agent makes all the difference in the world! Visit Our Website Here!!
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