Real Estate Matters

from Valley Business FRONT, Issue 155, August 2021

Feeding Southwest Virginia

Put it in writing

My legs and arms are itching so bad. It’s 2:33am in the morning. I awake in my sleep scratching myself like a dog with fleas and of course I was thinking about selling a house. I mean, how can I forget as the poison ivy is a friendly reminder of the tree wrapped in it that fell in my client’s yard that I just helped move.

The same day I received an offer on my client’s home, was the same day the tree with poison ivy fell in the backyard. We took the offer. The other realtor asked me if the tree would be removed, and my client had told me verbally that it would be taken care of and removed before closing. I know and trust this person well … but what if? What if my client said yes but never removed the tree? Well, if it’s not in writing and signed by both parties then they are not obligated to remove the tree. The buyer has to continue with closing on the property.

Want the swing set in the backyard? Put it in writing. Want to stay in your home you are selling a day or two after closing - put it in writing. Want the home inspector to inspect the detached garage too, put it in writing. Do you need to find a place to live before closing on the current home you are selling? Put it in writing. Want the flat screen in the living room, put it in writing. Want the storage shed in the yard, put it in writing. Want the house cleaned a certain way before closing, put it in writing. Want the wall in the backyard fixed - put it in writing.

You see if it’s not in writing, neither buyer nor seller are obligated to fulfill the request. Most of the time and usually all of the time, it’s the buyer making requests from the seller for their new property. It can cause a lot of pain, stress, or possibly become a deal gone bad.

The last thing you want to do if you are selling your home or buying one is to forget to put key elements of the sale in writing; if not you may just not have a sale, and may have to start all over after wasting your time, energy, and finances.