We lived in that townhouse for four years - the spring it was for sale, one of the windows decided to leak. We disclosed the leaky window on the disclosure form and also told the realtor we were in the process of having it fixed.
We had a guy come look at it - he tore the siding back, found the problem and recaulked - then replaced the siding and we had no problems. Paid him in cash - and that was that - also that was APRIL!
We have since moved 1000 miles away, new address, new phone numbers etc. Well, the hurricaine that went thru Philly brought a ton of rain with it and a leaky window to our old house. We still keep in touch with our old neighbor and he told us that the new neighbors were "livid" that the window was leaking and that they were going to 'go after us' over it. That was the end of August and we never heard a word. Our old neighbor told us they got it patched and that was good enough - tonite i get an email forwarded from the woman who bought our house to the
2006-09-15 14:32:12 · 12 answers · asked by Weasel 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
(sorry ran out of room) - she sent an email to our realtor inquiring about the window again - asked him to get in touch with us and find out what he had done, who we used blah blah blah - she forwards me the email with no note, no nothing.
My question - since we disclosed the leaky window and had it fixed at the time, we owe them nothing - correct? I'm not sure what to do - do we send her an email - i don' t know what is the polite or 'right thing to do' here. I mean they knew about the leak when they bought the house - it wasn't like we hid it from them or anything?
Has anything like this happened to anyone else?
Thanks - i appreciate any helpful advice you can spare - just don't really know what to do here.
2006-09-15 14:35:04 · update #1
Thanks - sorry it's a book - i figured all the story would help get some intelligent answers. We do have the receipt - i will contact tomorrow and be done with this. Thanks much ya'll! :)
2006-09-15 14:45:40 · update #2
It's a pity that your real estate agent is not being a little more proactive in this. If you'd like to be nice, you can give them the name and number of the repairman who fixed the window. Beyond that, because of the full disclosure, you're not really obligated to do anything else. Leaks happen in houses. My townhouse leaked in four places when the last tropical storm came through. You acted in good faith, your repairman acted in good faith - everyone thought that it was fixed.
As the new owners told your former neighbors that they were going "after" you, I advise you to keep all information pertaining to this issue and keep any correspondence to facts not opinions or apologies. Call your real estate agent and get them or their broker to handle the situation. Do not hesitate to contact an attorney if you get the slightest feeling that this may turn into a bigger issue. Good luck.
2006-09-15 14:51:58 · answer #1 · answered by Susan G 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
Keep your receipt handy so you can prove that you at least tried to have the window fixed or patched.And the new owners will have to replace the window themselves. That goes for the disclosure form also. They are obviously trying to get something for nothing. as they knew the window had had a problem. and they didn't check it or replace it themselves.
Been there . got a call from my grandfathers old house with some wanting to do some type of renovation and wanted a signature from a relative saying there was no hazardous material in the house. told him to contact the Realtor as we have not been in the house since the 80's and it was sold to someone else in between.
If there was asbestos or lead paint in the house we would have to pay for its removal.instead of its current owner.
2006-09-15 21:46:39 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Once the contract has been signed, the seller is responsible for absolutely nothing.
This is why the buyer gets an inspector, title search, title insurance, a lawyer, another lawyer, a survey, another inspection. Tons of money in the toilet. All to make sure that whatever the buyer is buying, they know what they are getting.
The whole house can have termites, and if the buyer didn't know, it's too bad for him. There is NO lemon-law for real-estate. Let the buyer beware.
Go back to sleep, no need to worry.
2006-09-15 22:05:24 · answer #3 · answered by adepame 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Contact the real estate company that sold your house.
These people should not be contacting you. You said it was in your disclosure statement and also the leak had been repaired. At closing you should have had a receipt to show the work was done. If the leak came from faulty workmanship the contractor is responsible.
2006-09-15 21:42:40 · answer #4 · answered by new_kid82 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The house is theirs now, any problems are their problems. They are the ones being rude, as home owners it is their responsibility to fix anything that is wrong with the house. You no longer have any responsibility to do anything. Plus they won't bring you to court because the lawyers will cost waaay more than any fixing of a window could. If they really have a problem tell them to call the company that did the window and take it up with him.
2006-09-15 23:31:02 · answer #5 · answered by I <3 You 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as long as you disclosed it then you shouldn't owe them anything. Well at least in the state of California. I don't know if the real-estate laws are the same from state to state.The correct way to handle is to have the Realtor that sold the property deal with it you may have to remind them that they are your representation as far as anything concerning that sale. They were paid to deal with this type of thing so i would tell the buyer of the property to take thier complaint to the appropriate realators that would be yours and thiers if they had a different one. I would also notify the Realtor that represented you and let them know that you expect them to handle this that its their job.
2006-09-15 21:52:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Offer to provide a copy of the receipt. And give them the contact information for the person who did the repair. That is all you are liable for. Once you do that notify the realtor that you do not want to be contacted again over this issue as you have supplied proof that it was repaired.
2006-09-15 21:41:47 · answer #7 · answered by K W 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You told them about it and got it fixed. Did they the proof that it was fixed. You have no obligation to them whatsoever now. When it comes to huge rainstorms, any window can leak cause they are not all made to withstand heavy wind and rain at hurricane force. Plus that was months ago. If the repair wasn't good enough, the people who fixed it should be called to that house to fix their first repair at no charge. Don't worry about the lady, she is just trying to find someone to blame and pay for it so she won't have to.
2006-09-15 23:18:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell them they are out of luck. You fully disclosed the problem and they signed the contract in full knowledge of what they were purchasing.
Realistically, your realtor made a commission to represent you in the sale. I'd respond to the e-mail with something like "as the professional we paid to represent us, please advise us of what our rights and obligations are". If he/she doesn't respond, contact the PA dept of real estate for assistance. You might also contact the broker under whose license the agent works, so he/she knows how little help your agent has provided.
2006-09-15 21:36:17 · answer #9 · answered by all1g8r 4 · 4⤊ 0⤋
If you paid a real estate agent to sell your house, it is the real estate agents problem. They get paid to ensure that the transaction is done properly!
2006-09-16 00:02:04 · answer #10 · answered by The Infidel 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋