“Let’s get it in writing so there isn’t any confusion later,†is advice that I give my clients all the time. And you would assume that all real estate agents give their clients the same line when a potential sticky situation presents itself.
Did I say “assume�
Prior to a home inspection on one of my listings, I mentioned to the buyer’s agent that the glass in the foyer light fixture would be replaced as it cracked when my client tried to replace the bulbs. Unfortunitely this item was not mentioned specifically in the home inspection report or repair addendum (but it should have been). So, my client thought that the buyers were okay with it and must plan to replace it with their own fixture.
You guessed it, when the agent did the final walk-through inspection, she said it was an issue for the buyer that the glass was broken.
Especially in real estate transactions, it is the smallest issues that can get everyone’s blood pressure up to dangerous levels. Buying a home is stressful and issues like this one push people over the edge or ignite a short fuse.
It is clear in the state real estate regulations that all real estate agreements must be in writing to be enforceable. Paper, we love paper! The courthouse loves paper too, so that is why they want an old fashion paper trial trail.
So with everyone’s reputation on the line, I stopped by Home Depot to pick up a similar fixture that I could cannibalize for that precious glass, drove to the house and climbed my trusty Werner step ladder to screw it in place… and then took a couple digital photos to show the buyers at the closing table. Case closed.
