Should a Seller disclose EVERYTHING? I used to think so, until I listed CW's* home. "I can't fill out the Transfer Disclosure Statement", she said. "If I do no one will buy this home".
"REALLY??" I'm thinking mold in the attic and a dead body in the backyard.
"So, what's wrong with it?"
"Well, we get turkeys jumping on our roof... TURKEYS! They're terrible. And planes fly overhead. I've even seen helicopters."
"Really", I say. "What else".
"The neighbors. They are terrible. I hate them".
"Uh hmm... What else".
"I've seen termites fly out of the ground before... behind our fence. And there are spiders. Lots of them. And bugs. They're awful.".
"And I hate this neighborhood."
"No kidding".... This woman is nuts, I think. This is one of our best neighborhoods - very much in demand.
Now, she is not certifiably nuts. She is a working professional, and makes a lot of money. But she is nuts in the Sally Dunbar Book of Character Assessment.
"Ya know, those items are all PREFERENCES", I tell her. "They are not disclosure issues. Every Fair Oaks neighborhood has turkeys. And we live in nature and nature has termites. And spiders. And bugs. We just disclose if they are eating our house. We only disclose factual issues that effect our home - not preferences."
And, I think, a nut job like you would be a disclosure issue for the neighbors if THEY sell! Imagine living by her! As it turns out the neighbors had a block party when she moved. She had quite a reputation as a CW... Crazy Woman. And I developed a new cocktail named after her. It ends in "Slammer", cause that's what I wanted to do this entire escrow.
But we made it through the transaction. Amid unbelievably controlling behavior at the escrow signing, and antics I could write a book about, we closed the deal. Now the new owners are loving the wonderful neighbors, photographing the turkeys, and appreciating their beautiful new neighborhood.
Crazy Lady by BigStock photos
copyright 2011, Sally Dunbar
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