"There are dead animals down there"   Oh my!!!

How does this happen??

Yesterday I showed another Old Empty Neglected House...I was pretty apprehensive after what happened last week during a showing with this same client! Of course I had to put up with a fair amount of jokes...Like my client saying he was bringing a cat! I know it won't make sense unless you read my other post about that showing but needless to say I really didn't find it amusing!

This home is also very old, has 4 bedrooms,attached garage,an outbuilding and sits on a little over 6 acres of land...mostly wet land but nice for the privacy factor priced at $135,000...sounds pretty good...No? We thought so anyway. 

When I called to set up this showing I left a message for the listing agent. A little later I got a call back from another agent, one who does not even work for the same company...I was confused as I know this second agent pretty well. She assured me she did not close down her own company but was simply covering for the other agent who works for another company while he was on vacation.

This really defines cooperation...don't ya think?

She told me that the house was in pretty bad shape and suggested that I do not go down into the basement, she told me the back door would be left open and that there was no electricity (here I go again) to be sure to bring flashlights.

Why me I ask???

I ask for the required Sellers Property Condition disclosure...
She..."I don't have one."
Me..."Okay, how about a plot plan so we can see the layout of the 6 acres?"
She..."I don't have one."
Me..."Okay, Anything you can tell me about this property?"
She..."Well not really Moni...other than it is in pretty bad shape."

Why me... I ask again???

I somehow convince my hubby Jay to go with me...thank god there was not a football game on TV... he surprised me and agreed to accompany me on my showing! I'm not a fool had the Patriots been playing I would of went alone!

While driving to the property I call the agent covering for listing agent to ask a question about the land and she again stresses that I not go down into the basement this time adding "because there are dead animals down there"  I am very thankful that my man is with me...they do come in very handy at times!!!!

We arrive at the showing and my client is already there with a "Jack of all trades" friend who will be advising him on potential structural issues, I now have to put up with the token male bonding garbage...ummm jokes all at my expense... the only thing missing was the beer!!

I could tell from the outside that I was in for a treat but I simply could not believe what I saw inside...This is not a candidate for staging although maybe our AR stagers can perform a miracle.

I don't understand how someones home can fall to this state of disrepair and neglect...I thought last weeks home was bad till I saw this.

I could only muster up enough courage to into one room but that was more than enough.

My client... He thinks this home has plenty of possibilities and has some pretty strong interest in it. Me ... I told him he needs to investigate this home as it is sold As-Is and we have no documentation. My Man...Even he didn't go down into the basement! Monday...A visit to the Town Hall and maybe an offer will be in the works.

     No Documentation frightens me...

                          Big Time!!!

I want to make sure I protect my client and limit my liability at the same time.  I've given him full disclosure...even if my disclosure is really nothing at all. I simply don't know a thing  about this home and neither apparently does the listing  agency.

How does this happen...this was someones home....I just can't understand how someone can let their home turn into this.