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Diary Of A Seller~An Inside Perspective (III)

By
Real Estate Agent with Homequest Real Estate

Preface: It is hard to believe that it has only been about six weeks since my last entry in this Diary. It has seemed like eternity

diary

As a Realtor I have always found the home inspection to be the most dreaded part of the whole transaction.If something is to go wrong....that is where it will most likely be.

I was not overly concerned about our Home Inspection. I was reasonably sure there would be some minor issues, after all the house was built in '78, but we had just had the septic pumped that Spring and felt we had stayed on top of any repairs. The furnace had been cleaned and serviced, the roof was only about 10 years old and my husband had made pool repairs in the Summer.

As I sat chating with the Buyer's Agent the Buyer and his HI made the usual rounds...all seemed to be going fine. The septic company arrived for their inspection and after about a half hour the guy called us all outside.

The leach field was in failure. I was in total shock. We had had no indication, no sluggishness, no sponginess or gurgling.

The Buyers were very upset. Being on a septic system, to begin with, was a major concern. They had never had one before. The Buyers and their agent started talking about hooking up to the city system but I knew it didn't run down our street. As they left, their Agent said.....they'ed get back to us.

The next day we received our Addendum. The leach field was to be replaced and the electrical in the house and garage evaluated and brought up to code by a licensed electrician.

Up until this point I had been remarkably able to put on my "Realtor Hat" when needed. But all of that was about to change!

We were very anxious to sell....in fact it was imperitive that we did. We decided to swallow the cost of Septic and Electric, rather than risk them walking away.

The cost of replacing our system was $8,000. Because this occured over the holidays, for 6 days we couldn't do laundry and had to limit "flushing".It was loud and annoying, leach my yard was a mess and the poor dogs had to be walked on a leash.

Strangely enough...the incident that upset me the most...was when they left and pulled out the machine that had been parked outside my dining room window for a week, I saw what they had done to my Hydrangea that I planted 25 years ago. They had asked if they could "trim" it.

It broke my heart! 

   hydrangea-before        BEFORE  

 

                                                                    AFTER      hydrangea

Next installment....looking for a new place!

Concord NH Realtor

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NH's Four Seasons 

                                                                
Joan Mirantz - Joni is a Realtor® with Homequest Real Estate, a locally owned, Customer Service oriented Firm.
Joan Publishes a monthly Newsletter "Food For Thought" under the pen name Realtor Sherpa.
(Joan also answers to Miz Maven and Miss Joni.)

Joan works in Buyer and Seller Representation with concentrations in the Merrimack Valley Area and towns surrounding Concord NH - the Capital City.
"I love what I do, and it shows in how I do it"

Having crossed over to the "other side of Middle Age" herself....Joan is an ongoing source of information about local programs, facilities and issues specific to her peers! 

 
Livin' the Life...and Ridin' the Wave

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Angelia Garcia
Pure Realtors - Dallas, TX

That is terrible, hopefully it will grow back.

Jan 25, 2009 02:25 AM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Joan, your experiences are a good reminder to all in our industry to be empathetic to the client.  I always try to put myself in the client's shoes when making my recommendations, to find ways to make it easy on them... but really experiencing the emotions yourself - that really is a wake up call and good for any service provider now and then to keep us grounded.  Congratulations and Good luck in your search!

Joanne O'Donnell, Chic Home Interiors

Jan 25, 2009 02:46 AM
Debbie Malone
Londeree's Real Estate & Property Management - Lynchburg, VA
From Lynchburg To The Lake (434) 546-0369

Joan, I'm so sorry you've had this experience, my sister-in-law had a similar problem when they sold their home in Tyngsboro. Hopefully you'll find your new place soon and this will be a distant memory.

Jan 25, 2009 02:47 AM
Tom Braatz Waukesha County Real Estate 262-377-1459
Coldwell Banker - Oconomowoc, WI
Waukesha County Realtor Real Estate agent. SOLD!

Joni

I ust shriek at the wore "home inspection"

Tom Braatz

Jan 25, 2009 02:59 AM
Carol Smith
Casmi Photography - Mebane, NC

Ohhh Joni - I'm so sorry you had to go through all that.  I think anyone that owns a home dreads as inspection.  It's necessary, but dreaded.  I'm glad you were able to get the issues resolved and things are back on track.  Now the fun part can start - the new home search!  You know ... there are some awfully pretty places down here ... and not near as cold and snowy!  :)

Yes - that was a hint, but I know you'll remain up there for a while longer.  :(  But you can come visit when the dust settles!

Jan 25, 2009 04:48 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I feel for you, I really do.  My favorite flower is the hydrangea and I have three bushes that we originally got from my in-laws property when we bought our first home 30 years ago.  When we moved to our new home five years ago we brought parts of them with us.  They transplanted very well and have grown into large bushes.  I would be very disappointed if we lost them.  Don't give up on yours just yet.  It should be ok and eventually grow back.

Jan 25, 2009 04:55 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Oh my -- what an experience.  I was glad to see you recently and know that you are weathering this entire ordeal.  I guess the silver lining is that you DID get your house sold!  I hope that things start to get easier from this point forward.

Jan 25, 2009 12:25 PM
Laura Cerrano
Feng Shui Manhattan Long Island - Locust Valley, NY
Certified Feng Shui Expert, Speaker & Researcher

Joni, I have missed you SO much and wondered how you were doing....I can't even imagine how difficult this is for you.  I am so sorry about your beautiful flowers and the added expense but I know you're a strong person and will get through this.  Lots of blessings to you!

Jan 25, 2009 01:52 PM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

I hope so Angelia, but I won't be there to see it!

Great insight Joanne...I will draw from this experience for many years to come!

Thanks Debbie...I will admit this seems endless!

I hear ya Tom!....me too!!

Hi Carol...there will be two or three more installments. The outcome will determine the "funness"

Sharon...I will definately get another. I was so pretty.

Hi Carole...I've missed all of you guys too. I'm afraid I've just een so overwhelmed with everything oing on I've been wallowing. I'm working on several more installments....it ain't over yet!

Jan 26, 2009 04:53 AM
Monika McGillicuddy
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Verani Realty - Hampstead, NH
Southern NH & the Seacoast Area

Wow... I didn't know you were selling. It must b every hard to "list" your own home and then deal with the inspection.  Glad to see it worked out. 

Jan 26, 2009 12:45 PM
Joan Mirantz
Homequest Real Estate - Concord, NH
Realtor, GRI, CBR, SRES - Concord New Hampshire

Monika....to put it bluntly...I would never ,never, never do it again!!!!

Jan 27, 2009 07:05 AM
William Johnson
Retired - La Jolla, CA
Retired

Whew, this is a lot to take in all at once. I feel so sorry that all this happened to you and it was your house on top of it. Bad enough when it is a client's property much less yours. I am ready for a Wordless Wednesday,lol, any Wednesday will do. Next,lol.

Feb 05, 2009 03:06 PM