| 17;ve heard lots of stories about deals gone bad | | | | The sump pump had quit working. Remember, we |
| or strange happenings in the real estate world at | | | | haven’t closed yet and all their stuff is |
| the end of this year. Everyone wants to talk | | | | already at the house, moving truck returned, no |
| about the year gone by here in Wichita Kansas, | | | | where else to go and the basement is full of |
| good and bad. | | | | water. |
| I have a win-win goodwill story of my own. | | | | So of course I rush over and indeed, the sump |
| This deal was signed sealed and scheduled for | | | | pump has given out. No reason, it must have |
| closing. The house was in probate as the previous | | | | been working yesterday as the basement was |
| owner had died and her kids were selling it. A few | | | | dry. The seller agent called the insurance company |
| days before closing we find out the probate | | | | and they might be able to get to it today, |
| lawyer has not done his job and the paperwork | | | | Halloween. In the meantime water is still running |
| hasn’t been before the Judge yet. | | | | into the basement. |
| First delay. After many phone calls and much | | | | Can’t wait. A trip to Home Depot to buy |
| finagling we get a new date set. Again that date | | | | a new one, home for tools and shop vac and |
| approaches and the lawyer is not finished. Now | | | | then back to install it. Then we spent the rest of |
| we’re five weeks overdue and my clients | | | | the day and into the evening installing the pump, |
| lease is running out at the end of the month with | | | | pushing water back into the pit, pulling back carpet |
| no chance of extending it. On top of that they | | | | and trying to dry everything out. The carpet pad |
| have the moving truck reserved and help lined up. | | | | is of course ruined and the carpet itself needs |
| We now schedule the closing with one day to | | | | some professional help. |
| spare and as that date approaches, yep, not | | | | I completely missed Halloween and handing out |
| ready. This time though the lawyer has an | | | | goodies to the neighborhood kids. Good thing Lisel |
| appointment with the court for the 2nd, two days | | | | was there to take care of that. |
| after my client will be out on his ear. | | | | My clients are now living in a house they |
| So what do we do. The selling agent asks his | | | | don’t own yet with nowhere to go, |
| client if we can take possession four days early, | | | | I’m out the money for a new pump and |
| on a Friday, the day before Halloween, so they | | | | the carpet layer wants to get paid. We closed |
| can move over the weekend. They agree so | | | | Monday amid promises of payment for the |
| everything is going to be all right. The owners | | | | disaster. We had no choice really but to trust the |
| spend Thursday and Friday morning finishing up | | | | sellers. |
| moving and cleaning. They left the house spotless. | | | | In the end the carpet was fixed, the carpet guy |
| When I called my client Friday evening they were | | | | paid by the sellers and a check came to my |
| moving, loading the truck for the second time and | | | | mailbox to cover the pump four days later. |
| almost finished. It would take one more trip in the | | | | This was a situation where there very easily could |
| morning. | | | | have been some big losers and upset people. As it |
| And this is where everything could have gone | | | | turned out everyone did the right thing, did what |
| terribly wrong. Saturday morning my phone rang | | | | they said they would and some even went |
| and I was informed the basement was flooded. | | | | beyond the call of duty. My clients are in their dry |
| Of course you call your Realtor, he’s the | | | | home, the seller is cashing her check and |
| one who sold you the house. | | | | everyone is living happily ever after. So far. |