Share Your Homebuying Horror Stories from Hardest Homebuying Experience Ever

Greekgeek Moderated by Greekgeek

Apart from the tobacco odor problems, which will take some work, all the repairs recommended by my inspector were easy fixes; there's just a lot to do. By the time I'm done, I'll have new carpets, ceilings, AC, heater, air ducts, and even a water heater, since it gave up the ghost a week after Monica left. The money Josef saved me by negotiating a good price can be sunk into repairs. He found me an excellent contractor, too.

So this horror story has a happy ending.

So, how about you folks? Have you any anecdotes or advice to share so that other homebuyers can avoid the hassles we faced?

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  • Reply
    Ramkitten Ramkitten May 15, 2009 @ 1:52 pm
    Oh, geeez, what an experience! I got stressed out (and mad) just reading it. Well, I'm glad that fiasco is over with, and your place is looking really nice now!
  • Reply
    Greekgeek Greekgeek May 5, 2009 @ 7:36 pm | in reply to KimGiancaterino
    Oh, wow, Kim, you brave person! I'm so glad you got up the floor and found the sub-floor... that's the scary part, wondering if you'll get out all the sources of stink enough to make sure it really, honest to gosh won't come back.
    Mine hasn't, so all the stuff I did really DOES work to get out a bad cigarette odor. (I probably overdid it, but better safe than sorry).
  • Reply
    KimGiancaterino KimGiancaterino May 4, 2009 @ 11:55 pm
    My first condo was previously used as an office for three guys who sold insurance and chain smoked all day. The ceilings were awful... yellowed popcorn. Every surface had to be repainted. I also got rid of the stinky carpeting and had tile installed. The sub-floor was loaded with cigarette butts, so the guys who built the place used the floor as an ash tray. I remember when you were going through this horrible experience and am glad there was a happy ending for you -- and Miss Betty. Gorgeous jacaranda, btw!
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    RyanRE RyanRE Feb 25, 2009 @ 8:56 am
    Ah yes, the first home (or condo). Being a real estate agent, I walk people through this process on a daily basis. One of the first things that I tell people is that at some point during the process something is going to go wrong. Then I explain to them that I have seen it all and we will easily be able to work through the problems, so there is no reason to lose sleep stressing about these things when they come up. In the end things will work out just fine.
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    californianative californianative Oct 28, 2008 @ 11:30 am
    Wow, what a nightmare! Glad it all worked out!
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    Greekgeek Greekgeek Apr 20, 2008 @ 8:31 pm
    Marelisa -- very true. When the seller defaulted, my father and I went over the Title Insurance policy with a fine-toothed comb and consulted the title company officer to make absolutely sure I was protected if she turned out to have more debts that the company hadn't turned up. But I failed to anticipate her refusing to leave after the sale closed. Title Insurance wouldn't help much there, except in the courts.
  • Reply
    Marelisa Marelisa Apr 20, 2008 @ 7:06 pm
    When you're dealing with people in financial trouble things are bound to get rocky. Stories like these are the reason a lot of people buy Title Insurance. I'm glad things worked out for you in the end.
  • Reply
    Susan52 Susan52 Apr 20, 2008 @ 7:08 am
    Glad you finally have your house. I hope all the damage is superficial and after your planned renovations you'll be good to go. It looks like a beautiful place! My advice based on our past experience, buying from a divorcing couple is good news/bad news. The price was certainly right, but the emotional impact on the couple threatened our deal. In the end, we had trash and dirt in the house, too, but the seller's realtor happily hired a cleaning crew for us (she wasn't crazy about this crazy couple either) and we still love the house 17 years later.

Hardest Homebuying Experience Ever See more at Hardest Homebuying Experience Ever

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Hardest Homebuying Experience Ever

It seemed so simple. The market was down, my rent was climbing: why keep pouring money down the drain? Thanks to a good agent, Josef Szigeti, I'd found a condo that felt like home. There was a beautiful park right outside, it... (more)

Contents at a Glance

  1. I Thought "For Sale" Meant You Wanted to Sell It!
  2. Recommended Links for Homebuyers
  3. And You Sent ME a Notice to Perform?!
  4. Poll: My Stupidest Homebuying Mistake
  5. "SOLD!" (But I'm Still Not Giving It To You)
  6. Photos of my Trashed New Home
  7. March 2009: One Year Later
  8. Ways to Recognize a Smokers' Home
  9. Removing Cigarette Odor
  10. Share Your Homebuying Horror Stories