Dallas-Fort Worth Real Estate Investor Club

Buyer coming back after months demand for repair cost

  • 27 Mar 2018 12:01 PM
    Message # 6002476

    Hello Guys - I have an urgent question to ask. I sold a house couple of months ago. Buyer wanted some plumbing repairs done at the property and he send me an amendment for repairs. I had the repairs done and the buyer did a re-inspection and close the property. A month after the closing he send a text message and start complaining about plumbing issues again. I told him that you did the inspection before closing and now I am not responsible for any more work. He did not follow up after that. Now after couple months he send me an email and demand about 3800 worth of plumbing repairs and threatens me to sue. What are my options

    Thanks

  • 27 Mar 2018 5:13 PM
    Reply # 6003081 on 6002476

    Almost anyone can sue almost anyone.

    Have you seen the repair estimate? Is it from a reputable company? What is the issue? Was it related to the original issue? Maybe he should be going after the plumber or inspection company?

    Have you directly talked to the buyer? Sometimes people misinterpret the emotion in a text. 

    Also consider what your cost would be to fight this in court. It might be best to find an equatable solution. 

  • 28 Mar 2018 1:14 AM
    Reply # 6003585 on 6002476

    When someone buys a house, they accept is as-is.  They have no case.

  • 28 Mar 2018 6:04 AM
    Reply # 6003823 on 6002476

    I've had this happen before too. I think its in your best interest to be responsive and helpful, but not take any liability on yourself. Help the buyer figure out exactly the issue, maybe the plumbing company who initially did the work can check if it has to do with their original work or if its under warranty. A little effort like this will go a long way. Remember, this is likely the largest purchase this person will ever make, a little good will will go a long way. Tough situation, legally really don't have to do much, but morally its the right thing to help them find a solution. 

  • 29 Mar 2018 8:07 AM
    Reply # 6006090 on 6002476

    more details please... Is it work your plumber did or something else? What is the problem?  How long did they own the house before this problem started? Maybe its something the owner did that cause the problem.... The more details you give us the more we can help:)


  • 29 Mar 2018 11:54 AM
    Reply # 6006536 on 6002476

    Well in this scenario the realtor is the buyer of the house as well. From the very start of the transaction he was very demanding and I fulfilled most of his requirement. After the inspection he send me a bill of 13000$ which was completely ridicules. I already offered him about 20K discount on the listing price as I want to sell the house fast due to my financial circumstances. The repair amendment boils down to 2500 discount on the property as buyer assistance and repair of some plumbing vents and electrical outlets.

    After I completed his plumbing and electrical repairs on the property he did a final inspection of the property. He was pretty technical from the very start and understood all the repairs very well. Two weeks after the house was closed he texted me about the issue in one of the bath room vent and bowing of plumbing line (Foundation is pier and beam). Due to which the water was flowing slowly. I gave him my plumbers number and he never contacted me after that. Now after five months from the day of closing he comes after me and demand 3800$. The invoice include all kind of small things he had listed in his initial demand after the inspection. 

    He never consulted with me or asked me before having the repairs done at the property. If he had contacted me about the severity of the issue I would have definitely helped him out and fixed the problem by bringing back my plumber. it may have max cost me about 500 to 600$. 


  • 30 Mar 2018 4:49 AM
    Reply # 6007640 on 6002476
    Deleted user

    When you sold the house, did you sell it "As Is, Where Is, With All Faults," or did you just use a standard TREC Single Family Residential Resale contract?

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