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<p>dstark, do you only mean as respects selling houses? 
I could always tell everyone about cleaning out our basement this weekend . . . .</p>
<p>Seriously, I have come to the conclusion that we can’t predict the future, so we should be more or less up to date on major things we’d need to do to our house in the event of a sale. Just in case. If we ever had to sell for some reason, I want to be weeks away from being ready, not months.</p>
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<p>I was looking for an apartment for our son many years ago and just walked around the local neighborhoods and would talk to people that I’d run into. If I were looking at a particular place, then I’d consider knocking on doors of adjacent homes around 6:00 or 7:00 and just asking. In general, when people ask me about the neighborhood, I generally let them know as I would hope that someone that is interested in moving in that takes the time to examine the neighborhood would more likely make for a good neighbor.</p>
<p>Well, we had tiny action – we had a showing on Sunday, our sixth. No offers. No nibbles. No return trips.</p>
<p>Hayden…we don’t have to be that prepared to…
I am going to ignore your innuendo. ;)</p>
<p>Ema…it is not rude to ask potential neighbors questions and most people would be happy to answer questions. Those people that don’t want to be bothered will send you vibes. Remember…these homeowners had questions too once.</p>
<p>The quality of brokers varies widely. You will end up knowing more about the area you want than many of these brokers. </p>
<p>When you make the bid for a house…you should have contingencies with the bid so you can easily walk…for whatever reason. </p>
<p>You don’t have a buyer’s broker? In your area…do lawyers handle the transaction?</p>
<p>Veryhappy…what does your broker say about the selling process so far?</p>
<p>I have been told that some people get lawyers to deal with it but that most don’t. My friends who have bought houses recently in the area worked with a realtor and that was pretty much it… and our realtor said to just let her know when we’re ready to make an offer, so I didn’t think anything of it. I’m going to do more research about this… sounds like maybe there’s a step I don’t know about.</p>
<p>You should be able to ask your realtor whatever you want…</p>
<p>The very easy way to do it, ema, is for your realtor to call the listing agent. If they don’t have that information, they should know how to find out… from the seller, or track it down. It’s their job to get those answers. If your realtor isn’t willing to call and ask those questions, I’d dump him/her.</p>
<p>Sellers and their brokers should have an obligation to disclose to buyers if there is a homeowners’ association in place for a property. Buyers should not execute a contract until buyer has received and read the homeowners’ association/community disclosure, if applicable. Laws vary in different communities and states–consult with an experienced local real estate attorney for best advice!</p>
<p>My realtor has been in touch with the listing agents and they have just been telling her they don’t know. I don’t know if they just figure they don’t have to try that hard because houses are selling so quickly or what, but they have not been helpful. Like I mentioned in my first post on this, one listing agent even asked my realtor to call her back when we find out-- incidentally that house has been on the market about four times longer than similar houses have been lately.</p>
<p>I am thinking that especially since houses are selling so quickly, sometimes the same day or within days of going on the market, maybe we need to just make offers contingent upon the covenant being acceptable to us and then just back out if it isn’t, if that’s an acceptable thing to do… there is no time for all this digging around to try and find the info, and frankly I am tired of dealing with it. I wonder if that will make our offer less attractive in this competitive sellers market.</p>
<p>“I am thinking that especially since houses are selling so quickly, sometimes the same day or within days of going on the market, maybe we need to just make offers contingent upon the covenant being acceptable to us and then just back out if it isn’t, if that’s an acceptable thing to do… there is no time for all this digging around to try and find the info, and frankly I am tired of dealing with it. I wonder if that will make our offer less attractive in this competitive sellers market.”</p>
<p>Yes…to all your points…</p>
<p>I think it’s pretty easy to put a minor contingency like that in the contract so it won’t even be a factor. For example, on our standard form Northwest MLS purchase and sale agreement, one of the boxes that we check says, “Homeowners Association Review Period.” If the property is subject to a homeowners association, or any other association, then seller shall provide the buyer a copy of the following documents within (fill in the blank, we put 10) days of mutual acceptance. Association rules and regulations, association meetings and financial statements.</p>
<p>Ask your your agent about putting in the HOA review period. I would think that is a standard clause everywhere, and fairly insignificant. I’m surprised she didn’t suggest it, plus I’m surprised she is getting the “I don’t know” from agents she calls. I’m sure people put in a form 17 when they list a house, the seller disclosure on improved property…and must answer that question. This is a basic issue, the sellers know if they are in a HOA and must disclose it.</p>
<p>Do you feel your realtor is competent, or blowing you off? I have felt that sometimes with realtors, and have called other agencies just to ask some questions from the person answering the phone calls at the desk. If you don’t trust her, you could call the listing agents office, not necessarily identify yourself, just call the office and say I have a question about this property. Does it…? You can get some good information that way, and figure out if your agent is not doing her job properly for you.</p>
<p>out here is Calif HOA docs are required to be supplied in the disclosure packets listing agents provide. If the listing agent “dont know” about HOA or dont provoide the docs to interested parties or other agents, then contact the Office manager/ broker that they work for and let them know the situation.</p>
<p>This has been very helpful everyone, I’ll look into the matter further and see what I can come up with. Thanks for your help!</p>
<p>Back to your regularly scheduled programming, sorry to interrupt. :)</p>
<p>Just got the call from our attorney who was walking out of the successfully completed closing. Done. </p>
<p>It’s been a crazy 28 days since we signed the P&S agreement: finding a place to live and getting moved. I’m puttin’ my feet up today.</p>
<p>Congrats, IDad. It’s a nice feeling to get that phone call!</p>
<p>Nice…Interesteddad…congrats.</p>
<p>Are you happy with your new place?</p>
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<p>Yeah. I think it’s going to be OK. To be perfectly honest, issues like being “happy” or “unhappy” with it really haven’t been on the table for the past few weeks. Didn’t have the luxury of time to stop and worry about that.</p>
<p>The timeline to close before the end of the month when we didn’t sign a P&S agreement until the 2nd, severely limited my options and the time available to look for more options, which were going to become even more limited with every passing day since I couldn’t wait for stuff coming on the market for June 1st. The place I thought I had rented fell through when the current tenant decided not to move for a couple more months. There just wasn’t much of what I was looking for available. And, you kind of have to know where you are moving to be able to set the gears in motion for a move that has to happen within two or three weeks! Otherwise, I was going to have to start schlepping stuff to a Self-Storage place.</p>
<p>This place popped up on Craig’s List the next day (the 4th if I recall), I came to see it, and decided that I had to pull the trigger. Long time owner had lived here for years, bought a new place with a second wife, and had this place empty for a few months doing painting, new floors, and moving his stuff out. Location is excellent. Space is excellent – two story town house with two large 18 x 12 bedrooms upstairs and a finished basement. Landlord and I hit it off. And it was empty, so I could take it on the 15th and get moved by last weekend.</p>
<p>Sounds good to me…</p>
<p>I take it cats and gym equipment are allowed? :)</p>
<p>Our house has now been on the market for just over 3 weeks. We’ve had a dozen showings (one was a second) and an open house. No offers yet, lots of nice feedback. Busier this week than last, perhaps because schools are getting out and families are ready to think about moving. </p>
<p>This is a college town, so there’s a bit of in and out of profs as well.</p>
<p>Pretty tired of the whole showing thing but dealing with it OK. It’s certainly a lot easier now that the kids are teenagers than it was last time we sold, when they were an infant and a preschooler.</p>
<p>Today we had a showing scheduled from 9-10. I came back at 9:55 and saw no cars so went in and began to unpack groceries. Realtor showed up with buyer at 9:59. I thought I or she had the wrong time but as she put it “it’s not 10 yet”. Annoying but whatever, I walked the dog for awhile. I can totally see why a tenant wouldn’t want to be bothered, I’m the homeowner and I was annoyed.</p>
<p>Next weekend we have overnight houseguests for S’ graduation. Would you call your realtor and tell her “no showings” or respond to each request on the CSS individually? It would be a LOT less stressful not to have any showings but if someone is only in town for that one day or something I’d be willing to make the time I guess. Thoughts?</p>