Dear Man from Whom we Purchased this House:
I am not going to involve your wife in this issue, as I feel she, like any mother, would instinctively share my concerns. I will henceforth assume she’s either suffering from Stockholm Syndrome or does not possess the capacity to distinguish right from wrong.
When we viewed this house initially, we noticed several crosses on the wall in your bedroom. To each his own, we thought, but were oddly comforted by the assumption that we may have been dealing with morally upright, responsible parents of three. What a worry-free way to pass the torch to first-time buyers!
The neighborhood seemed to be filled with children, and your realtor appeared relieved that we were “nicer than that other couple who were looking at the house” and would “fit in well”.
I got a bad feeling when I saw you at the closing, rather, when you opened your mouth at the closing, cockily pronouncing that you handled the landscaping at the house. You turned me right off. We had already signed the papers at that point, but, boy, did I want to cut and run.
About a month after we moved in, we received a letter from the town that our house was in violation because no Certificate of Occupancy (i.e. the piece of paper that says people are allowed to occupy the finished basement) had been issued for the home. My husband and I ran around in circles, making calls to everyone involved in the sale. We wondered how, through a title search and the normal home buying process, that this could be missed. After hemming and hawing and recovering just enough to approach the problem, we invited four inspectors into the house, called in contractors to correct the violations, and had the Certificate issued.
It was at this point we began to question what (and whom) we were dealing with. Not soon after, we learned, via a puddle on the floor, that the master bedroom toilet had been secured to the ground with sheetrock screws. No worries, man. We had that fixed. Very soon after, a spontaneous conversation with the neighbor kids revealed that “there was so much water in the basement that we had to stand on the furniture!” Again, no worries. It’s just the safety of my family.
You see, my friend, as my husband always says, nothing stays hidden forever.
A few weeks later, the burglar alarm sensor on the front door stopped working. We called in the alarm company, who pointed out to us that the base of the front door was completely rotted. Our home inspector noticed the threshold and kickplate, and we had those repaired, but no one noticed the door.
It was around this time we started to feel like we were being bit by some sort of insect inside the house. We called in the pest control company, had treatments done, up to and including a ludicrously expensive heat treatment, to eliminate whatever was plaguing our family. I lost sleep. I lost a lot of sleep. One tends to lose sleep when one’s children are being needlessly harmed.
Our belongings were sealed up in bags and brought to the garage. Furniture was thrown out. We’ve been living out of plastic garbage bags since June. All the decorations we had lovingly chosen were taken down. We also removed everything that had belonged to you, including your washer and dryer. In the process, we realized that you had only painted as far as the buyer’s eye could see. Should we have moved appliances to see if you actually painted behind them? Should I have climbed up over the washing machine and peered behind it? Seems I should have. Kind of ridiculous, right?
And, by the way, nice touch on taking the outlet covers off to paint the bedroom and painting right over all the dead bees inside the outlets. I guess we should have removed the outlet covers as well while viewing the house?
But I digress. Back to the bugs. It was only after having a specially trained dog search the house that we realized we had carpet beetles.
Carpet beetles.
You said you had three kids, right? And lived here for eleven years?
That’s when we really, truly embraced the fact that we may not be so similar after all.
So we took care of the basement, the toilet, the vast and varied assortment of insects, the Certificate of Occupancy, and we’re in the process of having both the door replaced and all of the rugs removed and replaced with hard flooring. We’ve more than burnt the time and the energy you were lucky enough to conserve over the past ten years.
You robbed us of the first summer in our home. You kept our family away from us and our children. You’ve taken every cent that has come into this house since we arrived. You’ve robbed us of the ability to provide our children a safe and comfortable place in which to grow, but worst of all, you took our lifelong dream and strangled it unconscious.
My family, friends, and curious onlookers suggest we take you to court, but, you, my greedy, sneaky friend, are not the kind one takes to court. Besides, all of our time and money is tied up in keeping this house afloat for our children.
Despite all that, this is our house now, and we will no longer be subject to your failings as a father, as a husband, and as a homeowner. You have your money, but it was ill-gotten, and in my experience, nothing ill-gotten stays, so enjoy it while you can.
My family is strong and wise, and we’re doing the very best we can to ensure our health and safety. Which will be easy, since there’s no way in hell we’d ever allow our children to live the way you’ve let yours.
You took an entire summer’s worth of precious time, peace of mind, energy, and money from my family, but you will not take a single second more. Those days are through.
And just so you know, we chuckled the last time your church’s bulletin ended up in our mailbox.
OMG. What a vile, vile man. I wish a pox on his entire house!
What did your home inspector say to all of this? Seems like he/she must have missed some things that they may be responsible for…
Probably not though. I’ll bet you had to sign a bunch of crap saying anything you find after the sale is on you.
It’s all awful, Stephanie. I’m so so so sorry you’ve had to go through it.
The house we live in now was a STY when we bought it – stove and dishwasher didn’t work; infested with ants and termites; filthy from top to bottom and everywhere in between.
Four kids were living here and the parents were getting divorced so they stopped taking care of the house.
But at least we knew what we were getting into when we moved in. We weren’t blindsided.
I hope that at least now you can move forward knowing you’ve done everything you can to make your home and family safe.
Even if that jerk from whom you purchased the house did not.
Oh my god. What a horrible, horrible person to sell a house in that condition. And um, inspectors? How about doing your job, too??
I an SO sorry you’ve been dealing with this.
Man oh man, I hope this was cathartic for you to write!!!!! What a great outlook to a disastrous start in a new home!!!
Buying a home should come with a bottle of ‘ludes. People want to make poop look pretty and get the best price. Crooks! Home inspectors get cozy with everyone involved in the sale as well. My husband and I talked about becoming inspectors once. Then, when we knew we couldn’t lie to people or put them in danger we decided it wasn’t worth it. The bad thing is, if you went to the home owner and told them they left you a total filth pile they would act disgusted and deny it all. Why, YOU must have brought in the carpet beetles. We are renting a home that was a total filth pile, but because it was “Good enough for Deddy (yeah, say it just like that), it should be good enough for us.” Yep, leaky roof, sagging load bearing walls, roaches, rats and all.
Ummm – are we all in this boat as first time buyers, I mean for reals? I love hearing “stories” of my home from the neighbors about the basement flooding, the septic backing up, the hole in the wall covered by paneling, the once beautiful yard ruined by the most previous owners… oh, the list could go on! So, cheers to you for hanging on, remaining calm (I think) and taking the higher road and making the house into you home, a safe haven for your children. It’s just, what we gotta do, right? Keep on keepin’ on.
I think we need a first-time buyer support group. And individual therapy. Seriously.
What an awful experience you’ve been having; this sounds like a total nightmare.
WOW. I’m stunned that you guys had to work through that, and I really hope you’re coming out the other side. Over nine years in our house, we’ve replaced the siding, the walkways, the windows, the roof, the entire basement and both bathrooms, cleared the dog food out of the kitchen wall (yes, dog food), dealt with the ant problem, and most of the landscaping. But most of this was before we had children or after our kids were old enough to understand words like “dangerous”. What an incredibly stressful time for you. Just. Wow.
Houses suck. Owning a house sucks. Maybe someday I will feel differently, but, whoa boy, that’s how I feel right now.
What a horrible experience. I am so sorry that you and your family had to go through that. I hope that after you have fixed everything that nothing else pops up. Good Luck.
I’m so sorry to hear this! Makes me angry just to read it…can’t imagine actually living it!! My best to you and your family!
Thank you. There were definitely other ways I imagined this summer going.
A nightmare! Hope the bad part is over now.
What a nightmare. Wish you would sue their asses. As long as people get away with that crap it will keep happening. At the same time you’ve been through enough stress. What a disaster. I hope you eventually can find/build peace & security into your home!
Good God! This is one of the worst stories EVER! I’m so sorry for what you’ve gone through. It sounds like utter hell. I hope you are finished discovering the nasty little surprises now!
Thanks. I wasn’t gunning for worst story ever, lol. Perhaps there’s a monetary prize for that or free legal representation or something!
Did you have an attorney of your own represent you in this purchase? Does the deed come with warranties and representations? If so, you may have a claim against the owner. If you were not represented by counsel and don’t have adequate protections then that is a problem. Wishing you luck in the future.
Yeah, I vote for suing. What he did was wrong.
F*cker, want me to cut him?
I decided that if I ever see him, I am going to back over him with my minivan, pull up, and then back over him again. But, sure, if you see him first, go for it!
Wow! Buyer beware! We have had a very similar experience in our home, except the issues arose very slowly – wiring issues, ripped pool liner, broken central air conditioning, leaky bathroom, carpet beetles too. Hugs! Our former owners ended up divorced a year after we bought their home & I still see them around our relatively small town, and stick my middle finger up at them every time I see them.
Um. We’re shopping for a house right now. After reading this, boy am I ever going to be thorough in checking out the place. UGH. And yet, seriously, who would ever, EVER think that you’d find PAINTED OVER BEES behind the plates? And who would even think to check for something like that? Crapballs.
If I EVER do this again, I am going to see the house at least twice, and I am going to be the crazyperson who checks EVERY nook and cranny of the house. I am going to move things and everything. I am totally traumatized. I think spending extra time at the beginning is SO worth it, though, given what we’re going through.
Well, I know it doesn’t do anything to ease your situation, but your story is potentially helping me a lot. Nerdy as I am, I’m writing down all the things to check before I even make an offer on a house — look behind the appliances, check behind switchplates, check carpet for bugs (!!!) So you may be saving me, my husband, and my toddler a whole lot of grief.
I recommend watching old episodes of (Mike) Holmes on Homes to find out what house problems he has had to deal with and, especially, how to fix them. I learned SO much from that show, and how house sellers hide things to make it look better than it is, or safer than it is. My broker must have thought I was crazy when it took my husband and I more than two dozen houses to go see and six offers before we finally settled on the one we’re in now. Even then there were a few surprises, but not unfixable up front. My prayers go out to you – I hope by telling your story, you save other naive readers/first time homebuyers out there your heartbreak. Knowledge is power, ladies, and don’t be afraid to poke your head into the attic to see for yourself if there’s fields of black mould under the sheathing and then wonder why the sellers’ kids have a goose-like honking cough when they vacate the house as you pull into the driveway while you wait for the real estate agent (they’re always late). Good luck, Steph! May all your house troubles be done with, girl.
Thanks. And, yes, I do hope it helps people. Pull back the rugs, move appliances, do whatever you need to do to feel confident about your decision. Be a pain in the ass! It’s so worth the peaceful sleep later.
That’s just plain horrible. I feel your pain!
Hubby and myself just bought our second property from a guy who seemed so nice. [apparently, of course.] Prior to completion we went in details through the list of things he planned to leave in the property, as he did not need it but we did. Basic stuff like a bed frame, a large wardrobe and a washing machine which was even included in the fitting and furniture listing from the agent. A couple of days before completion we needed to access the property to take some measurements but we have been denied access (?) since vendor was advised by his solicitor not to let buyers in before completion. Moving day arrived and we find out he had snuck in and emptied the property, ripping out the fitted washing machine from the kitchen. We are too busy renovating and so behind schedule that we cannot be bothered with legal procedures. And oh, icing on the cake, we’ve got a mouse infested flat!!!
I so feel your pain in this letter. It amazed us when we bought our current house was was hidden and covered over. Also, how did the inspector miss some of this stuff. AND, why was the seller allowed back in the house to trash it after our final walk through just an hour before closing.
Some of the things were pure evil – taking every light bulb, including the refrigerator, oven and microwave light. Taking all of the chains out of each and every toilet so that they couldn’t be flushed, and complimenting it with your own disgusting deposit. Then, unscrewing all of the handles from the faucets so that when we turned them on, they couldn’t be turned off. That was the deliberate stuff.
Any recourse – NO! It was a divorce, the owners were in two different states, the kids had broken in and trashed the house because they were upset to be up-rooted from their home and high school.
The months following, we felt like we bought the money pit based on all the stuff that had been fixed with duct tape, rubber bands and Elmer’s glue.
My thoughts go out to you and you finish renovations and get to move into a safe home for you and your children!
I’m so sorry that you’re going through this. I read parts of your letter out loud to my hubby. It has been our situation since we moved into our home two years ago. For the first few months, it seemed every day we would find small things. I kid you not, every towel bar and toilet paper roll holder fell off the wall when I went to place a towel/roll on them. A/C didn’t work, house fan broke, water pressure was crazy scary high, one of our breakers went bust, the sprinkler system still is an issue. That, however, pales in comparison to what you’ve been going through and I give you kudos, send you bloggie love, and pray for your continued patience for this entire process to be over. In the end, you did not go through this for nothing–you’re wiser, and–LOOK!–you’re educating so many people about this whole home-buying process. And as for that d-bag, don’t get me started.
even with all the bad things. I love your outlook on it. He will pay for what he did
I cannot believe what this man – and his wife – have done to your family. Your attitude is amazing and I wish you only happiness and good memory-making times in your now-perfect new home. Karma will bite him in the bum soon enough
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