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Kitchen and Bathroom Not Included (maybe)

I've titled this blog "Kitchen and Bathroom Not Included (maybe)"... and... I'll explain it all...

Hmmm that title kind of reminds me of like when I was little and would get a cool new toy and they would always say batteries not included.  Or like that movie batteries not included.

I remember that movie being kind of odd but I remember liking it a ton.  I should see if it's on netflix maybe.  Haha... help  take my mind off things.  Oh by the way it's 3am and I can't really seem to get back to sleep.  I woke up at a little past 2am after falling asleep at 9pm on my couch.  I was pretty tired after working all day.

Ok... so back to the kitchen and bathroom stuff... let me explain the situation.

So I'm trying to buy a condo right.  Well I did all the stuffs and things that are needed to buy property.  Requested documents and inspections and such.

Well the home inspection results came back and I looked through those.  The inspector found that a wire to the new sink-erator device garbage disposal thing was improperly spliced.  As well there were no GFCI outlets in the kitchen space within 6 feet of the sink.  This is all electrical code stuff.  He wrote that this all needs to be redone by a certified electrician.

I thought to myself but this is all brand new stuff.  How can this be?  The outlets were not GFCI but they were brand new.  And the wire running to the garbage disposal was improperly done yet it was new?  I'm confused.

Then I looked at the documents from the condo association.  Most specifically the 3407 transfer of sale document.  It said... known alterations "none known".

But there's a brand new kitchen!  How can it have known none listed?

Then I looked at some other parts of the transfer of sale documents and found 2 parts that didn't seem to fit with the results of the home inspection:

Part 1...

“Trade Vendor Insurance       

Before entering the Coach House Condominium premises to perform any work or provide any services, all trade vendors must provide proof of insurance reasonably acceptable to the Coach House Condominium Association Executive Board or its designee.  A copy of the insurance certificate shall be retained by the Coach House Condominium Association or its designee”

And Part 2...

“Sale of Unit

At the time of sale, certification from a registered electrician is required stating that all outlets, fuse panels and unit meter are properly wired, meet current code and in safe working order.”

If those 2 things were done... there wouldn't be improperly spliced electrical wires and non GFCI outlets.  It's apparently electrical code for a GFCI outlet to be put in within 6 feet of water.  But there are brand new non-GFCI outlets within 6 feet of the sink.

Something is weird about this.

At this point... I started to get a little worried that something might be more than weird... something wasn't right.

So I called up the condo association.  I said I have a question about a unit I'm purchasing.  The lady said ok... which unit are you inquiring about. So I told her the unit... and she pulled the file.  Then she said ok.. what's the question.

I said... well... It says here on the 3407 there are no known alternations on that unit.  She said that's correct.  That means nothing has been submitted to us for authorization during the time that the current owner has owned the unit.

So then I said well but that's what I'm calling to ask about... the alternations that were done.

She said... what alternations?

I said... the new kitchen they put in.

She said... They put in a new kitchen?!

.... umm... Yes.  A whole new kitchen.

She said... Really?  Well we have nothing in the file about that at all.

Now I'm sorta kinda possibly slightly freaked out.

I said yea that's part of the reason I'm interested in buying the unit.  It has a brand new kitchen and didn't seem to need any work unlike the other condo's I looked at.

And then I continued that currently they were doing work to half the bathroom.

She said well when are they supposed to start that?

I said they already did... they are doing the work now.

She said... oh my gosh... well we have no paperwork or authorization to that either.

I said so... what do I do?

She started to explain that if I really want the property it will become my responsibility after the sale to get proper authorizations for all the alterations.  If the alterations do not meet the specs for the documentation... changes will be required.  If the current alterations and changes are not authorized they will need to be removed or restored to their original state.

I was listening to her and picturing this in my head... I might not have a bathroom or kitchen?!?!!?!??!

I won't have a place to go to pee or a place to cook food!?

I didn't say that... I was just thinking all that in my head.

She continued on that I'd be responsible for any penalties imposed for fees... etc.  It would all need to be reviewed by the board and council...

So... I said... I might have to completely re-do the kitchen and bathroom?  She said... yes... it's possible you might have to.

But I just spent... EVERYTHING I have.  I can't afford to pay a contractor to do that!  Again... I didn't say that part... I just... thought that.

She also said... you can also not buy it and then the sellers will be responsible for getting proper authorizations.

I said thank you and hung up with her.

 

So then I asked around for some advice from people... most said that it sounds like it would be better to just walk on the deal and get the down payment back.  I then asked a dude that is a friend of my mom's that helped her buy her house to her back in the day.  He said that first of all I shouldn't have even put the full downpayment down until settlement.  I said that my realtor had said that I was supposed to do that.  He said no... that's not right.

Basically everyone I talked to was just kind of like... there's something fishy here... I would definitely withdraw the offer, get your money back and walk.

Now the seller's realtor also said that the condo association didn't need any documentation for anything and that if I buy it everything will be fine.  But...

OK.... I'm confused... the condo association is saying something officially that nothing was filed and telling me they have a file on the unit and that proper authorizations are needed before any work is done and it's in the condo association documents...

But the realtor for the seller is saying... it's fiiiiiiiine... just finish the sale and stop worrying about that stuff

I kind of believe the condo association waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay more than what the realtor is saying.

I mean... I really liked the place... but as well the inspector also said the electrical box posed a fire safety hazard too and would need to be reviewed and probably replaced.

So no sleeping soundly at night either because at any moment it might burst into flames?  And I couldn't put it out because I don't have a kitchen or bathroom to get water from!!!

I decided ok... I'm out of this.  Everyone I talk to says it's the best idea.

So I contact the realtor peoples on my end and we send over a termination of sale with a letter that I had to write for the reason and such.  I wrote up a professional business letter over the course of about 3 hours and gathered up and cited all my references and documentation.

I wanted to make sure things were done correctly.  After all I have $20,200 dollars on the line!  But from what I understand now $19,200 of that shouldn't have been put down until settlement.

So that got sent over...

The sellers then replied and said... if you terminate this... you won't get your money back without a fight.

wait...

A fight?  Ok... now I'm scared... and kinda confused.  Everyone I spoke with said you can just terminate it without any problem and get money back and... that it shouldn't be a really big deal to do that.

Well... that's where it's at now.  I guess I'll admit it that I'm a little over my head at this point and kinda need to get help with this.  So the family friend who helped to buy the house my mom currently lives in referred us to someone who he uses when things get a bit hazy.

Hopefully that guy can help!

All I wanted to do was make a responsible and adult decision to purchase a piece of property with years of savings and have a small place to live.

Now i'm just like... scared that I could lose 20 thousand dollars!  Or if I go through with it... I'll be stuck without anymore money and told by the condo association to rip everything out and start again.

I'm starting to think that maybe buying isn't such a good idea and that renting is really the right thing to do in life?

OK well I'm going to try and get back to sleep.  I guess I just have to wait and see what happens.  I'm definitely in need of some prayers that things work out.  I'll definitely be praying myself.  Because... I'm just REALLY scared and confused about this whole situation.