Disclosing When House On The Market.

**Teresa T** · 01-26-2009, 02:49 PM

Hi everyone,

My house is on the market. I have disclosed that I have had two males who have harassed me here on the disclosure papers. I have actually endured harassment, vandalism to my house and verbal abuse.

Last week an agent called wanting to show the house indicating it was a female. I asked if it was a single female and she stated yes. I said she may not want to look at this house. That agent called my agent and got mad at her because I said that. My agent said that office may not show my house now. I just don't want another single female to go through what I went through here. They ended up canceling the showing stating the woman was sick.

I have disclosed the harassment and the music they play outside in the summer. Some think I was dumb to do that but I don't want anyone coming back at me. I have read they can come back at you for undisclosed defects including neighborhood nuisance for up to three years.

Thanks for listening. Any thoughts?

**Persimmon Lace** · 01-26-2009, 02:53 PM

If it's been written in the disclosure you were under no obligation to say anything and I wouldn't have said anything to the buyer's realtor. It's been taken care of. It's up to the realtors to make sure that the potential buyer knows what's in there.

**Greebo** · 01-26-2009, 02:53 PM

AFAIK, harassment by neighbors isn't a defect in the property, it's a matter for police.

**MandiDawn** · 01-26-2009, 02:57 PM

I have mixed feelings on this -
When I bought my house, the disclosure paper stated it was a new roof, total tear-off and replacement. It wasn't. It was leaking a year later, we did a tear off and found 30 year old shingles underneath. Our realtor told us nothing she could do.
On the other hand, you are saving a women alot of grief by disclosing that upfront.
When I worked at a certain dentist, it was a horrible place. They did not treat their patients right. One time, a lady called up, wanted to get in, I told her that it woudl be an 8-month wait and that she might want to go elsewhere, this was not a good place. She got mad and screamed at me over the phone. Lo and behold, she showed up for "emergency" appt, waited 7 hours in the waiting room and yelled at me in person for that. I calmly told her that I was the women she spoke with on the phone, and I had advised her to what the office really was.
I learned that people don't learn by advice, they learn by experience. So I guess from now on, yeah, put it on the disclosure papers, but just let it go at that. Heck, in this housing market, don't get people mad, just let them learn. If they come back on you, well, it was clearly written down for them to see, they just didnt' pay close enough attention.

**Greebo** · 01-26-2009, 03:07 PM

Originally Posted by MandiDawn

I have mixed feelings on this -
When I bought my house, the disclosure paper stated it was a new roof, total tear-off and replacement. It wasn't. It was leaking a year later, we did a tear off and found 30 year old shingles underneath. Our realtor told us nothing she could do.

She was right. You needed a lawyer, not a realtor, at that point.

**Teresa T** · 01-26-2009, 03:15 PM

Dealing anything in real estate is very scary. That was a terrible misrepresentation to you MandiDawn. One thing this house has had is a good roof.

I hope my agent does not get mad at me and dump me. This is a smaller town.

I had listed my house in the fall with an agent. The company ended up closing which allowed me to get away from this woman. I had mentioned back then in another thread that this woman had my house listed for about 100 square feet when it's over 1000. She refused to change it stating it could not be changed which I knew was a lie. I had asked her three times and three times she lied to me. I finally had to call the broker who changed it immediately.

I had listed my house in good faith with this woman, but this kind of thing always seems to happen to me. She probably sees it now listed again with another agent and is perhaps mad with me. Probably won't show it either.

**Nana2two** · 01-26-2009, 06:24 PM

Well in my opinion, the Buyer should check out the area prior of looking or buying. Buyers can contact the police department and ask if there are disturbances in that area. I have done it.

**jas** · 01-26-2009, 06:29 PM

the next person that buys your house might get along great with these people. I am not sure how much of this situation you are obligated to share. Now if the person was a child molester and the potential buyer had small children for sure.

**TigerGirl1226** · 01-26-2009, 06:32 PM

I think if you put it in the disclosure you have taken care of your obligation to share information with potential buyers.

**staciah** · 01-26-2009, 07:23 PM

We just sold our house and the the property disclosure is about any defects on the property not the people that have harassed you. If you want your property sold, than let the next owner deal with any harassments if any come along. Thats not your problem. If I was you I wouldn't have put that info on the property disclosure.

**Luv2BeFrugal** · 01-26-2009, 08:52 PM

It doesn't sound like it was a legal issue... But, I think it was really nice of you.

I know I would have appreciated anything like that being brought to my attention.

**Momto2Boyz** · 01-27-2009, 07:16 AM

I think it is something worth mentioning to prospective buyers, just be careful not to scare them away!

When we moved into our house, the couple that lived there before us, were going through a nasty divorce. He had broken into the house several times (broke down doors, broke windows, etc.), and the lady was very upfront about it, and I was thankful for that.

Becuase sure enough, we'd been in the house for about 2 weeks when we heard noises outside. He was trying to break in again, thinking she was still there. Boy was he surprised when the cops showed up, and there were total strangers living in "his" house!

I'm glad she told us, or we would have been really freaked out by it.

I think you should let them know, but don't go overboard about it. The next people may get along really well with the neighbors and not have the same problems that you do!