Moving into a new home is often an emotional and stressful experience at the best of times, but what happens when features that were supposed to be included in the sale, aren’t there?
It’s a problem home buyers should be aware of when they’re negotiating a contract.
When Chris Leslie and his fiance bought a house, the window covers were included in the purchase contract.
But when they moved in, window coverings were missing in six rooms.
The seller’s realtor tried to get them back, but the seller refused.
Leslie has the option of going to small claims court to get compensation, but he doesn’t know if it’s worth it.
“In the end, is it worth it for me for some blinds? Probably not,” he says. “But I don’t like the fact that somebody said they would sell me something and ended up taking it. To me there’s a little bit of moral issue there.”
A realtor’s job is to make sure anything included in a sale is in the contract, but after the possession date a realtor is not responsible for the condition of the house.
Real estate lawyers say a buyer can include a compensation clause in a contract in the event items are missing or damaged, but there’s always a chance the seller may not agree to that condition.
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