Posted by notarydi/CA on 8/13/13 1:09pm
Msg #480316

crying shame....

I did a Signing a couple of weeks ago for a young couple buying their first home. Signing & closing went fine. I happened to see wife last night. She was very sad. Apparently, they did their final walk thru on property & signed off on everything. Went to move 4 days later & discovered seller had replaced all the brand new appliances & fixtures with the old original crappy ones from.1960. Seller is a professional ”flipper”.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/13/13 1:12pm
Msg #480317

I sure hope they took pictures during their final walk-through. That's horrible.

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 8/13/13 1:13pm
Msg #480318

Isn't that grounds to sue? n/m

Reply by notarydi/CA on 8/13/13 1:13pm
Msg #480319

Does not want to file complaint. Said it would take time, money, and energy that she just does not have right Now.

Reply by PegiT_MN on 8/13/13 1:17pm
Msg #480322

Time, money, energy my butt.......I'd be calling the police department and letting them know that my appliances were stolen and I know exactly who did it.

Reply by Marian_in_CA on 8/13/13 1:20pm
Msg #480324

Same here! n/m

Reply by HrdwrkrVA on 8/13/13 1:27pm
Msg #480327

Good one PegiT!!! n/m

Reply by 101livescan on 8/13/13 1:52pm
Msg #480329

THEFT! By owner/seller! He needs a spanking. n/m

Reply by Tudi/CA on 8/13/13 9:07pm
Msg #480398

Re: THEFT! By owner/seller! He needs a spanking.

He needs more than that...he needs to be sued.

Reply by Tudi/CA on 8/13/13 9:34pm
Msg #480405

Another way to deal with this...

Legal action can be expensive and this first time home buyer may not have the resources to pursue this in a legal action. Another very effective method is to call the local TV stations "Consumer action on your side" person. If they a story on this and the property flipper is identified and associated with a lot of bad press, it might result in the homeowner getting the appliances returned to her. It's worth a try and it won't cost any money. It will also educate other people about how to protect themselves from the same thing happening to them.

Reply by docs2go/ca on 8/13/13 3:41pm
Msg #480348

Great suggestion, Peg!

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/13/13 4:34pm
Msg #480356

There should have reported a theft IMO. n/m

Reply by Tudi/CA on 8/13/13 9:02pm
Msg #480394

One of my friends recently sold her house. In her dining room, hung an "out of this world" Rock Crystal Chandelier (17th C. antique, France). On the dining room table, a sign was prominently displayed that read "Chandelier does not go with the sale of the house". She was told by her realtor that unless something was labeled as such, the buyer had the right to assume it would be included in the purchase. I think the woman in "the crying shame" situation should look into the laws of her state regarding real estate transactions. It seems a shame to let an unscrupulous professional flipper continue to rip people off. He will probably continue to do this until someone stops him with legal action.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/13/13 4:04pm
Msg #480352

It's fraud. Final walk-through is just that. Did they read

their contract? Maybe it said the appliances didn't convey.??? Dirty trick for those 1st time homebuyers though. Shame on him!
They need to talk with their agent right away.

Reply by VT_Syrup on 8/13/13 1:21pm
Msg #480325

Escrow is evil for purchases.

Table signing, cashier's check, IMMEDIATE possession is the way to go.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/13/13 1:58pm
Msg #480331

Depends on what's in the contract and the required

disclosures. If this were me I, personally, would not let this slide - providing the contract was clear that the house was being purchased with those appliances. That's where the key is.

It's a shame this seller can do this with a clear conscience. Makes me sick.

Reply by loancloser46 on 8/13/13 2:15pm
Msg #480335

If there was no exclusion of the appliances in the contract

and if they have photographic evidence for example : a brochure, website listing, perhaps even a picture they took from a cell phone, I think they could go after this piece of garbage. What a lousy thing to do to someone. I just do not know what is wrong with people. Ethics, morals and just plain human decency all seem to be disappearing from our society.

Reply by GOLDGIRL/CA on 8/13/13 4:52pm
Msg #480360

So, true, loancloer46!

<<<Ethics, morals and just plain human decency all seem to be disappearing from our society.>>>

Seller is probably a SS owner.

Reply by JPH13/MO on 8/13/13 2:16pm
Msg #480336

If this was a property listed thru a real estate company....

...they have options. The contract should have stipulated the appliances that stayed (and if it didn't then the buyer's real estate agent is to blame and could be made to buy them appliances!) The listing would probably be online and include pictures of the main rooms, and those pictures would most likely show the appliances that were supposed to be left behind, and the purchaser could use those to get law enforcement involved. They should definitely not let the seller get away with this!

This happened to me many, many years ago, although it was only the refrigerator that was switched out to an older one that had been in the garage. We specifically listed BOTH refrigerators in the contract. We informed the real estate agent that we were missing a refrigerator and the real estate company involved ended up buying us a refrigerator comparable to the one that was taken by the seller. I guess the seller was someone they worked with a lot, and they just let him know to never do that again and that they covered for him that one time.

Reply by LynnNC on 8/13/13 2:57pm
Msg #480341

Did listing show photos of the appliances...

...and did their contract include them? If so, the buyers should prevail in a lawsuit.

Reply by MW/VA on 8/13/13 5:01pm
Msg #480363

"Seller is a professional 'flipper'". & ripoff artist, IMO. n/m

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/13/13 6:19pm
Msg #480369

I'd say the seller is a professional thief and con artist! My brother has been involved with "flipping" properties for a very long time, but if he and his partners are replacing appliances, it's old crappy ones being switched out for brand new ones. The pros in any field or profession ADD value, they don't siphon it off to defraud others.

Reply by rolomia on 8/14/13 4:27am
Msg #480422

The victim was obviously an easy mark for said con artist.

The flipper saw the buyer as a potential mark. He probably knew that she wouldn't pursue charges or legal action when he stole the newer appliances. I'm sorry that this unfortunate circumstance happened to her. But, UNLESS she takes legal action and/or pursues criminal charges against him, she will likely have to accept her plight and eat humble pie. Call it a learning lesson. The op didn't specify whether it was known if the newer appliances were listed in the sales contract. If so, she has a stronger case. If not, it's a matter of perception and assumption.