Contacting the Seller Directly.

[TheJoe]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio


Wife and I are in the process of purchasing a foreclosed home. Contract has already been agreed upon and signed by both parties. Home is owned by a bank in Cali. Contract was finalized last week and it stipulated that we had ONLY 10 days to do inspections which ends tomorrow (Saturday 3/2/13).

Our termite inspector goes to the property on Monday evening and cannot enter the house due to a broken front door lock (was not broken on Saturday when our realtor showed us the home) My realtor calls and emails selling realtor Tuesday at 8:30 about the problem and our request to de-winterize the property for our plumbing inspection. Tuesday and Wednesday both pass with no response. Thursday I am fed up with the selling realtor so I call the bank and explain the situation. The selling realtor calls back within 3 hours and says the door is fixed and the property is dewinterized. She also sends an email to my realtor and the lady taking care of our inspections stating that I have broke agency law by contacting the seller and am I to only communicate through my realtor! My realtor tries to respond today (Friday) to see if we have an extension for inspections since we could not enter the property, still no reply!!

So, have I broken any laws by contacting the selling bank? Or is she just trying to bully me? And can I contact the bank again to see if we have an extension?? Or is this a problem due to my realtor not being aggressive enough? Any help would be greatly appreciated/

Thanks for your help!

Joe

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio


Wife and I are in the process of purchasing a foreclosed home. Contract has already been agreed upon and signed by both parties. Home is owned by a bank in Cali. Contract was finalized last week and it stipulated that we had ONLY 10 days to do inspections which ends tomorrow (Saturday 3/2/13).

Our termite inspector goes to the property on Monday evening and cannot enter the house due to a broken front door lock (was not broken on Saturday when our realtor showed us the home) My realtor calls and emails selling realtor Tuesday at 8:30 about the problem and our request to de-winterize the property for our plumbing inspection. Tuesday and Wednesday both pass with no response. Thursday I am fed up with the selling realtor so I call the bank and explain the situation. The selling realtor calls back within 3 hours and says the door is fixed and the property is dewinterized. She also sends an email to my realtor and the lady taking care of our inspections stating that I have broke agency law by contacting the seller and am I to only communicate through my realtor! My realtor tries to respond today (Friday) to see if we have an extension for inspections since we could not enter the property, still no reply!!

So, have I broken any laws by contacting the selling bank? Or is she just trying to bully me? And can I contact the bank again to see if we have an extension?? Or is this a problem due to my realtor not being aggressive enough? Any help would be greatly appreciated/

Thanks for your help!

Joe

**A: agency laws do not apply to you since you are not the real estate agent. On the other hand, your Realtor (your agent) should be doing all the contacting, not you.

 

[Mass_Shyster]

She also sends an email to my realtor and the lady taking care of our inspections stating that I have broke agency law by contacting the seller and am I to only communicate through my realtor!

Let the agents know that you are withdrawing your offer unless you get a written extension. You may also wish to inform the listing agent that if she falsely accuses you of a crime again that you will consider legal action against her and her principal.

Is "Your" agent a buyer's agent or a seller's agent?

 

[HomeGuru]

Stevef, there are 2 Realtors involved here, one for each party. I would not advise withdrawing the offer because the offer stands and the seller's side can be forced to extend due to access problems for the inspection etc.