Vancouver Wa Real Estate - Elite Realty NW

Dirt Bag Builder Finally Makes Good On Deal - Vancouver WA Real Estate

It was the first week of January 2010. Our clients had seen most everything out there and didn't like any of it. They came to us with a flyer for a new subdivision where the builder was pre selling homes that were right in their price range. They couldn't believe that they could own a new home at the same price as some of the older homes that we had visited.

Having worked with dozens of builders in the Clark County area, we counseled our clients as to what they should expect during the experience. They were up for the challenge and we wrote an offer. My clients were renting an apartment and they were very concerned about timing. They has a clause in their lease that imposed large penalties for staying in the property without a long term lease. Tenants who are on month to month leases incur monthly rate increases. OUCH!

The builder claimed to be able to finish the home by April 17. Just in time for our clients to vacate their apartment before the deadline of April 30. Just to be sure, we wrote a clause into the contract triggering a $8,000 price reduction if the home was not move in ready by April 30. Everyone was in agreement and we moved forward.

My anxious clients drove past the site on a daily basis. Weeks passed and they were disappointed to see that there had been no work performed on their new home. The builder claimed that there were permit problems but we could see that there clearly had been 5 other homes started in the neighborhood. Four of them were for deals that were signed after theirs. The builder finally broke ground and poured the foundation during the 2nd week of April.

April 30 came and went and the contract extensions filled our files. Visits to the build site revealed unhappy framers, plumbers, and electricians complaining about not being paid.

Everything came to a head last week. The builder missed yet another closing date and when we were working on, what was supposed to be, the last contract extension, his Realtor called and told us that the builder was refusing to sign it. She informed us that he wasn't aware of the addendum for the price reduction and that he was going to let the contract expire and sell it to someone else!

After a few well founded threats of lawsuits, a friendly chat between our broker and their broker, and a not-so-friendly phone call between their broker and the builder, we got it all sorted out. The buyers got their home and their discount and no has to deal with messy courtroom appearances and nasty newspaper articles. Our clients were thrilled to get their keys last night and are moving into their beautiful new home this weekend. All is right with the world!

 Or is it?

In subdivisions like this, the model homes draw a huge amount of walk in traffic. The builders enjoy the advantage of controlling both sides of the deal when unsuspecting buyers wander in off the street and buy a home directly from their agents. What would have happened in this case if our clients didn't have us to fight for them?