Moron update
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85146)
Shingle Springs, California
August 22, 2012 1:59pm CST
Previous discussion summary for those who didn't read it. We sold our house, the buyers rented it back to us for a month, and they were trying to keep some of our security deposit because they weren't happy with the cleaning.
Fast forward a few weeks. I was able to produce a receipt showing their information, the date, the address, 6 hours of cleaning, and the amount I paid. I told our broker that we cleaned the carpets ourselves. She passed all this onto the other broker.
The other broker replied that they had brought in cleaners for $270, had spent $3000 on painting the walls because they were too grimy to touch up, had rented a carpet cleaner for $75, and now that they know we didn't use professional carpet cleaners, were going to have to bring cleaners in and probably pay them at least $500. She suggested that we settle for $1000, otherwise she did not know how we were going to resolve it. Later she mentioned $1000 again, and threatened to take us to small claims court. They are holding OUR $2000 deposit, and they are going to sue US? How stupid.
I went over the documents with our broker, and voila, it does not say we have to professionally clean the carpets, only that we have to have them cleaned. And although it says we do have to have the house professionally cleaned, it does not specify walls, windows, etc., leaving it to our discretion as to what will be cleaned. We did normal cleaning, ie kitchens, bathrooms and floors. She requested that they refund our deposit.
She got their response a day late, because it went into her spam folder (how appropriate). I haven't seen it yet, but they were asking about the utilities, specifically when we turned them off. I knew for sure it was after we turned over the property, but I had to verify with R. Since utilties were in his name, I gave him a list and asked him to take care of it. He did do it several days later, but apparently some of the utilities roll over to the new homeowner automatically. So we paid gas and electric, but it looks like water and disposal went to them.
I did not know that the utilities up here do that, and they didn't tell that to R when he called. So I suppose these guys will try and deduct the amounts from my deposit. I will say no, the agreement says the deposit must be returned after the cleaning is completed. If they get us copies of bills that they paid, I will write a separate check.
Will this never end? lol
9 people like this
17 responses
@topffer (42156)
• France
23 Aug 12
I don't know exactly the laws of your state, but here we apply common sense: a buyer is supposed to know and accept the condition of the house he is buying when he takes possession of the keys, and the deposit is only for hidden defects that cannot be seen at this moment, which is not the case of carpets and paintings. Your quote "now that they know we didn't use professional carpet cleaners, were going to have to bring cleaners in and probably pay them at least $500" demonstrates only the bad faith of the buyers, and it is enough to sue them. I would not offer a cent, but I would require interests and damages for the deposit unfairly blocked.
2 people like this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 Aug 12
If it goes past Friday, I may just do that...
@celticeagle (168256)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Aug 12
I wondered what happened with the cleaning thing and am glad you are standing your ground. R. is being a good egg it sounds like. That must be nice. Is he finally getting it? So, I hope this turns out okay for you. Nitpickee people are so much fun to deal with. Ugh! I want to go out some where and SCREAM!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (160949)
• United States
30 Aug 12
Gonna squeeze every dollar until it screams loud and clear. The roll over of the utilities was not your fault and you will make it right. You will write separate checks to make it obvious what went where. I do not see how people can be so stubborn and so stupid.
1 person likes this
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
24 Aug 12
I believe that I missed the previous discussion that you'd started about these idiots, but I can completely see why you are calling them that from the content of this particular discussion.
Okay, first of all, the cleaning that had to be done. Yes, it does make sense to me that there would have to be cleaning done when you are moving out of a rental and that is what your home was for this month. However, the way that I've always understood a cleaning to be is that it is returned to the owner in the condition that it was in when the rental period started. Seeing as how you only rented your home for one month, there really wouldn't be that much grime that was put on the house. So, the general cleaning should have been sufficient.
With that all said, if they did not like the state of cleanliness of the house before they purchased it, then they shouldn't have even bought the house.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56053)
• Los Angeles, California
22 Aug 12
OMG what a nightmare! That's just crazy. If the documents do not specify these wee details, then I would think they do not have a case against you. It sounds like you guys cleaned within what was specified - so now they're being stupidly nit picky. They can't pin their wall painting bill on you on top of that!! I hope this all gets resolved soon and that things go in your favor! Grrrrrrrrrrrr.
1 person likes this
@nangisha (3495)
• Indonesia
23 Aug 12
For heaven sake! are they moron... is it common to had that's much rule on your renter. I mean if here if we rented a really temporary its not our obligation to re paint the house. The way I see it... its a black mailing.
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Aug 12
Not sure what it is, but it is very annoying.
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
23 Aug 12
Oh wow!!! Now that seems like a humdinger of a pickle situation wow. I am always having to clean my moms rented houses she rents but thankfully they are always happy with just cleaning walls and mopping and a vigorous carpet vacuuming. Which means I vacuum it several times. And spot clean with carpet cleaner.. They appear to be money grubbers it seems to me... A hassle for sure.. But isn't a lawyer costing you more then what their asking in the end?
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
23 Aug 12
Here in UK, such deposits are held not by the landlord but by a organisation that adjudicates in such disputes
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@blue65packer (11826)
• United States
23 Aug 12
Boy talk about a mess! They sure are morons and are out to get your money! Yikes! I hope it ends soon! The way it sounds that is not going to happen for awhile! Morons indeed!
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Aug 12
You know, my ex spent an hour over there showing them how everything in the house works. When he was in there he observed that they had painted the walls a different color. If the issue was really that they were so dirty they had to paint, they would have just used the paint we left in the garage. jerks...
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
30 Aug 12
Couldn't afford the payments.
And I am just fine. Just annoyed at my buyers and their agent.
@sanjay91422 (2725)
• India
23 Aug 12
Okay, THE END.
Hope for the best and everything will be okay.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
22 Aug 12
wow dawn I can see where you got moron from what a mess., It do sounds to me like they are just trying to bilk you out of money
they should not be wanting at all. hope your realtor can persuade
them to return your security deposit at least.Do not let them
deduct the utilities f rom your deposit. what morons indeed.
I hope this gets over soon and you can start putting your
life together again,.good luck God Bless hugs
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Aug 12
I told my agent I would write a separate check for the utilities after they produce copies of bills.
This Friday will be a month already. Geez...
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
22 Aug 12
I've got a mallet if you want to hit them over the head with it?
This is ridiculous, they are just dragging it out and trying to get you to pay for things that you shouldn't have to pay for / deal with.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
22 Aug 12
I was thinking of egging the house myself.
Seriously, when it is all over, I may just go online and post a negative review about their broker.
@wilsongoddard (7291)
• United States
22 Aug 12
You may want to consider suing them. This has long since passed the point of being ridiculous. They are trying to breach the terms of the contract, and their representative sounds as though she should be reported to the licensing board for how she has conducted herself.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85146)
• Shingle Springs, California
23 Aug 12
If they deduct anything we don't agree to, we will sue. Good idea about reporting her to the licensing board. I was just going to post a negative review of her online, but that's a better idea.