Operation Easter is aborted.
We backed out yesterday after Julia discovered that the extensive renovations (second level) by the previous owners was not done under permit. The current owners choice not to pursue retroactive permits which requires extensive inspection and some cosmetic damage.
Without proper permits we were not comfortable with the potential liability or issues when we would go to sell it years later.
Ah that’s terrible! My dad will have a similar problem at my family home – my uncle built an extension but he wasn’t very good and well, walls didn’t match the plans very well.. I don’t think he’s done anything about it yet but he’ll have to.
Then, when I was buying my house my solicitor noted that there was a triangle of land at the end of the garden, outside the back wall. By law I had to have it enclosed because if someone stepped onto that patch of land and hurt themselves I could be sued!
All it took was 2 poles and some kite string, but the previous owners were a bitch to deal with, especially the wife. Eventually I bought the 2 poles, some string and erected the “enclosure” with the help of the husband.
Shortly after I bought the house both poles and string were robbed..
Tough luck Lloyd. There is always more fish (wood) in the sea!
I put an offer on a house in late 2006 that we withdrew because we later found an undisclosed crack in the foundation. It was heartbreaking because we loved the house, but we’re now in a house with more space that better suits our needs, has a much better yard, and shouldn’t be a sales liability. We definitely made the right decision. Hang in there.
Thanks for the well wishes everyone! It was a good dry run and we are now more confident.