June 21, 2006

UPDATE: WEDNESDAY

THE DEAL IS OFF.

I'm actually as relieved as I am pissed off. The people who'd made the offer had gotten huffy when I asked them their names - as if it wasn't any of my damn business - and had then given me the names of their daughter and son-in-law instead of their own. I gave the contract, with my counter offer, to the son-in-law on Monday and an hour ago, the daughter called with her parent's answer.

Daughter:"They've decided they don't want the house. My mother is very upset that you changed their price and that you're taking so many things with you. They don't like any of the terms either."

Me:"Oh. Well, I did make it very clear, on all three occasions that your family came to see the house, that the washer, dryer and refrigerator were not staying. But if they'd like to make a counter offer, that would be fine."

Daughter:"No, she was very upset that the contract didn't have the price that she told you to put on it and that it didn't say that you would fix the roof and change the air conditioner or give credits for repairs. She said it was only good for you. But mostly they were upset that you changed the price."

Me:"Uh-huh. Well, it was a counter-offer and they did ask me to have my attorney write the contract. I did also tell them when they first saw the house, and moments after she made her offer, that the house was being sold AS-IS with right to inspect. But, that's fine, I appreciate you calling to tell me. Thank you."

And that was that. Game over.
I was already a little worried about dealing with them, I had a feeling they planned on nickle and dime-ing me to death even if I had accepted their initial offer. It sounds as if I was right.

Whatever. At least I've gotten the first offer out of the way. I'll get another. Soon. I'm going to believe that the gods took pity on me and ended this before dealing with them would have made me crazier than I am already.

It's fine....really. I'm going out to buy some Ben & Jerry's and a bottle of Cabernet and settle in to 'heal' from this experience.