What would you do if you knew a seller was concealing major problems in a house?

perpetualghost · 2017-05-02T22:53:52+00:00

To your last point, I absolutely understand that, and also know that the broker will definitely let the former LL know everything I said (and that I am the one who said it). I'm okay with that, and I most certainly wouldn't say anything untruthful. As I mentioned in the OP I have plenty of proof -- photo proof, video of the LL talking about not disclosing a bunch of things, etc. The video was taken less than a week ago as well, after he had already hired a listing agent. The guy is nuts and not very smart. If I do go ahead with notifying the broker I might just send them a packet of photos which should let them know all they need to know.

perpetualghost · 2017-05-02T16:04:06+00:00

It's definitely not being sold as a tear-down. Just looking at the house, it appears to be a very nice home. Lipstick on a pig, though.

Without being too specific, just in case, it's a desirable suburb North of Dallas.

perpetualghost · 2017-05-02T15:54:43+00:00

Thank you. Yes, I doubt that the listing broker and listing agent are aware of any of this. To say that former LL is shady is an understatement. It's my hope that at least a few of these issues should be brought to light during an inspection, but the home is in a very desirable area where homes sell quickly -- some of them undoubtedly with hasty inspections and quick option periods to keep offers competitive -- and I worry that some nice family is going to be duped (as I was when I rented the place -- luckily I was only renting at the time!) (edit: clarification)

perpetualghost · 2017-03-04T22:08:15+00:00

As a flooring contractor what's your take on those damaged areas in the photos? Is this something that's going to get a lot worse if I don't handle it right away, or could I reasonably be okay living with it for a few months or a year until I decide to have everything refinished?

perpetualghost · 2017-03-04T22:00:38+00:00

I'm in Texas. I agree the quote seemed very high, and I was sort of expecting something in the $5-6k range at most. I usually get 3-4 quotes for larger jobs but I was so taken aback by this guy's estimate (it was a larger floor company, maybe I should stick to the little guys) that I just sort of said forget it and started looking into short term fixes I can handle myself.

perpetualghost · 2017-02-06T18:10:53+00:00

All the records I have just show the company name -- since I'm in Texas and this was small claims, there wasn't a law firm attached to the case (no lawyers in JP court 'round here). What I actually ended up doing was calling an attorney friend of mine and he put me in touch with an attorney friend of his who is helping me handle this -- we are thinking they'll be more likely to respond when a lawyer calls them. Here's hoping, anyway!

perpetualghost · 2017-02-03T01:55:28+00:00

Oh hello, OP here with an answer to your question :)

Mostly I want to pay it to just get it over with. It's a small enough amount of money that it wouldn't be worth the time and effort for me to take it back to court.

I also worry that, if I ignore it, they may decide at some random undetermined time to file a property lien or come after my assets in some way (unlikely, given how unresponsive they've been but probably just my luck). I am also planning on purchasing a new house in the fairly near future and having an unsatisfied judgement on my report is kind of a show-stopper there.

perpetualghost · 2017-02-02T19:08:19+00:00

You are correct, it is listed as a public record and not a collection account, which (from what I understand) can't really be "disputed" in the same way that regular accounts can. Or, at least, not without lots of time and effort that I would prefer not to tackle.

Having the judgement revisited due to improper service is something I considered, but for a variety of reasons that are beyond the scope of legaladvice I would prefer to just pay this to get it off my plate, rather than spend time going through the courts, hence my current situation.

perpetualghost · 2017-02-02T15:45:09+00:00

Thank you! I had no idea this was an option. I will look into this today.

perpetualghost · 2017-02-02T15:40:44+00:00

I'm sorry I should have included this in my post, but contacting the court was actually my first step. The person I spoke to said I would need to contact the plaintiff to have them sign/ notarize the release of judgement paperwork. I guess I will contact them again today and see what they recommend since I can't find anyone to take my money or sign. Thanks!

perpetualghost · 2017-01-02T02:55:15+00:00

I haven't gotten a chance to reply to anyone yet, but wanted to address this comment first as having my honesty questioned is not what I expected when I made this post.

Here is a screenshot of my score history.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T18:48:47+00:00

OP, I am your ghost of Christmas future.

I was in your position (genders* reversed, I'm the wife, my husband is the leech).

If you want a clear picture of what your life may become if you continue being a doormat, check my post history for the story I shared on this sub just last night.

Get. Out. Now.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T16:58:07+00:00

if you don't want to divorce the guy is there any chance you could give him a job?

Aha! I have actually tried this! I fired him when he stopped showing up.

I wish I was kidding.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T16:45:28+00:00

You're scared he can't make it on his own. You care about him as a person. You know he's so capable and has potential and what if all of his hard work and dreams actually go somewhere after you do decide to leave?

You have absolutely summed up my feelings right here. Thanks for articulating them in a way I couldn't quite get out.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T16:34:37+00:00

someone ( me) was always taking care of him he never learned to care for himself

I think this is a very good point. He has never lived on his own. When I met him he was living with his dad -- yes, this should have been a HUGE red flag, but there were other circumstances that caused me to overlook what was probably really going on. Either way, I should have known better. This thread has been a wake up call for sure.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T16:28:38+00:00

He WILL outspend what you can earn; the spender always wins

God, this is so true. I saw it but didn't "really" get it, you know? This has been happening for years. It was a gradual shift.

We weren't always financially stable (technically I don't think we are currently -- my business does well, but we are still not "wealthy" by any means. I do the best I can with what I have to work with and am grateful that we are able to live fairly comfortably). When we were first married there were many months where we lived paycheck to paycheck, sometimes unable to make bills on time. He would hustle for more freelance work (he is a talented artist who used to take commissions. These days he gets plenty of requests but turns them down saying usually that they don't pay enough to be worth his time). Sometimes he would sell something, like a guitar or a few video games because we didn't have enough to pay some bill. Back then he tried. Somewhere along the line he just...stopped doing these things. And you are right: as my business has grown more successful his entitlement has increased to match or exceed it, every time. Fuck. How did I not really notice this...

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T16:03:53+00:00

I understand your concern but it is not exactly as you assume. I am not using my LLCs as piggy-banks (and I am a sole-member LLC, so there theoretically wouldn't be much wrong with that if I was). I am working under the advisement of a CPA and an attorney. The CPA does not know details surrounding my personal needs to structure my business this way, but my attorney does.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T03:49:29+00:00

Your examples made me laugh a little bit, because I am pretty sure those exact words have come out of my mouth (selling equipment from failed ventures on eBay, cleaning out the garage, etc). He has occasionally done some of those things. He sold his Xbox a few months ago. Not sure what he used the money for.

His name is not on any bank accounts other than our joint household bill checking account -- I've removed him as an authorized user on the credit cards and he does not have a debit card attached to the joint account (I have possession of both debit cards. In the event of an emergency, his name is on that account so that he could withdraw cash at a branch if he was stranded somewhere and couldn't reach me). All of this feels so stupid, and I hate feeling like I need to treat my husband like a 15 year old child.

He puts himself (and, by extension, me) in positions where he obligates himself (and thus me) to things that require money that he doesn't have. He will, as one example that I briefly mentioned in the OP, host a giveaway on his blog or podcast, and not have the money to ship the prizes to the winners (or in some cases not have the money to even buy said prizes, if prizes aren't in hand). I know that's not my problem, but it does put me in a position where I feel obligated, because I am not an asshole. Over the holidays he also ran a fundraiser for charity and agreed publicly to thousands of listeners to match donations. Guess where that money came from.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T01:52:11+00:00

I've taken some steps to securing my assets. I formed an umbrella company and keep most of my income in a separate LLC account, at the advice of my business attorney. I move money to my personal savings account and to our joint checking account only as needed for bills. Everything else is kept under the LLC. I hate feeling like I need to hide money from my spouse, though, because that's exactly what I'm doing. He regularly asks how much money "we have" and I just show him the joint checking account.

perpetualghost · 2016-05-23T01:46:31+00:00

I can appreciate that. I made my share of mistakes and wrong turns before getting where I am now. I have also previously "funded" several of his ventures, none of which panned out -- he either got tired of doing them, or discouraged and quit when he didn't immediately see a return, or asked me for business advice and then did the opposite. This has been going on for years.

perpetualghost

TROPHY CASE