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On making an estimate of renovation at newly purchased flat

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angry scientist
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On making an estimate of renovation at newly purchased flat

Post by angry scientist » Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:24 am

Folks,

I purchased a re-sale private apartment (condo). The unit is tenanted for a few more weeks, however, I would like to get an estimate done earlier with contractors so as to start the repair works as soon as I get the keys. To let me in to inspect the place thoroughly upon a mutual agreement (with the current landlord or his tenant) at a reasonable time of the day is perfectly fair, is'nt it ? Am I asking too much ? My agent is a crazzzzzy woman and she does not want to either interphase this or would let me have the direct contacts of the other people involved !

offshoreoildude
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Re: On making an estimate of renovation at newly purchased f

Post by offshoreoildude » Mon, 10 Dec 2012 3:29 pm

angry scientist wrote:Folks,

I purchased a re-sale private apartment (condo). The unit is tenanted for a few more weeks, however, I would like to get an estimate done earlier with contractors so as to start the repair works as soon as I get the keys. To let me in to inspect the place thoroughly upon a mutual agreement (with the current landlord or his tenant) at a reasonable time of the day is perfectly fair, is'nt it ? Am I asking too much ? My agent is a crazzzzzy woman and she does not want to either interphase this or would let me have the direct contacts of the other people involved !
Of course this is possible. I did it myself for the place I bought. Stupid agent lady thinks you're trying to cut her out of something. It's your house (presuming settlemement has occured) so just show up - and politely explain you need to make an appt to do a reno quote.
Now I'm called PNGMK

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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:12 pm

Hi Angry Sci.

First thing is, it is not your property yet, so you have no right of entry. Therefore you are relying solely on the goodwill of the vendor, AND/OR their tenants.

Tenants have a right to Quiet Enjoyment, and this includes not being inconvenienced and interrupted by strangers to them, like yourself. So they also are within their rights to suggest you ‘go and swing your hook’ elsewhere. So: Be warned and prepare accordingly.

The landlord can say what they like, but I think you need agreement with the tenant on access, after all it is their home. Maybe you just say something like ‘Is it ok if I come over tomorrow at 6pm with two contractors, I’d like to get some quotes prepared ahead of time. I appreciate it interrupts your time too and I understand that, so how about I give you x/z/y to compensate that [$100 to a couple?, maybe a couple of cases of beer to some students]. Plan to make it win-win.

Then if you have one contractor you trust, fine, one quote is enough. Most newbie renovators/developers however I’d say get three (reinforced by the fact that the contractors will sense you’re a newbie if you are and cost the job accordingly).

You having access is really nothing to do with the agent. In simple terms because the default baseline is that you have no right to it! She’s likely ‘freaking out’ because she does not want you and your actions p’ing off the vendor and threatening her commission. In property sales, as in divorce, people can get hugely irrational ‘He wants $65 off the price of the $2mm unit because he says the tap in bathroom 4 needs a new washer. That’s it!!!, he’s trying to get one over on me, there’s nothing wrong with that tap!!! - I REFUSE to sell at all!!!!’.... oh yes, I’ve heard crazier stuff than that.

It’s not a transaction, it’s personal. You have to treat it like that, divine the direction of the wind, and tack your best course into it. If you can make every party on their respective side ‘feel like it was painless’ (westerners), or, ‘they won’ (easterners) then you have succeeded

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sundaymorningstaple
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Post by sundaymorningstaple » Mon, 10 Dec 2012 11:19 pm

^^^^
+1
SOME PEOPLE TRY TO TURN BACK THEIR ODOMETERS. NOT ME. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW WHY I LOOK THIS WAY. I'VE TRAVELED A LONG WAY, AND SOME OF THE ROADS WEREN'T PAVED. ~ Will Rogers

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JR8
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Post by JR8 » Tue, 11 Dec 2012 12:57 am

Well hello sailer that's a first.

:wink:

x9200
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Re: On making an estimate of renovation at newly purchased f

Post by x9200 » Tue, 11 Dec 2012 9:36 am

angry scientist wrote:Folks,

I purchased a re-sale private apartment (condo). The unit is tenanted for a few more weeks, however, I would like to get an estimate done earlier with contractors so as to start the repair works as soon as I get the keys. To let me in to inspect the place thoroughly upon a mutual agreement (with the current landlord or his tenant) at a reasonable time of the day is perfectly fair, is'nt it ? Am I asking too much ? My agent is a crazzzzzy woman and she does not want to either interphase this or would let me have the direct contacts of the other people involved !
If you are already a formal owner you have a full right to have the contact details of the tenants. Leaving this aside, I guess it does not take a scientist to figure out that you should have some contact info sufficient to deliver a message unless you don't know what property you have purchased. If you want to play hard threathen your agent with CEA.
If you are not a formal owner yet you have no base to request such info from your agent or the current owner.

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