Lurker with almost funny story

[krz1211]

I'm a lurker, but thought you might get a kick out of this. We were set for an appraisal on new home this morning at 7:30. Owner (house was a flip, and empty), called about that time to say appraisal needs to be postponed. Within a few minute my husband gets an email from StreetScan (online service that updates you on crime in specified area) that police were called at 7:29am for burglary. Apparently owner and appraiser showed up and were surprised by a young man camping out in the home & jamming to music. Came in through an unlocked window. We've had a nagging concern regarding safety of area (no known issues but on the fringe), and this raised our flags. On one hand, the house has been vacant for almost 2 years, and on the market (empty) for over 6 months. But yikes. We are a little freaked out!

[mrsemilys]

Aug 18, 2017 12:51:48 GMT -5 krz1211 said:

I'm a lurker, but thought you might get a kick out of this. We were set for an appraisal on new home this morning at 7:30. Owner (house was a flip, and empty), called about that time to say appraisal needs to be postponed. Within a few minute my husband gets an email from StreetScan (online service that updates you on crime in specified area) that police were called at 7:29am for burglary. Apparently owner and appraiser showed up and were surprised by a young man camping out in the home & jamming to music. Came in through an unlocked window. We've had a nagging concern regarding safety of area (no known issues but on the fringe), and this raised our flags. On one hand, the house has been vacant for almost 2 years, and on the market (empty) for over 6 months. But yikes. We are a little freaked out!

Yeah whoa that would make me pause too!

[mountaingirl]

I don't think he will be back. Was he destructive at all or just needed a space? I would think he knew it was empty for so long and needed a place to sleep. You are in the process of buying it so I would assume his sweet dreams are over!

[mrsukyankee]

In almost any part of the world if someone sees an empty place they are going to try to find a way in - we have it in the nicest areas of London all the time (squatters). I wouldn't worry about it tbh. I would just do as I did after we moved into our house, which is put in an alarm system.

[cmeon]

We have squatters in the multimillion dollar homes neighborhoods here. The people who squat have no interest in a home that's occupied, I wouldn't worry over that. He might have dissuaded other criminals by occupying the house!

[arehopsveggies]

We had a squatter before we bought our old house... lived there for 5 years with no issues at all. I think obviously empty houses are just a magnet for that stuff

[krz1211]

Update: we came to terms with the situation and proceeded with the appraisal. More bad news....owner mis-represented square footage (by 480 ft), even after we had asked for confirmation prior offer. Needless to say, appraisal was much lower than what was contracted. Owner won't budge, so I guess we are walking away. Maybe the squatter was a warning!

[mrsukyankee]

krz1211, sorry your search has to continue but glad you dodged a bullet. Who knows what could be lurking there.

[mrs.jacinthe]

Aug 31, 2017 21:16:24 GMT -5 krz1211 said:

Update: we came to terms with the situation and proceeded with the appraisal. More bad news....owner mis-represented square footage (by 480 ft), even after we had asked for confirmation prior offer. Needless to say, appraisal was much lower than what was contracted. Owner won't budge, so I guess we are walking away. Maybe the squatter was a warning!

Ugh. We're in that same situation as regards square footage, but in our case, the tax records were/are wrong.

It sounds like maybe you've dodged a bullet here with these sellers, so definitely onward and upward.