Rewired, Retired, Episode 4

With all their financial problems, what do you think the buyer is focused on? My garage door! During the walk through, the buyer became convinced that the garage door does not safety-reverse correctly. Now, Gus and I were right in the back yard during the walk through, wouldn't you think if the buyer had a problem, he would have strolled into the back yard and mentioned it? Noooooo... He waited until he left, and then complained to HIS agent, who called MY agent, who called me. According to the buyers agent, the buyer tried the door several times, and it did not reverse when he put his hand under it. He even "had his young son stand under the door as it was closing, and the child had to jump out from under the door to prevent being hurt". Well, I ask you... If you thought the door was defective, would YOU test it by making your kid stand under the door??? I tell MY agent that the door works correctly, that I think the buyer does not understand the correct way to test it, and that he is welcome to come over himself and see it reverse. My agent stops by, and of course, there is nothing wrong with the door. He calls the buyers agent, she calls the buyer, the buyer replies that he wants to come back so he can see for himself that it works. So, back he comes. At this point I am SO OVER them, so Gus has to deal with him. Gus tries to explain that the door is designed to reverse when it hits something that STOPS it, like a box, a trash can, or a hand held FIRMLY under it. However when the buyer tests it, as soon as it touches his hand, he whips his hand out from under it, so of course it does not reverse. Gus explains to him that the door is 15 years old, does not have an electric eye, and is not going to reverse just because he stands near it! Buyer is finally made to understand that he can take it or leave it, we are not buying him a new door. The next day, his agent "remembers' that we need to sign a little form that has to be taken to the closing, and can she bring it over for us to sign? When she arrives with the form, it turns out to be a material change to the Sales Contract. The original Contract called for the buyers to make a $98,000 down payment, this new contract specifies NO Down Payment, and a 100% mortgage! This is a dangerous change, it means that the buyers are not putting ANY money into the deal, so it would cost them nothing to walk away at the last minute. Luckily, I remember that I had demanded that the $5000 earnest money is mine if they don't show up on Tuesday, and this is Friday afternoon, so I sign the new form. If the sale falls through, at least it will be only a few more days, and I will have $5000 to help me put the house back on the market.
This scenario is not the only reason I am not sleeping well at night. In order to save a surprisingly large sum on our moving costs, we decided to not move our current 15 year old queen size mattress set. We will get rid of the old mattresses here and buy new ones and have them delivered to our new house after we move. This means that we have to send one piece at a time out with the trash. Last Friday the box springs went out, and next Friday the mattress will go out. However, the only way to sleep on the mattress without the box springs is to put the mattress directly on the floor. If you think it is difficult to get down on the floor to go to bed, try getting up off the floor in the morning when you are feeling stiff...