Can/should we sue? Listing lies.

[Anonymous]

Is it possible that someone stole the 900 square feet between your first and second viewing? Could they be hiding it somewhere?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You are a moron. the listing is pretty accurate consider the tax record is 1800 sqrft and measures the top 2 floors, then the basement would be 900 + 1800 which is 2700.

But the measurements DON'T ADD UP. and if there is a Certificate of occupancy - wouldn't that include the basement?

Also are you seriously on an online message board calling people names? I feel bad for you. Either help people out or don't respond to messages.

Name calling? God. Where has your life taken you?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is it possible that someone stole the 900 square feet between your first and second viewing? Could they be hiding it somewhere?

I Wish.

[Anonymous]

Ya go ahead and sue for a 25 percent price reduction...see how THAT goes.

[Anonymous]

PP, you're extremely helpful.

Does anyone have any real advice other than

(1) Listing agents can do whatever they want. They can misstate, lie, cheat, etc. It's YOUR fault for wanting accurate information.

(2) Most people go to viewings and get days to examine a house, measure it, etc. Those people who get a few minutes to check a house out, and then submit an offer that night are anomalies.

(3) Home Inspectors should carefully measure a house from top to bottom. Remember, the listing agent can do or say whatever the hell they want. They don't have any accountability.

(4) If you want a house bad enough, it should be okay to overpay 25% more than you thought you were getting. You should feel fortunate that you were invited to spend a million bucks on a house! Who cares if you're not getting what was advertised.

[Anonymous]

Ok, still not clear on exactly what happened. Did they:

1) Advertise the house as 900 square feet per floor, but it is only 675 square feet per floor? (Seems strange to me)
2) Advertise the house as "1800 square feet not including basement" but it is actually 1800 square feet INCLUDING basement?
3) Advertise the house as 1800 square feet, which you assumed did NOT include the basement, but actually did?

[Anonymous]

I don't get this. Did you not see the house before you bought it?

[Anonymous]

As far as I know, basement footage is not usually included in the tax records. So the listing may say X sq ft, the above-grade plus basement is X, the tax record will be X less basement. The actual living space is X. I don't think anyone cheated you. Your painters accurately told you what the above-grade footage was.

[Anonymous]

OP, can you provide a little more information about what they represented v. what is the reality?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As far as I know, basement footage is not usually included in the tax records. So the listing may say X sq ft, the above-grade plus basement is X, the tax record will be X less basement. The actual living space is X. I don't think anyone cheated you. Your painters accurately told you what the above-grade footage was.

+1. The CofO has nothing to do with how the tax records assess property. Your house is 2700 square feet, including the finished basement. No one lied to you. Also, measurements of square footage can vary WIDELY depending on the method used. You are a fruitcake.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As far as I know, basement footage is not usually included in the tax records. So the listing may say X sq ft, the above-grade plus basement is X, the tax record will be X less basement. The actual living space is X. I don't think anyone cheated you. Your painters accurately told you what the above-grade footage was.

+1. The CofO has nothing to do with how the tax records assess property. Your house is 2700 square feet, including the finished basement. No one lied to you. Also, measurements of square footage can vary WIDELY depending on the method used. You are a fruitcake.

Fruitcake? How old are you? You're a sad old person who spends their time calling people names while hiding under an anonymous label on the internet!

Oh crap, and I just stooped to your level!

[Anonymous]

How much would you expect the litigation to cost? Maybe $50k? To maybe get you $50k? If the judge agreed or the other side settled. Or you could lose and then be out another $50k. Personally, I think you'd have a really hard time explaining to the judge how you viewed a home, liked it so much that you were willing to waive all contingencies and escalate the price, and now feel like the listing agent misrepresented something in the listing (on which as others have pointed out, there may be a very legitimate explanation, i.e., lack of intent on the LA's part).

You should be happy you got the house you wanted!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you provide a little more information about what they represented v. what is the reality?

So they represented the square footage to be 900 per floor. It's not.

My other question is - does the taxable living area EVER include the basement? It sounds like no. MY agent said no, but I'm thinking it might in this case because there is a certificate of occupancy.

[Anonymous]

are you sure that the painters are right? The listing and taxable living space seem to be saying it is 900 per floor. i thought most listings did NOT include basement space as part of the taxable living space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP, can you provide a little more information about what they represented v. what is the reality?

So they represented the square footage to be 900 per floor. It's not.

My other question is - does the taxable living area EVER include the basement? It sounds like no. MY agent said no, but I'm thinking it might in this case because there is a certificate of occupancy.

We had to really fight to get our basement to count as sq footage when we listed our last house. They finally agreed bc it had two fire escape windows and a walk out entrance.