[Leadbone1]

Originally Posted by Wing-nut2

On Friday my wife and I signed a contract on a new house. On Saturday we went by the house and found The Villages was holding an Open House at our new house. I told the agent assigned to the open house that I had purchased the house the night before and I was surprised to see my house being used as an open house and did not appreciate the crowds of people tracking dirt etc. on the carpets. He told me it didn't matter what I wanted, the new policy was that any house under contract could be used for open houses up until closing. He stated The Villages feels that they are paying the electric bill and taking care of the grass, so it's theirs to use as they see fit. People saw the advertisement in the Daily Sun and expected to see the house advertised and were getting mad when told the house was no longer available. But even if they are allowed in, it's still sold. Attending previous open houses where a house becomes under contract has happened to me before, so I understand. But, the house under contract, was always closed and locked never open to view and another house was used for the open house.

I called my agent and explained what was going on, and asked why I was not informed of the new policy. My agent basically said the same thing that people wanted to see the house that was advertised and The Villages had an extreme housing shortage The advertising was sent to the paper in advance and the ad could not be changed. OK, so why not open another unsold house with the same floor plan? In fact, the house across the street from me is the same floor plan.

I understand that someone might want to see a Lantana for instance, but if the house is sold, why open it up to the public? It's not available for purchase anyway. There is a Model Center with all the floor plans available for people to see. With the housing shortage those models should always be open to the public not just a few.

Now some may say I'm wrong for even worrying about this issue, but I've seen open houses were people use bathrooms, climb on counters to check the tops of cabinets, bring their dogs and let them run free (we won't go there), holes punched in walls from door handles, trash thrown on floor, and all kinds of things tracked in. If you buy a house after it's been used as model, you know what you're getting.

So if you have recently purchased a house, you may want to check with your agent to see if your house is on the "rotation list" for open houses. Also check the Daily Sun to see if your house is advertised as being an Open House.

I'm repeating what the agent told me about The Villages new policy. This may or may not truly represent the policy of The Villages.

Well, having been a full-time realtor for 12 years before I came to the villages I can assure you that this does not go on other places as a rule. I think the villages owned is one of the only entities that could get away with something like this. When I had a listing and it was sold the night before an open house, I put a sign in the yard the next morning stating that the open house has been canceled. I also would try to get the ad canceled in the paper if possible. The people that were planning on seeing it just had to go home. Yes technically you don’t on the house until the closing and recording, but it’s about respect for the new owner. Obviously if you buy from a private individual this is not going to happen, even if it is listed with a Villages sales agent. If it is listed with a multiple-listing actual Realtor, this type of scenario is not going to take place. Unfortunately when you buy from the villages you put down a large deposit that is nonrefundable if you back out. This does not happen in other locales. You can back out at the closing table if you wish and in most cases get your earnest money back. Sorry for what you’re going through but I guess as they say “it is what it is “