Well, I've told this story before, but it's still the most "interesting" house buying story I've ever heard.
My seller stole a chair that was on the inventory list before the sale, which I discovered in the morning pre-buy inspection, and after the closing, I found them in my new living room trying to steal the TV.
They acted like I was a hillbilly hick for being outraged to find them in my home, stealing my TV. They snidely asked (in their nasally NY accents) "where the hell are you from, anyway?" While they stood there berating me in my own home, I called the Sumter Sheriff, and reported a home invasion and burglary. Instead of a squad car and the crooks carried off in cuffs, I got 20 questions. The moment I mentioned that I'd just driven from the closing to find these crooks in my new living room, they told me to take it up with my closing agent.
The worst part (other than cops that don't enforce burglary) was the Villages closing agents, who refused to enforce the contract. When I told them to cancel the deal for contract failure over the stolen chair, they said I'd forfeit my $10,000 deposit -- forcing me to close the deal anyway. They put us in different rooms for the signing, and cut the crooks loose a half an hour before us, giving them time to beat me to the house.
The crooks finally left, laughing at me, when I hung up the phone with the Sheriff. At least, they didn't get the living room TV. But as they drove away in their Porsche Cayenne SUV, I could see the bedroom TV and TV stand in the tailgate window.
It was a helluva welcome to "Florida's Friendliest Hometown"!
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