[mikreb]

It's the same as you selling your house and continuing to show the house after you accepted an offer. It's still your house until closing. We had two contingency offers on our previous home after we accepted the buyer's offer.

[mrrmauu]

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.

I get your frustration but they probably already had the open house advertised. Since it was within 1 day of the signing I don’t blame them for still using your house. If they list open homes in the paper they should actually be there when people show up to see them.

[banjobob]

Simple you don’t own it until the closing period , if you are upset about damage done before closing require final inspection of your purchase .

[Pillowtalk]

When it’s too late to pull the ad, agents will use the Open House to get new buyers. It’s not your home until you have the title. If you look on their website today you will see that it is “pending”. Once it’s “pending” they no longer show it.

[nick demis]

Seams look a great excuse to demand a deep cleaning before you move in regardless of the condition. Make sure you are present for the cleaning to see it is done to your standards.

[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 “

[Curtis525]

Welcome to The Villages Jim. Their greed will not be stopped. I bought a Premier home in 2015, and was told that would be the very last of the Premier Neighborhoods. No more would be built. Guess what? More were built. When I went to the Villages, they told me it was “true at the time I built my house, but that changed. Make no mistake…THEY are in charge!
You will have a walk through before closing and a 1 year warranty. Make sure everything is exactly as you want it. You can even threaten to delay closing until it’s the way it’s “supposed” to be!
It’s a great place to live once you no longer have to deal with “The Villages”
Best of Luck.
Thank you for your service!

[Oneiric]

We signed a contract for our house in 2014. TV still conducted an open house two days later. Until we actually went to settlement, TV still owned the home. Sounds like nothing has changed.

[Hpy2BHere]

Originally Posted by MrFlorida

It's worse in Michigan, where after you close, the people who sold it to you have up to 30 days to vacate it after the closing !!!! how's that for insane.

wow I agree

[Ptmckiou]

You don’t own the house. It’s up to The Villages to promote their homes and allow people to view floor plans. I see nothing wrong with that mindset. Once escrow closes it’s yours.

Btw, we have a new house also under contract and closes in July. The Villages are free to have an open house there and it wouldn’t bother me in the least. No harm done, and allows others to view the floor plan.

[Cobullymom]

If you go to The Villages golf cart stores and decide you want to “hold a cart” for 24hrs you put a small deposit down, and they will hold it. They also put a sign on it, basically telling people it’s on hold and to stay off of it….Why is it ok for a 15-17,000 dollar purchase but not a 250,000+ purchase to respect and keep it the way it was when the buyer put it under contract or on hold….hmmm…

[dewilson58]

It's not just The Villages.

You may not like it, but it's not your house and you can still back out.

At transfer you have the right a new condition house and the right to reject anything that is dirty, damaged, etc.

[Ptmckiou]

Originally Posted by Cobullymom

If you go to The Villages golf cart stores and decide you want to “hold a cart” for 24hrs you put a small deposit down, and they will hold it. They also put a sign on it, basically telling people it’s on hold and to stay off of it….Why is it ok for a 15-17,000 dollar purchase but not a 250,000+ purchase to respect and keep it the way it was when the buyer put it under contract or on hold….hmmm…

I just recently went in to The Villages golf cart store and ordered a new cart. The sales man had me sit in a cart “on hold” to experience it’s details. So….they do use the carts on hold much in the same way, as homes under contract.

[Altavia]

Originally Posted by Leadbone1

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 “

This was an inventory new home.

Even on my resales, we kept showing in case incase the contract fell through.

[Windguy]

Originally Posted by TheLawnKing

What about the subsequent "buyers" or the agent hosting the open house? Seems like a collosal waste of time for all involved parties. I'm curious what percentage of house contracts don't close. The over/under is 10% and I'm betting under.

Just because a house is a given model doesn’t mean it’s exactly the same as the same model across the street. Builders tweak things here and there. Countertops and cabinets are different. One house might have a stretched garage. The lanai might be stretched. Maybe drywall corners are rounded. Lots of things can be different. Although they likely won’t get to buy the house that is open, they get ideas about what is important to them.