We ran into something similar when we bought our first place. The previous owners had added a little deck out back—nothing fancy, just enough room for a grill and some chairs. But apparently, it wasn't "in keeping with neighborhood aesthetics," and the zoning board made us tear it down before closing. Still scratching my head over that one...
Ran into a similar issue with one of my investment properties a couple years back:
- Bought a place where the previous owner put in this cute little stone patio—looked great, honestly.
- Turns out, they never got approval from the HOA, and it violated some obscure rule about "uniform landscaping."
- Had to remove the whole thing before we could finalize the sale. Cost us extra money and delayed closing by a few weeks. Ugh.
Since then, I've learned a few things that might help others avoid this headache:
- Always double-check with zoning boards or HOAs before closing on anything remotely questionable.
- Request documentation or permits from sellers for any recent additions or renovations.
- If possible, include contingencies in your offer to protect against unexpected zoning or HOA issues.
It's frustrating dealing with this stuff when you're excited about moving in, but better safe than sorry down the line...
Good points overall, but honestly, sometimes pushing too hard on contingencies can backfire. I've had sellers walk away because my offer felt too complicated or cautious. Instead, I usually just budget a bit extra for surprises and factor potential HOA headaches into my initial offer. Sure, it's a gamble, but it keeps negotiations smoother and deals moving faster...depends how risk-averse you are, I guess.
"I've had sellers walk away because my offer felt too complicated or cautious."
Yeah, I've seen that happen too. There's definitely a fine line between protecting yourself and scaring off the seller. I usually aim for simplicity upfront and keep a little cushion for surprises—learned that one the hard way after losing a deal over nitpicking contingencies...
You make a good point about simplicity, but honestly, sometimes a bit of complexity is exactly what's needed. I've had deals where the seller initially balked at my contingencies, thinking I was being overly cautious. But once I explained clearly why each condition mattered—like inspections revealing hidden structural issues or zoning checks preventing nasty surprises—they actually appreciated the transparency.
"There's definitely a fine line between protecting yourself and scaring off the seller."
True, but I'd argue it's more about how you communicate your concerns rather than the number of contingencies themselves. I've found sellers are usually okay with detailed offers if they understand your reasoning and see you're serious about closing smoothly. Of course, every seller's different...but sometimes taking that extra step to clarify your position can save headaches down the road.
