I had a unit to rent or sell. I answered ad in a local paper saying above normal rent. Was contacted by Caroline Edson of Anything Real Estate in Mackay. She found a tennant/buyer who would rent for 2 yrs, then buy. The deal was they pay me extra rent & at the end of the 2 yr period I would allow them this amount towards a deposit on the unit. (4200 per week $20,800 over 2 yrs) Sounded a good deal. Unfortunately this tennant had to leave and she found another, who had a lot of problems. End of 2 yrs, they were unable to buy but Caroline told me "everything was on track"Seems tennants told her 2 months before sale date, that they were NOT going to be able to buy. I was not informed on this. The would be tennant/buyers had been paying her $550 a week and she had been paying me $400. When the they could not buy the unit she kept the extra $150 per week. She then found a buyer, & signed the option over to the buyer. This was not what was agreed.
Buyer did not want to pay the asking price & Caroline signed a contract with her for $7,500 less, without even consulting me. She it was a "cash settlement" so I signed contract with "subject to finance" as I thought buyer was pre-approved BUT it turns out not only was she NOT pre-approved she had problems with 2 banks with her credit rating. Caroline then took it upon herself to get involved and try to get finance and there were 2 extendsions of finance. The buyer & caroline knew that the finance had been approved but would not tell me until the date that the finance had to be finally unconditional. (about a week later) Caroline said under the agreement, SHE was entitled to the $20,800. As she had found a buyer. She is NOT even a licensed Real Estate Agent. I agreed to pay her, less the $7,500 and a few other expenses a total of $13,300 which she said she would invoice me for after settlement.
On 29/10 she contacted my solicitor saying she wanted a copy of the settlement agreement and a cheque. I took exception to her high-handedness and said NO she would get paid AFTER settlement. She then engaged a lawyer and he suggested I pay to avoid "further legal dealings". This is the way she operates, she tries to bully people like myself (a senior citizen) into doing things the way she wants and of course it is all to her advantage. I have had settlement on this unit and I am currently now waiting to hear further from her solicitor, who I sure will be threatening me with court action. Bring it on. Its about time somebody took her on. Just wish it didnt have to be me.
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