What if sellers don’t ‘fess up if there’s no record of council inspections? They can sell regardless! What if a seller’s carport, garage or deck was built illegally? No selling worries! What if a home is termite-riddled? Don’t tell! And if sellers obtain a pre-sale building report showing heaps of problems? Don’t mention the report! This is why “buyer beware” is the first unwritten rule of real estate in Queensland. Will it stay that way?...
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by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.BReal Estate LawyerQualified Practising Conveyancer VictoriaDirector Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd We now have the REIV inventing, and forcing its own legislation on real estate consumers. When will journalists, regulators, lawyers and consumers start thinking for themselves instead of simply watching Enzo Raimondo and the crew at the Real Estate Institute of Victoria (REIV) make fools of them. It’s time to put vendors and purchasers back in control, and to...
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by Tim O’Dwyer M.A., LL.BSolicitorConsumer Advocate watchdog@argonautlegal.com.au Home buyers must always ensure, when contracting subject to satisfactory building inspection reports, that adequate time has been provided for this in their contracts. In my experience, the ideal time is 30 days from the contract date. This allows for the inspector to make his inspection, prepare his report, deliver the report to you, and for you to consider it. 30 days also allows time for any...
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