Michele Renee Messina

Michele Messina

Good Morning Neil: I am very sorry to hear that you and your wife, Christa believe that you did receive the service you deserved. I must say that I take all my clients' concerns very seriously and was upset to read your comments. As you are aware, unfortunately, your Seller failed to disclose to you that the home you were entering into Contract to purchase did not have the dormer of the home legalized despite the fact that this was known to the Seller at that time. This was the cause for your closing delay. The average closing window is any where from 2 to 3 months from Contract to closing. Your closing window was approximately 7 months as a result of the missing Certificate of Occupancy. During the process both you and Christa were informed whenever we had something to share with you. Quite often, there was no news during your Seller's application process. As the Purchasers' Attorney, our hands were tied as we were not in control of obtaining the required Certificate of Occupancy. All delays were due to your Seller's actions or lack thereof. We monitored your file and protected your interest during the 7 month window. We fought for a credit for you from your Seller due to the closing delay but the Seller rejected our requests as it is a Seller's market right now. We offered you the right to terminate the Contract and receive a full refund of your down payment but you elected to stay in Contract and wait it out. Again, as a Purchasers' Attorney, there is only so much we can due when the delay is caused by a Seller's issue. At the time of Contract signing, I did advise you, as I always do with all my clients, that the official check required for the closing may be provided to you as late as the morning of the closing. We are unable to provide this information to you until a multiple of things happen. We first have to be given the net number from your lender's attorney, next we have to be given the final title numbers and lastly, the Seller's attorney has to provide us we checks required by your Seller etc. This is something that quite often happens unfortunately at the last moment. You have to remember that there are many spokes that make the wheel turn and we are only part of that wheel. .As you will recall, at the closing table, I fought for money to be held in escrow to ensure that a possible leak in the roof was addressed despite that fact that you could not prove the situation did not exist when you first inspected the home which would then not be a Seller's issue. Nonetheless, I was able to have money held back in escrow from the Seller and the condition was corrected at the Seller's expense. Additionally, a Retainer Agreement was executed at the time of Contract signing regarding my legal fee etc. The fee you actually paid at closing was a discounted fee because I knew you were first time home buyers and your unexpected delay in closing was causing you a hardship. Purchasing a home is stressful enough but adding a 7 month delay due to missing Certificates for the home just adds to it. As I, Shawna also prides herself in her work and service and was extremely upset after reading your comments. We will, of course, take your comments under advisement! We always try to do our best but we are human and humans always have room for improvement. We wish you both the best and I truly hope you are enjoying your new beautiful home at last! Warm Regards, Michele