Reputable estate agents, says Lanice Steward, MD of Anne Porter Knight Frank, will always draw the attention of a buyer to any serious defects in the home that he is contemplating buying and will make sure that these are acknowledged by both the seller and the buyer.
 
It is, she said, also essential also to list these defects in the Offer to Purchase and in the Deed of Sale and to make both the buyer and the seller accept these by signing the documents.
 
If this is not done, said Steward, it can, and probably will, result in many days of argument later as to who is liable for the cost of repairs. 
 
“To the seller it may seem very unimportant that there is a crack in the lounge wall or that the alarm is not connected to the response company - but if such defects are not pointed out they can lead to serious problems later.”
 
The tendency to claim for imperfections of any kind, said Steward, is likely to become even stronger in future now that the Consumer Protection Act has become law and the legal profession is beginning to test just how seriously its very stringent terms can be applied.
 
 
For further information contact Lanice Steward on 021 671 9120 or email lanice@anneporter.co.za.