Buying house, can I start repairs before I close?

**j.ananda** · 07-10-2009, 05:18 PM

I'm buying a house in Kansas City Mo. but I live in Austin Tx. The close date is for July 28th, but I'm in KC now and need to get back to Austin soon. The house is under contract, and it will be a cash transaction. I would go give them the money right now, but they can't seem to push the date up.

I'm planning on doing the closing electronically, and I would like to do the work that needs to be done by Tuesday so I can go home.

I already had a plumber fix a pipe so i could get the water on for the inspection. I need to have some old drain pipe replaced and the plumber can do it by Monday. I'm also going to install cabinets in the kitchen.

I want to get it all done quickly so that i don't have to come back at the end of the month. Can I do this? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

**Greg** · 07-11-2009, 06:38 AM

Without the sellers permission you would be trespassing.

If you get permission then what happens if you install new cabinets and spend a lot of money and then find out the seller can't close for some reason?

Reasons why the seller might not be able to close: owe more than purchase price, house gets foreclosed before you buy it, tax lien on property, ex-wife shows up and won't sign paperwork, clouded title, seller likes the new cabinets and decides to stay in the house, etc.

If it is a foreclosure then you are definitely trespassing as banks don't want you in their house until you buy it.

Only a fool spends money on someone else's house.

**tucsonhomes** · 07-13-2009, 09:59 AM

Originally Posted by j.ananda

I'm buying a house in Kansas City Mo. but I live in Austin Tx. The close date is for July 28th, but I'm in KC now and need to get back to Austin soon. The house is under contract, and it will be a cash transaction. I would go give them the money right now, but they can't seem to push the date up.

I'm planning on doing the closing electronically, and I would like to do the work that needs to be done by Tuesday so I can go home.

I already had a plumber fix a pipe so i could get the water on for the inspection. I need to have some old drain pipe replaced and the plumber can do it by Monday. I'm also going to install cabinets in the kitchen.

I want to get it all done quickly so that i don't have to come back at the end of the month. Can I do this? Any advice is greatly appreciated.

There is probably a reason the closing date can't be "pushed up" for an all cash closing.

Don't take the risk of fixing someone else's property. When it belongs to you (for sure) then do all the fixing you please.

**Codythebest** · 07-13-2009, 02:26 PM

Dont' do it. It's not closed yet. If something happen in between (seller dies-fire-tornado-whatever...), you may have done it for nothing...

**ohioreoexperts.com** · 07-27-2009, 09:59 AM

Not advised. Several things can still go wrong and you'd be out money if for some reason this doesn't close.

**wolfneyetna** · 07-27-2009, 11:42 PM

Everybody's said it all here already. Every dollar you put into the property is at risk. If you fix it up the seller might realize the increase in value, and suddenly find a "title issue" or some other reason not to close - so they can sell it to someone else at a higher price.