So, I moved out, which I’ve mentioned. Stairs which wrecked my knee, bloody cat barf, the works. But now there are two rather large complicating factors here.
1) I can’t find my passport and other important papers that were in a plastic document protector near a whole lot of other papers that I do, in fact, have with me. I discovered this when I tried to book a trip to Iceland for my birthday and came to a page where you have to input your passport number and other info for the TSA’s security theater. So I opened the box where I thought it would be and … nothing. Dug through another bin where I was sure it had to be and …. nothing. Opened every bag, bin and box I have here and … nothing.
There’s a chance it’s in the storage unit, but I honestly do not remember packing it anywhere. I’ve called the old building. Nope. I called the friends whose car I borrowed to move. Zip. I called the buyer, and nothing. I *can* replace everything, at some expense and hassle, but for my peace of mind, I’d really like the originals. I have to think they’re in the storage unit, because there are some other important papers I *do* remember packing away that are in there.
2) Oh, speaking of the buyer: My contract allowed me to stay up to either 7 or 10 business days after the closing, at a per diem rate of $131. I closed on 6/4 at 2 pm and paid the full per diem for that day, not a prorated amount. I had anticipated being able to turn the keys over to the buyer on 6/8, but the move-out took much longer than I had expected. She came over and did the walk-through anyhow, and left some stuff there. She had to take a car service because the trains weren’t running. I gave her the option of going out and coming back to see if I had finished, but she refused. I offered to drive the keys over to her, which she was fine about, but when I did finish, she said it was too late and she was going to bed. I was fried at this point, hot and exhausted, and wasn’t going to meet her there at 9 am. But my broker lives in the building and had a set of extra keys, and she was going to be showing another apartment at 9 am; I would leave my set of keys inside the apartment. The buyer agreed to meet the broker there at 9. Didn’t show up until 1030 am.
Now, the per diem had been paid through 6/8. My attorney is keeping $5000 in escrow in case I went over. I asked him for the funds, and of course the buyer had to agree to release the funds. She didn’t bother to answer for A MONTH. Now she wants all kinds of money for the morning of 6/9 when she didn’t have the keys. Now, there *is* a penalty of $350 per day for going past the 7 or 10 business days post-closing grace period, but I didn’t do that. I was still in the per diem period. I’m not sure that’s the actual term, since my copy of the contract is one of the important papers that’s off in my storage unit. I’ve asked my attorney to take a look at that. Because I didn’t sign the rider the buyer’s attorney wanted me to sign shortening the grace period from 7 business days to 7 calendar days, and I sure as hell didn’t sign anything at the closing that shortened it even further.
Also? She wants $25 for the car fare. Bullshit. Especially since I a) do not control the MTA; and b) I left her at least $100 worth of cleaning supplies.
Frankly, I’m ready to litigate if she continues to hold my money hostage. Make her spend some money to recover that $25 car fare.
I can nearly guarantee that the buyer is now freaking out about finances, and is trying to “recoup” money from you. Lame, but I’ve definitely seen it before. Hold firm on the per diem stuff, and OFFER the $25 cab fare. It’s galling, but it’s $25. (Man, I sound bossy, but I (sadly) have a lot of experience with this situation.)
What amuses me is that she paid $15 grand over the asking price, and now she wants $25!
The real issue is that she wants the $350 penalty, but I’m almost positive that doesn’t kick in unless the 7-10 days are up. I won’t let her rewrite the contract.