altering contracts

[attgig]

Once you sign a contract, and the other people sign a contract, are you allowed to touch it/change it/alter it?

Yes?
No?

Well, you remember that condo I was talkin about...
apparently the seller's bro is a lawyer, and they messed around with it so that they would be able to sell it to me w/o fixing anything in the condo after the home-inspection...and they initialed there and they want me to initial....
wassup w/ that????
are they allowed to do that?
I'm thinkin just sending it back.
being like, I did not sign that contract so screw u.

[BrewMaster]

I think you're right. contact your own lawyer ASAP. don't wait to hear from them. make copies of everything they want you to sign, everything they send to you, every damn piece of paper you see. document everything specifically and call your freakin' lawyer. I sure wish TLG was here, he always knew how to handle legal stuff.

[dbax791]

I believe you are allowed to alter contracts so long as both parties agree. That's why they want you to initial. DO NOT DO THIS!!!

A home inspection is almost always in real estate contracts and it is customary for the seller to be responsible for any repairs before the sale, or to give you a discount for any repairs needed.

That action on their part smells really fishy, and would raise a few red flags for me. Make sure to get your OWN inspector and try to get one that is ASHI certified. Make sure to accompany the inspector thru the walkthru.

I agree, you might want to get a lawyer and spend a few hundred bux and have him go over the contract with a fine tooth comb. If they hassle you then definately get a lawyer.

Also, if there are any attached fixtures in the house (window treatments, light fixtures, etc...) those are legally part of the condo and don't let the seller try to take them away before you move in.

[Two Cents]

It is worth repeating...DO NOT INITIAL IT! They are trying to pull a fast one. The contract is signed, and both parties have to approve of any changes to make them binding.

[attgig]

So, I initialed it....
after staring at it for 3 hours, I finally initialed it...
BUT
I added my own 'adendums'. These brought everything back to the way it was. And I told my agent to tell them, if they're gonna come back with more crap, I'm out.