okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

So, when we went to the house last night, we found a card with our names on the outer envelope. We thought the seller left us a note and thought "how sweet."

Turns out that the note was from the seller's daughter... Yes, she wished us good luck and all, but her main reason was to give us her contact information in case we'd be willing to give her one of the built-ins in the house in the future.

Trying to keep this short: We were told when we looked at the house AND at the walk-through that this particular table (built into the kitchen wall) was staying. At closing, the sellers asked us if they could take it b/c the daughter wanted it. (The father, who passed made it) The problem is that it would leave gaping holes in the walls - uh, and not to mention we were told explicitly that it was staying. Also, at the walk-through (like they couldn't do this at contract??) they asked for two other built-ins (a light fixture and a bathroom mirror) that we allowed them to take.

We said no at closing - b/c they weren't willing to give us anything in exchange - not $ to repair the wall or to repair it themselves. (The wall in question is covered in brick veneer - -but the veneer only goes around the table, not behind. So if the table were removed there would be a huge gap in the continuity of the wall.

The note basically said "I thought my brother told you I wanted it and if you ever remodel the kitchen, I'd appreciate you contacting me so I can have the table." A pleasant note and all, but I found it somewhat odd...

So... what to do? We're considering having our dry wallers demo that wall and put up dry wall, but we were planning to keep the table. (It IS technically OURS, per the contract...) But we're conflicted. Part of us feels guilty for keeping it b/c she wants it and her father made it, but part of us is like ENOUGH! They pulled a bit too much crap for my tastes...

Grrrr... thoughts?

ETA - the kitchen is long and narrow. A regular table will not fit. This built-in was designed specifically for the space and folds down...

Message edited 10/3/2007 12:37:50 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

If the table meant that much to her, it shouldn't have been in the contract.... Obviously it's not THAT important, otherwise she wouldn't have given it up with the house....

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

are you going to use the table?

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Honestly, if it were me and I was planning on having someone do work that inclluded removing the table. I would call her. It sounds important to her and I could always replace the table.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

I got that... but I was just making clear that we DID intend to use the table -- not to remodel and get rid of it like I thought you were suggesting. Sorry - just thought you misread what I wrote or that I misstated something in my OP.

Message edited 10/3/2007 1:14:10 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

to be honest, being you are replacing the wall anyway, I would give her the table. Honestly its more important to her. I know it may be an awkward spot to get something to replace it, but I don't think its worth keeping anyway.

P.S. do you have pics of this table that is hard to replace?

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

the father is deceased?

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

If/when you are remondeling, I'd give it to her. Every time I used the table, i would think of the daughter and feel guilty.


Our similar situation:
We have a mailbox that was made by the original owner of the house. The previous owners told us at closing that the original owner's son came by and asked them if they ever replaced it, he would like it since his dad made it. Our seller's never changed it, but DH and I plan to get a new one next spring and we'll be saving the old one for the son. It obviously meant enough to him to come by and ask for it.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

sorry..... I hate when people put me in a uncomfortable position..... as much as I would feel bad keeping something that had sentimental value to someone...... I would......and this is why...... if they would have been flexable and offered to repair the wall...I would have given them the table w/o question......and if it was indeed that important to them......they would have done that.......obviously,it wasn't....... so put it all behind you and enjoy your new home

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Blu-ize, yup, that's what I said. (Died at least a decade ago, not that it matters at all)

He literally made just about everything in the house. We made easily 15 concessions of built ins and fixtures they could take -- including 2 at the walk-through where we were assured again that the table was staying - even by the seller's daughter who wants it.

It's NOT that I don't get why she wants it or that I'm a heartless witch... I'm just tired of all the little crap they've pulled and just wished they'd been more upfront and thought things through a bit more. I don't want to get mail in two weeks asking for something else...

The table's going nowhere unless and until we DO remodel. (I can't have holes in my wall - it's that simple) If and when we do remodel the kitchen, we probably will end of giving it to her... I'm just annoyed with how they have handled this. They also assured us they were leaving the blinds on all the windows -- apparently that meant they were leaving a shade on one window and taking the rest...

They just kept changing their minds over and over again. We were so nice and accomodating -- but the last minute stuff is just frustrating. They weren't willing to offer to fix the damage it would cause to the wall, but now she wants us to give it to her once we decide to change the wall and pay for it ourselves... Just a little annoying. We offered several alternatives for them to get the table at the closing and they turned them all down.

I can pretty much guarantee she'll one day get the table. I'm just annoyed about it now... or maybe taking my frustration about the other house problems out on this stupid letter. LOL

Message edited 10/3/2007 1:33:06 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

You bought the house and the table that's built into it. It's yours, she has no claim to it.

Send the note to your lawyer and have him or her contact the sellers lawyer and put an end to it.

Please don't feel bad or feel guilty. It's your house and it's your table.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

I get it. You could write her back and sell her the table for $200. See if she bites. if not, let it go and be done with it.

Message edited 10/3/2007 1:32:57 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

I appreciate ALL the different opinions.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Message edited 11/11/2011 9:16:48 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

Posted by lilacwine

You bought the house and the table that's built into it. It's yours, she has no claim to it.

Send the note to your lawyer and have him or her contact the sellers lawyer and put an end to it.

Please don't feel bad or feel guilty. It's your house and it's your table.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

I wouldn't feel guilty about keeping it. My dad also died about 10 years ago and also made furniture in our house. At the time, I was not in a position to take certain things, so I didn't. Would I love to have some of those things now? Definitely. But at the time, it wasn't worth it to me to put these things in storage for some undetermined amount of time. I made the decision and moved on.

It sounds to me like you have been reasonable - if she really wanted it, she could have paid for the repair to the wall to have it removed. If I were definitely getting rid of the table and throwing it out, I might call her about it, but if you want to keep it because it was custom made for the space, I would keep it and use it.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

I would give her the table and have a new one made. I would feel bad every time I saw it. To me, the money spent on a new table would be worth not having the guilt. Perhaps she'd told her mother she wanted it and the mom didn't express that to you.

When my grandmother passed away I told my dad there was a specific thing of hers that I wanted. It wasn't valuable but it was very sentimental to me. He never told my aunt, so when she was cleaning out the house she tossed it b/c she didn't think anyone wanted it.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

She's not demanding the table or causing a scene - right ? She just left you a note asking that if you ever DO decide to get rid of the table, she'd appreciate it if you contacted her and let her take it rather than putting it out on the curb with the garbege -
So, just do that - stick her note in with your house paperwork, and if you ever decide you don't want/need the table anymore, give her a call and let her know -
Seems pretty simple to me - I don't see why you should have to feel bad about it -

Message edited 10/3/2007 2:28:05 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

ETA - I wrote something before reading it all, so I changed it.

Now I can see why you are annoyed. I get the feeling you feel they tried to swindle their way out of repairing the wall, which may be the case.

Even still, I would do just that. If I truly was renovating and didn't want it, I would contact her for sure, since it means something to her and to me, recycling items are better than them going into a landfill.

But otherwise, if you plan to use it, keep it, it's yours and they had their chance.

Message edited 10/3/2007 7:26:27 PM.

Re: okay, another WWYD... I find this odd...

I get the feeling the daughter already got some "momentos" from the house, but, as is common with many of the younger generation, felt "entitled" to a bit more than anyone would consider reasonable. Hence, the parent(s) put the kebash on any further requests for built-ins that would cost THEM money.

Good thing the father didn't build the entire HOUSE!