Help deciding our new home in Irvine

[Sam78]

Crazy thing happened today.

We had decided on Stonegate / Saratoga Plan 1 at $809K (2012 sq ft); and took back our deposit checks  and reservation at BR Parkview and PS Calibri.

We went back to Saratoga today to ask a few questions ("Can we upgrade the cabinets to solid colored wood, instead of White MDF"). In came a surprise. The IP manager old us that she did a mistake in calculations, missed to include a few upgrades in the total price when we originally gave the deposit check. She told us that the price has now gone up by 8K and the new price is $817K!

She was very arrogant and did not care that it hits our budget and puts us in an uncomfortable situation. She kept on pushing us to take our deposit check back. Initially we asked them to absorb the cost, since it was their mistake. When she declined, we then asked if they can revoke ("not do") those upgrades and not charge extra. And the answer was a plain, "No". They have already made contracts with their subcontractors and those cannot be changed. We don't have any other choice, other than to pay up, if we want the house. The same mistake seem to be done for all 6 to 8 homes that came in this phase.

I understand Irvine company owns all the land in Irvine and gets away with monopoly, dictates the terms and price in Irvine. I understand they have a fine print that allows them to change price any day. But, there should be some accountability, some customer service. This is just atrocity. Really irritated and we are wondering what we do next.

 

[irvinehomeshopper]

just suck it up when you want to live in Irvine.  You don't want it some one else will.

 

[OpenSky]

 

[jmoney74]

Sam why go through that... Buy in PP.

 

[ps99472]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

 

[jmoney74]

I would throw a fit too. Any legal action?  Any lawyers in her?

 

[qwerty]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

For $100 ill show up tomorrow and rip them a new one on your behalf - the last thing they want in their sales office is a mexican creating a scene. then the prospective buyers will be scared off cause they think ill be buying a low income unit in their tract. ill even offer you a money back guarantee if i dont get them to stick to the previously agreed upon price.

 

[socal78]

I understand they have a fine print that allows them to change price any day.

...?? This fine print was on something you signed??

 

[irvinehomeowner]

the last thing they want in their sales office is a mexican creating a scene.

qwerchete!!!

 

[qwerty]

I'm going to have to give IHO a cut from all the different qwerter/qwerchete merchandise sales.

 

[Sam78]

I understand they have a fine print that allows them to change price any day.

...?? This fine print was on something you signed??

Hi Socal,

No, this is a fine print that is in all pricing / sale sheets down below. I have seen this in all communities in Irvine. It goes like, "Irvine Pacific reserves the right to change price, material, design and specification without prior notice or obligation."

 

[Sam78]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

Thanks PS9. There are two agreements that we signed:

1. Reservation Instrument: This just indicates that we have put in $15K towards reservation of the specific unit. There is no deadline set. No binding price.
"Either party may, at any time, cancel this reservation instrument without incurring liability to the other".
It also says, "The price and other terms of the purchase of the subdivision interest will be those set forth in a purchase contract if Potential Buyer enters into one after receiving a copy of the Final Subdivision Public Report".

2. Real estate agency relationship disclosure with Irvine Pacific: Indicates that their sales manager was a "Seller's agent" and has an obligation to exercise "diligent exercise of reasonable skill and care in performance; a duty of honest and fair dealing and good faith; a duty to disclose all facts known to the agent materially affecting the value or desirability of property that are not known to, or within the diligent attention and observation of, the parties".

I think the last line is our only hope. I asked for her boss's name yesterday. She responded that she will try one more time to "not do" the changes and will let me know after her Monday meeting.

 

[Sam78]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

For $100 ill show up tomorrow and rip them a new one on your behalf - the last thing they want in their sales office is a mexican creating a scene. then the prospective buyers will be scared off cause they think ill be buying a low income unit in their tract. ill even offer you a money back guarantee if i dont get them to stick to the previously agreed upon price.

Wow thank you, qwerty. I did not understand what PS9 meant by, "Pull a qwery". But now I do. I will PM you.

 

[bones]

.

 

[Sam78]

She kept on pushing us to take our deposit check.

Seriously??!!  Wow.  If a sales person told me to GTFO with my $, I would run and never return.

The only problem is that my wife loves Saratoga for whatever reason. She has almost mentally moved into Saratoga; and I hate to disappoint her for this stupid problem.

I will wait until Monday to see what the sales manager brings back to us. But I will make sure that everyone in that company hears our complaint.

 

[bones]

[quote author=Sam.

 

[eyephone]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

I think the last line is our only hope. I asked for her boss's name yesterday. She responded that she will try one more time to "not do" the changes and will let me know after her Monday meeting.

Hmm - I would follow up today. She doesn't want you to cause a scene. (Weekends are the busiest days for them regarding foot traffic)
Also, when you talk to her, talk to her towards the center of the office not in the personal office. [so people can hear] Another tip act calm, AND lastly say your a senior member of TI and you will share your experience with the community. 

Good luck - May the force be with you.

 

[test]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

I think the last line is our only hope. I asked for her boss's name yesterday. She responded that she will try one more time to "not do" the changes and will let me know after her Monday meeting.

Hmm - I would follow up today. She doesn't want you to cause a scene. (Weekends are the busiest days for them regarding foot traffic)
Also, when you talk to her, talk to her towards the center of the office not in the personal office. [so people can hear] Another tip act calm, AND lastly say your a senior member of TI and you will share your experience with the community. 

Good luck - May the force be with you.

Just walk in there and throw up on the floor.

 

[qwerty]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

For $100 ill show up tomorrow and rip them a new one on your behalf - the last thing they want in their sales office is a mexican creating a scene. then the prospective buyers will be scared off cause they think ill be buying a low income unit in their tract. ill even offer you a money back guarantee if i dont get them to stick to the previously agreed upon price.

Wow thank you, qwerty. I did not understand what PS9 meant by, "Pull a qwery". But now I do. I will PM you.

Haha. I was just kidding Sam. With my luck I'd get arrested by IPD. This would break the record for the number of squad cars and swat members that would show up to arrest a perp. And my wife thinks i should have quoted $200

 

[Sam78]

Call the boss, throw a fit, pull a qwerty, you have a written agreement?  Price is binding?  When's the last day to pull your deposit?  Keep it there as long as possible without jeopardizing losing it.  $8k isn't much in the grand scheme of things but that is a bitter pill to swallow.  I think my pride and principle is worth more than that.

For $100 ill show up tomorrow and rip them a new one on your behalf - the last thing they want in their sales office is a mexican creating a scene. then the prospective buyers will be scared off cause they think ill be buying a low income unit in their tract. ill even offer you a money back guarantee if i dont get them to stick to the previously agreed upon price.

Wow thank you, qwerty. I did not understand what PS9 meant by, "Pull a qwery". But now I do. I will PM you.

Haha. I was just kidding Sam. With my luck I'd get arrested by IPD. This would break the record for the number of squad cars and swat members that would show up to arrest a perp. And my wife thinks i should have quoted $200

He hee