We are about to close on a property that has a "friend" of the owner staying there with a few scant pieces of furniture. They are asking for money to vacate the house. Should we close? What should we do please? Do we have to turn on water and electric? What if they destroy the house? We haven't completed the walk through yet. Any ideas?

Don't even think about closing until the house is completely empty and the "friend" is gone. Getting rid of residents is the seller's responsibility, not yours. And do not have the utilities turned on until you know the house is empty and you know exactly which date you'll be closing. The walk-through should be done an hour before the closing.

Not legal advice, just an opinion.


Should we close?

No. Let present owners solve a problem they created or allowed to develop.

No you do not close, you inherit the renter (sorry they are a renter, even if not paying money, they are not a squatter)

You do not close till that person is out of the house, once you close, if they are still in the house, they are your renter and you could be one to two months getting them out, and may have to furnish utilities till they do.

Also if they ruin anything, it is just your lose.

So let the seller deal with this, and only close once the house is empty and you have done a final inspection.

I agree with the above. If you are eager to close soon, then consider paying them to get out, but only if the sellers could care less when they get their money.

Paying means standing outside with a paper for them to sign saying that they agree that they have totally vacated in exchange for X amount of cash, and new locksets to install on the doors. I wouldn't give them more than $500 tops, cash, at the sidewalk. And that's only if you are desperate. Many resistant 'tenants' are very wily and know the law.

I can't imagine a closing attorney would have allowed this issue to go this far. You can't evict them, it's not your house. I would not offer them anything to leave, that's what they want. Have the current owner evict or don't close. Believe me, their agent wants the commission, it will happen. Do nothing on your own, it may come back to haunt you.

All good advice, no such thing as squatters rights, they are tenants and apparently someone must evict them but that's no you.