Expert: Dick Dennis - 7/7/2005

Question
Mr. Dennis,
I recently purchased a home in Ohio via auction.  I undertand that it is as is.  However, on the purchase agreement it states all debris to transfer to the buyer.  My question is that I feel that the debris such as rusted junk etc I have not problem wth, but the mrchandise that the auctioneer was unable to get bids on he just left.  I am looking to try to have the auctioneer be partly responsible for accountability of clean up.  Can you offer any ideas or what steps do I need to pursue.  I fel that the auctioneers have just blanket this debris statement on the purchase agreement, but how binding is this statement. how ethical is it to dump and not clean out Ie a bedroom set.

Answer
Make lemonade out of that lemon.

Put an ad in the papers, put up flyers, put out signs offering a "garage sale."

Only call it, say, "One Dollar Yard Sale Buffet."

This is where anybody comes and pays a dollar and picks out anything they want. When they pay a buck, give them a receipt to identify them that they paid. And sit back and watch them pick through the rubble. Use whatever money you get to hire a refuse collector to come and pick up the rest.

Put something like, "First come first served" in your ad and signage.

This is not a real estate problem, Theresa, but I relish in marketing ideas, too.

I do wish you well.

Dick Dennis,  dixiedee13@aol.com