Seller Had 12 Code Violations. We Made a Cash Offer Anyway.
Robert had owned his home in Oildale for 22 years. Over time, deferred maintenance piled up. By the time he decided to sell, the City of Bakersfield had issued 12 open code violations on the property, ranging from an unpermitted addition to electrical issues to an overgrown yard with debris.
The Challenge
Robert contacted four real estate agents. All four either declined to list the property or said he would need to resolve the code violations first, which would have cost an estimated $15,000 to $25,000 and taken months of work with city inspectors. Robert was on a fixed income and did not have the money for repairs.
The violations included an unpermitted garage conversion, exposed wiring in the addition, a non-functioning septic connection, broken windows, roof damage, and multiple yard maintenance violations. The city had started fining him $100 per day for unresolved issues.
How Acquily Helped
Robert found Acquily through a neighbor who had sold to us the previous year. He called on a Tuesday and we had an offer ready by Wednesday afternoon. We already had experience buying properties with code violations in the Oildale area, so we knew exactly what the repair costs would look like.
We offered $118,000 for the property as-is. We assumed all responsibility for resolving the code violations after closing. Robert did not have to fix anything, clean anything, or deal with the city. We also showed him a listing comparison, but given the violation situation, listing was not a realistic option.
We opened escrow immediately and closed in 16 days. The city stopped the daily fines once the property transferred to our name, and we resolved all 12 violations within 60 days after closing.
The Outcome
Robert walked away with $118,000 and zero ongoing liability. The daily fines stopped, the stress stopped, and he was able to move into a smaller apartment closer to his family. He told us afterward that he had been losing sleep over the code violations for over a year.
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