After the close....... (property, legal, expensive, value)
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It's been two months since we closed on this house.
I know what the rule says about stuff left in the house after closing.
But during the garage cleanup I found a rather expensive tool in what was obviously left as trash by mistake. (A router, complete with bits left in a bucket).
So, do I call the previous owner's and give it back?
It should be noted the obligation to clean up the property completely was not fully met (and I didn't make a fuss about it, I just cleaned it up myself).
And no I'm not trying to 'justify' keeping the router, as I own one already.
It's been two months since we closed on this house.
I know what the rule says about stuff left in the house after closing.
But during the garage cleanup I found a rather expensive tool in what was obviously left as trash by mistake. (A router, complete with bits left in a bucket).
So, do I call the previous owner's and give it back?
Whatever you want to do: Ask if they want it back, keep it, sell it. It belongs to YOU, as does the house.
Give it back. You will have a heavy heart for a long time if you don't do the 'right' thing.
BTW, in many countries around the world, there wouldn't be a moments hesitation. You simply do what is correct, and when you have something which doesn't belong to you, you go out of your way to find the owner and return it.
It's only in America that we think first of ourselves and not of the greater good. Comes from being a young, consumable, don't give a $hit about anybody else society. ( NOt picking you out at all).
Why set yourself up for a lifetime of bad ju-ju over a tool?
Maybe they didn't want it anymore... you can ask if they want it back and if they said no, then its yours and your conscious can rest easy.... now if you said you found 20k in a bag somewhere, I say keep it and keep quiet... hehehe...
I'd consider giving it back. it really depends on how screwd you felt on the amount of clean up you had to do, and how easy it would be to contact/get it back to the sellers.
if they're out of state, congrats you got a new router. If they're down the block I'd consider calling or ringing the bell and returning it.
I know if I 'lost' something in a move, or accidentally left something behind, I would appreciate a call if someone found it.... so my opinion on this matter is to call and ask them if they left it by mistake (and if they want it back).
Of course if they're not close by, you're going to have to figure out who is going to pay for shipping.
If you're talking about a CABLE router it's more like $100 value not more. And it might even be broken, or so obsolete as to not be worth using. Legally it's yours; an email verifying that they don't want it would be scrupulously ethical.
Location: Mokelumne Hill, CA & El Pescadero, BCS MX.
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When I bought my house I told the seller that anything he left behind was his for the next year and he could come pick it up anytime. After a year it's mine. He agreed and only came by once to collect a few things. Hang on to it. Let the seller know you have it and would give it back if he wants it.
I'm selling my house and moving. I can't imagine leaving anything in the house by accident. Granted that it would be the right thing to do to call the seller and ask if he really wanted to leave it there. But a router isn't really a big thing. No need to engender guilt in the buyer if they want to keep what they find in the house, if the seller seemed to have left it. In computer software we call it a cookie.
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