Last week I helped a family get into their first home.

 

(Well... the closing actually spilled over into this week...)

 

We were supposed to close Friday but were informed -at the very last minute- that on Wednesday the seller had turned utilities off (w/o being advised to.)

 

NEVER DO THAT -- unless you tell the buyer.

The buyer called utility companies while sitting at the closing table.  Electric would be turned on but no gas (heat) or water until Monday... and we were in the middle of a cold snap -- of course.

'Told the buyer I wasn't comfortable proceeding with the closing -- when there's a possibility the pipes could bust before he turned the heat back on.

 

Worry.

 

I worried all weekend..

 

The buyer didn't have to put utilities into their name until they owned it.. but should I have reminded them to call ahead of time? Of course I should have.  ...And so began the work of "kicking myself" all weekend!

 

Friday night I drove over to the house to open all the faucets and flush the toilets.  The seller's agent had suggested this might help save the pipes or toilets from busting.

It was dark.  I took what items I thought I would need..

 

 

The stick was to stir the toilet bowls -- if I saw ice forming.

No ice.  Temp was 32 degrees.  Electric was on.

Saturday I prayed.

And then Sunday.. I got a wild hair.

 

Sunday afternoon.  Matt and I went over to check on the house. 

 

The girls came with.

 

 

It's still 32 degrees.  (That's them in the dining room... huddled.)

How could I heat this place up?

It didn't take as long as you might think..

(I would love to have gotten up to 40.. but Matt was not onboard.)

Monday morning the buyer and I met someone from the water co. at the house. 

33 degrees inside.  Water at all points... NO BUSTED PIPES!

We really dodged the big one.  Fortunately the temp in the house never got below 32 degrees.  From what I gathered - from various experts I talked to over that anxious weekend - a house has to be below a certain degree for quite a while for damage to happen.  We were fine.. but until we knew for sure we had to wait.

What to take away from this story? 

Make arrangements for utilities prior to closing.  There's so much going on during a sale and neglecting the tiniest detail can mess things up. 

I plan to tape a sign to my desk.  Come visit me -- you'll see it!