Buying a home is thrilling. Signing a mountain of paperwork? Not exactly the highlight of the experience. But as one North Carolina homebuyer discovered, skipping the fine print can come back to haunt you in a very expensive way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A Contract, a New Home and Some Costly Surprises<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Galya Mann hired a real estate agent to sell her townhome and help her buy a newly built home near Raleigh, North Carolina. Her agent negotiated some changes to the builder’s contract, and everything seemed to be moving along nicely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There was just one little problem: Mann didn’t read the entire contract. She later explained that her agent had called it a “standard contract,” so she didn’t think a closer look was necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unfortunately, the house had other plans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After moving in, Mann discovered foundation cracks, electrical problems and water damage. The estimated repair bill? A staggering $84,000 to $91,000.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She sued the builder and other parties, including her real estate agent, arguing that he should have advised her to get legal help before signing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court’s Response? Read Before You Sign.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The North Carolina Court of Appeals sided with the agent. Why? Mann’s buyer agency agreement already advised her to seek professional advice on legal, financial and other matters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The court found that describing the builder’s contract as standard didn’t mean the agent had discouraged her from consulting an attorney. And under North Carolina law, signing a contract generally means you’re responsible for knowing what’s in it, even if you never bothered to read it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In other words, “I didn’t read it” isn’t much of a legal escape hatch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n