An $800,000 home in Virginia comes with a bizarre caveat: there's someone living in the basement.
Looking for a place to stay is an exercise in hard lines and compromises. Nowadays, living somewhere with dire WiFi is a non-starter. Some buyers would be willing to put up with heavy traffic if you have a nice garden. The considerations go on and on.
However, some things are bound to put most people off, surely: a poltergeist in the loft; a rat infestation in the cupboards; top-to-bottom mould all around the house; and on this occasion, a complete stranger living in your basement.
The five-bedroom house, located on Prado Place in Fairfax’s Mantua, was recently listed for sale for $800,000 (£615,000).
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It seems to be a hell of an offer. "Great opportunity to own in Mantua! Large spacious colonial on cul de sac street," the listing reads.
"Big kitchen with door to deck area - renovated years back with 42 inch cabinets, vinyl floor and Formica countertops. Original windows, some with rot. Sliding door from family room would require replacement."
There is some renovation needing done, like replacing the carpet on the main level, replacing some toilets and other improvements. If you had a spare $100,000 (£76,000) on top of the asking price, you could make a lot of money by selling it again.
Then again, all that only applies if you overcome the immediate hurdle: there's someone living in the basement.
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"Home sold AS IS ONLY with acknowledgement that home will convey with a person(s) living in lower level with no lease in place," the listing notes.
Maybe it wouldn't be too bad; perhaps it'd be the start of a beautiful friendship. Then again, there's always the chance they'd be a tenant from hell.
Zinta K. Rodgers-Rickert, of Zinta & Rob and the Red Truck Realty Group Re/Max Gateway, told Washingtonian the resident 'weaseled her way in' around three years ago, and there might even be someone else in there with her.
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Unfortunately, the current owners aren't 'the type that can financially afford or emotionally deal with the eviction,' Rodgers-Rickert said.
The listing was shared to the Zillow Gone Wild Instagram page, where the reaction has been fairly unanimous. "There’s a squatter in the basement who won’t leave so they’ve decided to just flee," one user wrote.
Another joked: "$800K, the toilet is broken, and there is a stranger in the basement. What a deal!"
A third joked: "Cool we finally got a sequel to Parasite (2019)."
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Topics: Life