Negative experience with this company

I want to share a negative experience I had with this company.

I expressed interest in a home advertised on various property sites. The agent contacted me and we viewed the property.

The owner informed me that a small roof had been installed by them over their patio and apart from that, only the ceiling in the main bedroom had to be attended to. I was initially happy and started communicating with the agent over whatsapp.

I asked the agent for the financials, BC AGM minutes and rates bill. He refused to provide me with the BC AGM minutes "due to POPIA" despite the fact that the financial statements he sent listed 24 names of other owners in the complex. Apart from that, the property report on Property24 provided me with the seller's full names and dates of birth. The utility bill also contained the seller's personal information.

I eventually got the minutes after sharing an extract from a site and providing him with a copy of minutes I obtained from another complex I had viewed.

Then the arduous process of negotiation began - after my initial offer the agent called me and advised that the owner had redone the kitchen counter tops and erected the undercover parking. I asked him to provide details in writing and when I received this there was no mention of the kitchen counters but a list of other improvements.

I checked google earth and noticed that the undercover parking had already been put up before 2020 whereas the seller purchased the property in 2024.

I asked the agent on whatsapp when the property had last been valued and he indicated this was in 2024 then deleted the message and advised 2018. The municipal bill indicated 2023.

The property was purchased in Feb 2024 for R700000 and the seller was asking R899999.

I checked the average prices in the complex and the area, factored in the rise in property prices for the area and also checked property24's report.

When we finally agreed on R870000 I asked for the OTP including all the known defects but was then told that they are not permitted to share this due to POPIA. I called the national manager to check if this was Pam Golding policy and was then presented with a blank OTP with no information.

Two days later I was advised that the seller had received a cash offer of R885000.

Just a word of warning when dealing with property companies - do your research, make sure you have your ducks in a row and be aware of your rights.