Often, miscommunication plays a part. For example, the lender or real estate agent may not have clearly explained all the potential costs, leading to shock when the final closing cost is presented. Another common element is that sometimes the fees are much higher than the market average for no clear reason, as in cases where title insurance or processing fees are exorbitant compared to what others in the area are paying.
A major common element is the lack of transparency. In closing cost horror stories, the buyers usually find out about additional costs too late. They might be given an estimate early on, but then there are hidden charges or the initial estimate was just inaccurate. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for buyers to plan financially and can lead to a lot of stress and sometimes even the loss of a property deal.
One horror story is when a couple was buying their first home. They were told the closing costs would be around $5,000. But at the last minute, there were all sorts of unexpected fees. It turned out to be over $10,000. They had to scramble to find the extra money or risk losing the house they had dreamed of.
A closing horror story could be that a shopkeeper is closing his store late at night. Just as he's about to lock the door, he notices a strange handprint on the glass. He tries to wipe it off, but it keeps reappearing. Then, he hears a faint scratching noise from outside the door. In the case of a hotel, a maid is closing up an empty room. As she closes the curtains, she feels a cold breath on her neck. When she turns around, she sees an indentation on the bed as if someone was sitting there.
A common horror story is issues with the title. For example, there were unexpected liens on the property. The closing couldn't happen until these were sorted out. It involved a lot of legal wrangling between the parties and the title company. The buyer was left in limbo, not knowing if they would actually get the property they had been planning to buy.
Well, sometimes there are appraisal problems. The appraised value of the property comes in lower than expected. This means the lender may not be willing to lend the full amount agreed upon, leaving the buyer scrambling to come up with more money or renegotiate the deal. Also, there can be issues with the escrow account. Incorrect amounts being deposited or disputes over who pays for what in escrow can be a nightmare during mortgage closing.
One important step is to get a thorough home inspection early on. This can uncover any potential title or property issues before it's too late. And keep in close communication with all parties involved. Regularly check in with your real estate agent, lender, and the seller's side. Don't be afraid to ask questions if something seems unclear.
Isolation. Often, in IT horror stories, the characters are isolated. For example, a lone system administrator might be the only one in the server room when something strange starts to happen with the servers. Another common element is the loss of control. The technology that is supposed to be under human control suddenly starts acting on its own, like a self - driving car going berserk in an IT - related horror scenario.
Horror stories often feature a protagonist who is in over their head. They might start out as an ordinary person, like in 'Rosemary's Baby' where Rosemary is just a normal woman, but then they are thrust into a terrifying situation. Settings also play a big role. Abandoned asylums, cemeteries, and old mansions are common settings in horror stories as they have an air of mystery and danger already associated with them.
Fear of death is a big element in horror stories. The threat of death, whether it's from a serial killer or a supernatural force, is always present. Also, there's often a sense of helplessness. The characters find themselves in situations where they seem to have little control over what's happening to them. For instance, in 'The Blair Witch Project', the characters are lost in the woods and being hunted by an unknown entity. There's also the use of suspense. Writers build up the tension by delaying the reveal of the horror, making the readers or viewers more and more anxious as the story progresses.
Another is the discovery of strange or disturbing behavior during the date. Like the person having extreme mood swings or being overly possessive. For example, suddenly getting angry for no reason or acting like they own the other person right away.
Food quality issues are common. For example, finding bugs or foreign objects in the food.