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Woman Finds Cheshire Restaurant's Charm FadedBy Tammy Daniels
iBerkshires Staff
07:16PM / Tuesday, November 25, 2008
CHESHIRE, Mass. — Four months ago, Robin Sayers thought her dream was coming true.
She loves to go dancing, and is sure others feel the same. So she bid on a vacant but spacious restaurant in August that she could turn into a dance hall. Plus, it came with enough rental property to ensure success for her and her partner Richard Rockefeller.
But the old Country Charm Restaurant is turning into a money pit for the Becket resident, who's found herself caught in mortgage limbo.
"I'm just sick to my stomach," said Sayers on Monday, after posting a message on an article detailing her winning bid on the Country Charm back in August. The message asked others who had been interested in bidding to contact her "before you make your next move."
Sayers said she hasn't been able to pin down financing because the 6,200-square-foot restaurant has been valued at less than her purchase price — nearly $70,000 less. In the meantime, the building, which has been vacant for several years, has continued to deteriorate.
"There's been more and more damage (because of heavy rains)," said Sayers, who put a tarp over the roof to try to staunch the flow of water. "Part of the ceiling has fallen in."
There have also been squabbles over who was responsible for septic issues and securing the building — the septic's OK but the windows were never boarded up. Sayers said the building's been broken into and things are missing.
Sayers was given the keys to the building after placing the winning bid of $350,000 and coming up with a significant down payment. She and her family have been cleaning out the building, which was closed abruptly in 2004. It was taken in foreclosure by Berkshire Bank, which holds a $300,000 mortgage on it.
What Sayers said they found inside was dead rats, decomposed food in shut-off freezers and refrigerators, water damage and mold. "I've been feeling sick and having respiratory problems," she said.
 The day of the auction, no one was allowed inside the building and a few who found their way in through an unlocked back door were promptly ushered out.
When she bid on the property, Sayers said she was aware of some of the problems, including the leaking roof. She had planned to spend at least $100,000 on repairs and renovations. She also said she signed a sales-and-purchase agreement with the former owner that included a number of repair clauses, only to find out the building was going up for auction a few days later.
But the biggest blow was the bank-required appraiser's valuation, which was set at $450,000 with everything done but only $288,000 as it stands.
Since then, Sayers said she and her lawyer have been trying to work out a deal with the bank even as the contract extensions have run out. She's still hoping to find a way to make her dream happen, hopefully without losing the tens of thousands she and Rockefeller have already dropped into their money pit.
"I'm not giving up but I'm really discouraged," said Sayers. "I just don't want another buyer to be in the situation I'm in." |
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary. Comments are closed for this article. If you would like to contribute information on this article, e-mail us at info@iBerkshires.com |
| If I were bidding, I would have thought twice, and not bid, given the fact no-one could have a walk thru. I feel bad for Sayers, but what ever happened to common sense? | | from: lparasim | on: 11-25-2008 12:00AM
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| Just so the above person is aware you're never allowed a walk-through when bidding on a foreclosure | | from: ppp | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| I was not aware of that. Is that a law or a rule? | | from: lparasim | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| I'm not sure. I just know my father buys alot of forclosures and its risky your bidding on what your told as well as outside appearance and your never aloud a walkthru | | from: ppp | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| that woman bid against herself 3 TIMES !!!! at the auction. Check out the audio at iberkshire.com | | from: auction attendant | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| Why would you bid against yourself? She would have been able to pay for clean-up, if she didn't do that. | | from: really | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| WELL THE TRUTH BE KNOWN I BID TWICE. NOT THREE TIMES AND IF YOU LISTEN VERY CLOSLY AT THE ORIGINAL AUDIO YOU WIL SEE WHY.UNDER PRESSURE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | from: robin | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| DUMB BLONDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! | | from: JOHN | on: 11-26-2008 12:00AM
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| What was your first bid? and your second? and did anyone bid between your first and second ? | | from: smart bid | on: 11-27-2008 12:00AM
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| I WAS GIVEN THE KEYS TO THE BUILDING 2 MNTHS AFTER THE AUCTION WHEN I HAD REPEATEDLY ASKED FOR THE BUILDING TO BE SECURED AND FOR THE BUILDING TO BE PRESERVED,,,,IT IS CALLED PRESERVATION OF PROPERTY WHICH WAS NEVER DONE,,,AND IS STILL NOT DONE..I HAVE SPENT 100'S OF HOURS ENMPTYING 6 BIG CONTAINERS OF WATER TRYING TO PRESERVE WHATS LEFT OF THE FLOORS..THE CEILINGS NEED TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED JUST FROM WHAT WE CAN SEE..IF MORE MOLD IS FOUND WHO KNOWS.THERE IS WATER RUNNING INTO ELECTRIC ALL THE TIME....ANY OTHER ? OR COMMENTS FEEL FREE TO EMAIL ME AT RSAYERS@LIVE.COM... | | from: robin | on: 11-28-2008 12:00AM
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| I hope your lawyer is on speed dial. SOUNDS LIKE YOU REALLY GOT SCREWED. | | from: really | on: 11-29-2008 12:00AM
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| Is she for real? Why in the world would anyone sign a purchase and sale agreement with the previous owner and then complain that they weren't allowed in the building for a walkthru on the day of the auction? Did she sign that without seeing the property also? If so, sounds like she has no one to blame but herself and now that her funding has fallen thru, she's trying to blame others and get herself out of her responsibility... | | from: come on | on: 12-01-2008 12:00AM
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| i am not complaining about a walk thru i am complaining about the amount of damage after the auction because the bank is to preserve the property they sold it as is,,,,well "come on" the building is damaged far worse then at then on auction day..and my financing has not fallen thru...we are still working on that. | | from: robin | on: 12-01-2008 12:00AM
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| Sorry to hear about all your problems. We were looking forward to dancing there this summer. Please keep everyone informed. | | from: Joan | on: 12-02-2008 12:00AM
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Patiently waiting for the Club to open... What has slowed things down? The Bank that auctioned it off? They received a 30 million dollar bailout-One would think they would be co-operative and helpful to create jobs and new life up on the hill...
| | from: BerkshireCountyResident | on: 04-28-2009 12:00AM
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| HI, I WANT TO SAY SORRY TO EVERYONE WAITING PATIENTLY FOR MY NEW LIFE AND BUSINESS TO OPEN.WE HAVE SPENT MONTHS CLEANING AND DOING WHAT EVER WE COULD TO KEEP THE BUILDING FROM FALLING IN..ALL THINGS THAT WERE THE BANKS ISSUES NOT MIND BUT WE DID IT TO TRY AND PROTECT OUR INVESTMENT. NOW YOU WOULD NOT EVEN IMAGINE WHAT BERKSHIRE BANK HAS DONE AT THE LAST DAYS BEFORE CLOSING IT IS JUST AWFUL. NOW ALL MY TIME, MONEY HARD WORK SEENS TO BE FOR NOTHING, I AM HEART BROKEN AND FEEL THIS IS ALL UNFAIR BUT I HAVE NOT GIVEN UP HOPE YET.PLEASE KEEP US IN YOUR PRAYER AND IN YOUR MIND WITH THE NEXT AWFUL MONTH COMING.THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE SUPPORT | | from: ROBIN | on: 04-30-2009 12:00AM
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| just wanted to let everyone know that the knox trail inn in otis has entertainment on friday nights. still waiting for the old country charm to open. | | from: js | on: 07-21-2009 12:00AM
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Just wanted to know if anyone knows if the Country Charm is still in the works. Thank you
Editor: Ms. Sayers has repurchased the property through a second auction and has started the planned flea market. She's still working on the club. Time for an update, I think. | | from: js | on: 08-22-2009 12:00AM
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No its@ a dead halt,Bldg is completely gutted,inside, Roof leaking badley,No heat,Electrical system is Gone! No fire prtection-sprinklers etc, Trash and Debris piled floor to ceiling!, bunch of junk and inoperitive appliances,No Ac,Very Bad Black Mold in most rooms, most Ceilings are down, Bathrooms are gutted to the walls,The building now is worse now than on auction day.
It seems the local officials have not been down to check on the progress- no permits apear to have been pulled. These people are just doing as they please,The flea mkt so-called is nothing more than a huge stockpile of useless junk- Dropped Off By Will Rogers of Becket, Mass.
I think Club Eight is just little more than a Pipe dream now! | | from: watchdog | on: 12-17-2009 12:00AM
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I was brought in look at the various systems, and they agreed to pay me daily. Not only did i not get paid, They called the police when i called their homes and demanded payment. These people Scammed Me A Small contractor,Out of $600.00. I plan to file in court on monday.
Editor: Dear Robbed, I understand you may be very angry and that you are looking for legal recourse, but iBerkshires has to be careful about postings. I have edited this down while still trying to get your point across. I would prefer to speak to you about it. You can call leave a message at my office at 413-663-3384, Ext. 29, or tdaniels@iberkshires.com. | | from: Robbed! | on: 12-18-2009 12:00AM
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| Warning! She owes me alot more! Yes, this is a scam....And will be looked at very carefully, soon! | | from: agree | on: 03-12-2010 12:00AM
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Hey Editor... how about an update story. Same crappy "flea market" eye sore junk is there but there is finally work on the building being done.... Dance hall getting ready to open?
Editor: I noticed the painting the other day and was curious myself. | | from: Curious | on: 10-08-2010 11:39AM
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