So, the home inspection was this weekend, which of course means a new freakin’ to do list. Nothing major, thank god.
Couple things we simply said weren’t going to happen. Given that I’ve not heard any bad news from my realtor, sounds like the buyer realized they were unrealistic with those requests.
Couple things that were totally reasonable and I’ve got no problem with handling them.
Couple things that just really annoyed me, cause if I was on the buy side, they’d be things I’d simply consider part of buying a house that is almost 30 years old and deal. When I bought the place, the only thing that we pushed on was the roof because it had defective plywood that would eventually cause the roof to collapse. The rest of it, well, it was a 20 year old house, I didn’t expect everything to be perfect.
But, it will get done. Still don’t know how we’re gonna close next Friday, but we’ll see.
October 2nd, 2007 - 12:12 pm
Put on the overalls, the tool belt, the boots, gloves and cap and Get Cracklin’!
October 2nd, 2007 - 1:25 pm
But I spent all spring doing that!!!!
October 2nd, 2007 - 2:51 pm
Man, I am not looking forward to selling my house in a year or two. People’s expectations have gotten way too high.
October 2nd, 2007 - 2:56 pm
It is a little nuts. Hell, if you wanted everything perfect and exactly the way you want it before you move in, you need to go build your own house, not buy one that’s 30 years old.
When the time comes to sell this place, I’ll get the stupid home inspection done before I put it on the market - I was going to do that w/the townhouse, but by the time I got all the stuff done that I knew needed to be done, I was too tired and frustrated to face another list.
October 2nd, 2007 - 10:19 pm
Can you state one thing they want that you are getting done? I am curious.
October 2nd, 2007 - 10:40 pm
A legitimate question considering how handy we all know that I am. :)
- Replace both exhaust fans in the upstairs bathrooms. (OK, that sounds easy. I may be calling the electrician. We shall see.)
- The master bath shower head is apparently leaking, realtor recommended just popping on a new one. I can do that. I think.
- Whack the outside stove vent with a broomstick so the flap isn’t stuck open.
- Replace all the smoke detectors. That I have no issue with at all, apparently you’re supposed to replace them every 10 years. I don’t know why I didn’t know that, cause I guess it’s common knowledge, but I didn’t. They worked every time I tested them on battery changes or burnt something in the oven…
- Caulk the bottom joint of the bathtub. I don’t know why this is important, but it is. Never had an issue with it, but OK.
- In the corner of the living room apparently there are a few carpet staples sticking up and they want them removed.
- Get the master bath light working again - it’s flourescent and was working fine all summer, I think the GFCI was tripped. May need the electrician on that.
- Replace the aerator on one of the bathroom sinks.
Got folks coming in tomorrow to do the fall HVAC service and sweep the chimney (which hasn’t been used since at least 1994.)
Realtor has a handyman who is going to take care of adjusting some doors that are out of alignment (I wouldn’t even know where to begin to fix those) and replace a soffit screen on the back of the house and somehow secure the plastic deep sink in the basement to the wall. (I don’t know how he’s gonna do that, since there are no brackets or anything on the sink that could be used to secure it to the wall.)
We passed on repainting the back of the house. I assume they are OK with that since we sent the addendum back on Monday with that scratched out and they haven’t said anything.
They’re going to be renting the place out, so basically they want to be able to dump a renter in there immediately and start producing income, which I understand, and just keep reminding myself how much fun they’ll have between renters when they really find out you can’t have an investment property that doesn’t require any work.
October 3rd, 2007 - 11:06 am
Oh, man - err, woman - that’s a flock of nitpicky and completely minor items for a seller to be repairing (in my opinion, of course). Take $200.00 off the price and tell ‘em to have fun. (Yeah, I know. Easy for me to say, since I don’t know the market.)
About those chimney sweepers… do they still wear tall hats? Heh.
October 3rd, 2007 - 11:10 am
When I bought my house and my home inspector produced his list, the sellers essentially offered to drop the price $1,000 and not do most of those things. You may want to consider that option for any particularly annoying items.
A friend of mine when he was selling essentially his fairly old house said the house is priced to the current condition, not doing any of that stuff. Came to a financial agreement of some sort.
Just because it is on the list doesn’t mean you have to do it, just acknowledge it and negotiate.
October 3rd, 2007 - 11:59 am
No tall hat on the chimney sweeps anymore.
The days of “as is” have left us for the time being.