On 15 Mar 2004 09:30:58 -0800, Gren wrote:
we have a signed sales contract.. We, as the buyers don't have to
contact contractors for estimates.. it's up to the seller. We've
considering amending the sales contract to accomodate the repair costs
for the seller.. for example.. if it costs the seller 10k and we paid
154k, either the seller can pay out of pocket, or we can pay some and
lower our bid amount. Also, according to the inspector, he said
insurance underwriters would most likely not allow the 60 amp service
to the house. We thought to ask the seller to bring it up to 100 amp,
and then I'll pay out of pocket for the electrician, while he's there,
to bring it from 100 to 200 amp.


Relying on the seller to get bids and do the work is absolutely,
positively nuts. He'll take the lowest estimate, and use the shoddiest
contractor possible, because it's simply not in his best interest
to do otherwise. If you really want the house, then you have no
reasonable option but to handle the repairs yourself. As for the 60 amp
service - don't bet on the insurance company minding. When we bought
our house with 60 amp service a couple of years ago, Allstate couldn't
care less.

Like was earlier mentioned, if this falls through, the seller is just
going to run into another buyer with similar demands. We can look at
it this way, the seller is being 'penalized' for living 40 years in
the house and NOT addressing these issues.


Or he'll have a buyer who doesn't mind. It really doesn't make
a difference to a lot of people, particularly second or third time
home-buyers - they realize that all used houses are going to need work,
and don't jump on every little fault as if it's the end of the world.

I haven't even mentioned the host of other smaller problems we're not
asking the seller to address. Duct tape holding cabinet drawers
closed... The fact we have to prime and repaint every room in the
house, because of smoke stained walls. The water-heater is on year
11. The exterior garage is falling apart, we'll have to demolish and
rebuild. etc, etc.

Yes? So? Those details are generally what you have to deal with
when you buy a house almost 100 years old. Paint and nails are very cheap.
Water heaters are cheap. Demolishing a garage isn't cheap, but it's
not the end of the world, either.



I don't want you to think this place is a dump, it's a bungalow style
home built in 1915 with a fantastic foundation, beautiful woodwork
throughout and the structure is solidly built.

We're just hoping the seller is reasonable enough to address these
problems on his own accord. He bought the house about 40 years ago; I
would think he'd have the mortgage paid off by now, so I assume he's
not waiting on our monies to pay off all kinds of debt. Hopefully this
would make it somewhat easier for him to take a small hit on the bid
price to fix some of the stuff he never did, and not lump it in our
lap.
We'll see

It's going to depend on the market. I can guarantee that if it really is
a nice house, someone who knows how to use a hammer will come along
and snap the house up without trying to nickle-and-dime the owner
down on problems with an old house.