Some states require an inspection and some don't. If your considering buying a home 50 years old, I'd go for the inspection myself.
Alan Please click on: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~alanandsuzanne/ There, you'll find files of my arrangements and performances played on the Yamaha Tyros keyboard. I often add files so check back regularly! The albums in Technics format formerly on my website are still available upon request. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Scott Howell" <s.how...@verizon.net> To: <blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 12:33 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] older homes - what to look for > Hi ALan, > > Actually I do not believe it is required because when I sold my home, the > buyer waived it. I was very surprised, but apparently his only interest > was in me getting the hell out of the house so he could move in. I think > he would have packed the truck for me if I had asked. In any event if I > decide to purchase the home, I would either get an inspector and most > likely would or hire my brother-in-law who would provide a very fair > assessment of the property. The only thing preventing me is how much debt > I want to take on. As long as I have a renter, I would be about where I am > and perhaps ahead or even if I sold it I would be fine. However, if I > rented and purchased the other house and then had a renter default, I > would have to really crank in my belt. I would prefer to rent then sell, > so told my wife don't get your hopes up. There will be other opportunities > and if it was to be, it would happen. I could put the money into this > place and ready it for sale. I then could go out shopping for something we > really want and sacrifice nothing. Of course with the market the way it > is, I wait long enough, I will improve my position and that house will > drop in price. grin. > > tnx, > On Jun 14, 2010, at 12:18 PM, Alan Paganelli wrote: > >> The guy's full of it. The house I grew up in was of that type. The glass >> was always cold and formed ice. You could put storm windows on the >> outside >> which would give you several inches between the windows which would help. >> Isn't inspections mandatory in your state with selling a home? >> >> You should hire an inspector who does this for a living. It's not what >> you >> can see but rather what you can't. Water damage, dry rot, termites etc. >> Those things often can't bee seen and it takes somebody who is trained in >> knowing what to look for. The inspection is mandatory in many states and >> the home owner should have that done in order to sell the house. If your >> state doesn't require it, you can hire a professional to do the job for >> you. >> The fee is around 400 to 500 dollars but if your really serious about >> buying >> it it's well worth the price especially if you live in an area with high >> humidity. >> >> Alan >> >> Please click on: http://www.home.earthlink.net/~alanandsuzanne/ >> There, you'll find files of my arrangements and performances played on >> the Yamaha Tyros keyboard. I often add files so check back regularly! >> >> The albums in Technics format formerly on my website are still >> available upon request. >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Scott Howell" <s.how...@verizon.net> >> To: <blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com> >> Sent: Monday, June 14, 2010 4:03 AM >> Subject: [BlindHandyMan] older homes - what to look for >> >> > Hi good people, >> > >> > Well let me tell you a little story and try not to bore you to tears or >> > make this a super long message. My wife and I walk by this home and >> > have >> > done so for several years. She has always commented on how lovely the >> > house looks and incredibly it went on the market about 10 days ago. >> > Apparently the couple that owned it has passed on and the kids have >> > decided to sell the property. >> > So, here is a description, which will help set the tone of the >> > question. >> > The house is a custom-built Rambler, constructed in 1954, and is all >> > brick. The house is not very large (according to the tax record is >> > 1,500 >> > square feet) and has a living room, dining room, kitchen, full bath, >> > and >> > four bedrooms; on one level. I neglected to bring a tape when we took a >> > tour, but think I would if we take another look. There is an attic with >> > a >> > fixed set of stairs and it has flooring down and the roof is not >> > plywood, >> > but (I can't think of the correct name) some sort of planks with >> > shingles >> > over that. The basement is partially finished with solid pine paneling >> > and >> > interesting it has a solid block wall running down the middle and >> > apparently this was common in the 50's. It has an oil-fired boiler that >> > provides baseboard heat and it does have central air, but that was >> > added >> > later and the air handler is in the attic and the vents are in the >> > ceiling. >> > Ok, so the purpose of describing this house is I am curious what things >> > I >> > should be looking for if we seriously entertain the idea of purchasing >> > it. >> > I understand there is a breaker panel and not a fusebox. However, let >> > me >> > mention a couple other things as well. There is a separate two-car >> > garage >> > that does have a fusebox, but this is a very substantial structure that >> > they even put in some ceiling fans since one of the kids used to detail >> > cars in there. In addition, there are two (I know this sounds nuts) >> > walk-in freezers. I am talking freezers that are stand-alone buildings. >> > Apparently this gent used to cut up meat for people if they would bring >> > him the animal. Now the freezers are no longer operational, but they >> > have >> > been used for storage and either would make an excellent workshop. Oh >> > as a >> > side note, they are tossing in two tractor/mowers, a big walk-behind >> > mower, and a snow blower. SO, honestly, the only issues for me is >> > little >> > if any closet space and that apparently was common in the 50[s as well >> > and >> > I know I would have to install a dish washer and a few other changes. >> > The >> > place has all hardwood floors under carpet and I can't imagine it would >> > take much to fix these up. So, of course I am researching whether I >> > could >> > purchase the place that does sit on 2.5 acres and gee I could sell one >> > of >> > them and make half my investment bak. >> > So, again, what stuff should I look at that could really be an issue >> > for a >> > home of this age. Btw, I did not smell any wet oders or anything that >> > would indicate leaking of the basement or house in general. >> > SOrry for going on so, but hope it planted some neat images. As one >> > final >> > side note/question, the windows are the single-pane type with storm >> > windows. The agent showing the home tried to tell me these are more >> > efficient than the newer double-pane windows and I think he's >> > way-off-track on this. I remember these growing up and having ice on >> > the >> > inside. So, is it possible that these could really be efficient in some >> > way? Just curious. >> > >> > Thanks >> > >> > >> > >> > ------------------------------------ >> > >> > Send any questions regarding list management to: >> > blindhandyman-ow...@yahoogroups.com >> > To listen to the show archives go to link >> > http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=33&MMN_position=47:29 >> > Or >> > ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ >> > >> > The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. >> > http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday >> > >> > Visit the archives page at the following address >> > http://www.mail-archive.com/blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com/ >> > >> > For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man >> > list just send a blank message to: >> > blindhandyman-h...@yahoogroups.comyahoo! Groups Links >> > >> > >> > >> > >> >> > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Send any questions regarding list management to: > blindhandyman-ow...@yahoogroups.com > To listen to the show archives go to link > http://www.acbradio.org/pweb/index.php?module=pagemaster&PAGE_user_op=view_page&PAGE_id=33&MMN_position=47:29 > Or > ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ > > The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. > http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday > > Visit the archives page at the following address > http://www.mail-archive.com/blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com/ > > For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man > list just send a blank message to: > blindhandyman-h...@yahoogroups.comyahoo! Groups Links > > > >
