So bummed out!

Twinkle5086 · August 2013

After looking for a house for nearly a year we thought we finally found one. Did everything we had to do with deposits and bank stuff. Everything was approved and we got a closing date of September 30th. My EDD was 10/7. We were cutting it close, but I wasn't freaking out until I went to my last OB appointment and they told us to get ready. So anyway we moved up the inspection of the house to yesterday and we got the report this morning. The inspector was amazing and really went through each and every nook of the house.
The report was not good. The roof needs to be replaced, the water heater didn't work, there was mold in the attic, the 2nd floor bathroom wasn't usable, a tree had to come down that was in danger of falling over onto the house and the icing on the top of it all there were sever cracks in the foundation that he recommended we have a structural engineer come out to look at the house.
Hubby and I just got into a huge argument because he still wanted the house and I don't! I'm not bringing my boys into a house that is so unsafe. He tells me I'm being ridiculous and we need a house because our 2 bedroom apartment is too small. Now we have to find a new place to live all over again and I'm so over it and worried about little one coming early and half the apartment is packed already.

What do you ladies think am I being unreasonable?

sarahcatie · August 2013

I don't think you're unreasonable at all. See if the seller will fix the major issues (roof, water heater, and foundation), and if not, pull your offer. I completely get the wanting to move into a house, but there are so many incidentals that really add up quickly that the massive amounts you would spend on top of it all just don't seem worth it (unless you are really under budget). I think a small 2 bedroom apartment is better for the time being than a ticking time bomb of a house!

Gwyneddlesliegrace · August 2013

I think you are right. Unless you were already prepared to do that work. A roof can cost a pretty penny. Also we have a two bedroom, 700sqft house and are bringing home our third. You work with what you have.

Twinkle5086 · August 2013

Seller refuses to fix anything in the house. It

carawasa · August 2013

It's so hard to find the perfect house but its a big investment and I wouldn't make a quick decision. We just purchased our home and the inspection said we needed a new roof and we asked the seller for the money and he didn't give us any problems about it. Maybe you can ask for a credit? If not, I'd keep looking because it sounds like you could have a large bill of updating on your hands!

PixiesDust · August 2013

WALK AWAY! You dont need to move before you give birth. Babies dont need a lot of room. Take your time and find something that doesnt require so much work or money

huntjul · August 2013

Twinkle5086 said:

Seller refuses to fix anything in the house. It

Then that makes your decision easy. Why do a home inspection if you plan to ignore the results and buy it anyway? Sounds pretty foolish.

allymp13 · August 2013

If seller refuses to fix anything then I personally would pull out now. Even though inspector was thorough this could just be the tip if the iceberg.

As for hubby, sit him down and make him watch the money pit that might change his mind.

Seriously though, good luck with whatever you choose.

bkeane619 · August 2013

Sometimes the seller is willing to fix stuff. We have an old house and seller fixed a bunch of stuff on engineers report.

blondolphn · August 2013

Uh pass! Those are the just the tip. There is always something else that you don't know about until you are a year into the house. Even if you had the money for the renovations, you'd have a baby and trying to fix the place up. Uh no thanks.

Alexandrap · August 2013

We searched for well over a year for a home. Anything with mold or structural damage was an immediate no for us. Mold is a pain to deal with properly and structural damage can get very expensive very quickly. If the seller won't front the money and you guys are set on the house then I suggest the following.

Have people come out and give you an estimate on what it would cost to fix all the problems. When you get those ask to have a large portion if not all of those expenses taken off the selling price of the home. For ex: selling price is 200,000. Estimate is for 30,000. Ask for the seller to drop his asking price to 170,000-175,000. If they still refuse walk away but keep an eye on it. Now that they know of all these problems they HAVE to disclose it, meaning it won't sell for asking price. Good luck and be paitient.

Ajoyd · August 2013

Whether or not you take a home with that many significant issues depends largely on the price of the home and/or whether the current owner is willing to do anything about it before the sale.

That said, with an infant at home I wouldn't really want to be facing all of that work unless you can afford to keep your apartment while the work is being done.

We did a lot of work to our house (and bought it well below the asking price because of it) when we moved in but we had no kids at the time.

xkittyxbearx · August 2013

I would walk away to if the issues weren't fixed or price dropped. You're not being ridiculous for wanting to bring a newborn or any other children home to somewhere safe for them. The whole point of the home inspection is to let you decide for yourself the mess you're getting into so you can opt out if it's to much. Who knows maybe if you wait a little while you might find a better deal or a better house.

allurea · August 2013

Twinkle5086 said:

Seller refuses to fix anything in the house. It

I don't think you are being unreasonable. With that many issues they are going to have a hard time selling it then unless they drastically reduce the price. My family flips houses, and I wouldn't touch one with that many problems unless the seller came down enough in price to justify it. I would also get a structural engineer out there before deciding, just to get an idea of what needs to be done and now much it will cost if I were still considering the house.

Honestly it sounds like this isn't the house for you guys if you are arguing over it.

Foundations are a huge expense and can take quite a bit of time to repair, and in some cases you cannot be in the house while the repairs are happening, it all depends on what needs to be done. A new roof can also cost a lot, if it's just new shingles and they can go over the old ones (only ever have two layers of shingles at a time, if there are already two layers than they need to be stripped before the new ones are put on) it's not too bad, but if they need to be stripped, that adds to the cost, and if the wood under the shingles needs to be replaced than that really jacks up the price. Water heaters are not the worst repair/replacement thankfully.

slh6363 · August 2013

I know the feeling of disappointment! We were trying to sell our house and get something bigger before LO arrives but that's not happening! We are considering taking it off the market for awhile bc I don't want to be under the extra stress while also adjusting to life with a newborn. It's definately a bummer but Im accepting it now!

CousinVicki · August 2013

no house is perfect, the hot water heater/tree wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. i would need more info on an 'unusable' bathroom?

Also, unless the roof is officially leaking, just having an old roof is not a reason for a seller to put in a new one for you. i am lol'ing at everyone saying "oh a roof is expensive!" hello welcome to home ownership, you don't walk into an older house with everything updated.

i would DEF. want the mold issue in attic taken care of though and a structural engineer to come in and tell me wtf is going on first.

allurea · August 2013

CousinVicki said:

no house is perfect, the hot water heater/tree wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. i would need more info on an 'unusable' bathroom?

Also, unless the roof is officially leaking, just having an old roof is not a reason for a seller to put in a new one for you. i am lol'ing at everyone saying "oh a roof is expensive!" hello welcome to home ownership, you don't walk into an older house with everything updated.

i would DEF. want the mold issue in attic taken care of though and a structural engineer to come in and tell me wtf is going on first.

All of this. My house is over 100 years old, things pop up all the time. I did purposely buy it to fix up, but when opening up walls you always end up finding something else hehe.

blondolphn · August 2013

My house is almost 100 years old. We knew when we bought it that there was some small immediate projects that had to be taken care of. They were small and within the budget. We did have to take down a tree unexpectedly, and that was almost $1000 and we still have the stump. I've had friends get billed for close to $2000 for trees...

Twinkle5086 · August 2013

allurea said:

CousinVicki said:

no house is perfect, the hot water heater/tree wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. i would need more info on an 'unusable' bathroom?

Also, unless the roof is officially leaking, just having an old roof is not a reason for a seller to put in a new one for you. i am lol'ing at everyone saying "oh a roof is expensive!" hello welcome to home ownership, you don't walk into an older house with everything updated.

i would DEF. want the mold issue in attic taken care of though and a structural engineer to come in and tell me wtf is going on first.

All of this. My house is over 100 years old, things pop up all the time. I did purposely buy it to fix up, but when opening up walls you always end up finding something else hehe.

The house is only 40 years old. An the roof is leaking into the attic. The unusable bathroom on the 2nd floor is because both the tub and toliet leak and the bathroom vents into the attic which is whats causing the mold along with the leaking roof. Oh an I just found out the electrical is not up to code.

bnikiz · August 2013

Dont walk RUN far far away

allurea · August 2013

Twinkle5086 said:

CousinVicki said:

no house is perfect, the hot water heater/tree wouldn't be a deal breaker for me. i would need more info on an 'unusable' bathroom?

Also, unless the roof is officially leaking, just having an old roof is not a reason for a seller to put in a new one for you. i am lol'ing at everyone saying "oh a roof is expensive!" hello welcome to home ownership, you don't walk into an older house with everything updated.

i would DEF. want the mold issue in attic taken care of though and a structural engineer to come in and tell me wtf is going on first.

All of this. My house is over 100 years old, things pop up all the time. I did purposely buy it to fix up, but when opening up walls you always end up finding something else hehe.
The house is only 40 years old. An the roof is leaking into the attic. The unusable bathroom on the 2nd floor is because both the tub and toliet leak and the bathroom vents into the attic which is whats causing the mold along with the leaking roof. Oh an I just found out the electrical is not up to code.

That is a LOT to take on if it's not something you are prepared to do.

Patricehall78 · August 2013

sarahcatie said:
I don't think you're unreasonable at all. See if the seller will fix the major issues (roof, water heater, and foundation), and if not, pull your offer. I completely get the wanting to move into a house, but there are so many incidentals that really add up quickly that the massive amounts you would spend on top of it all just don't seem worth it (unless you are really under budget). I think a small 2 bedroom apartment is better for the time being than a ticking time bomb of a house!

This!!

Arod1087 · August 2013

Walk away!! If seller refuses to fix anything it's not worth it. You are talking thousands and thousands of dollars to fix those issues!

Also, it's better to buy after summer, housing prices usually drop about 5%

ranaverde · August 2013

Dealing with construction is one of the more stressful things you can do to a relationship. Adding that stress to the stress of dealing with a new baby? Oh hells no.

This isn't the house for you, however "convenient" it may seem at the moment. You'll be regretting your decision within a year if you buy it, I guarantee it.

norbert5 · August 2013

Walk away! This isnt the time for you to buy a house to fix up with this many issues.

So bummed out!

Re: So bummed out!

Choose Another Board

Search Boards