Looking for opinions

[g3bill]

Sandy thanks for that info; "circulator."

First i've heard it explained as a circulator, i'l try and remember. My uncle had that type of heater also in manhattan beach ca. but doesn't get that cold. There was the main box burner with ducts to the back porch next to kitchen, one in the lower hall and one in the upper, might have been more and see no reason why there could't be registers in the bed rooms unless it was for safety? More common I think is like mine and your grandparents in the hallway giving heat to both sides of a wall. My cast iron grates are both cracked and one day need to welded & braced.

 

[washman]

Put earnest money on it today

Even though sans dishwasher, I can cope for a while without one.

Scheduling inspection this week. Then 4 grand more down. If that is a go, then I will be buying it.

Wish me luck.

 

[appnut]

YAY!!  Good luck Ben!!!!

 

[frigilux]

Ben-- First of all, congratulations! Don't know if you've owned before, but there is certainly a good feeling about being able to call your yard and house your own.

However... (you knew it was coming, right?) be sure to put money aside every month for upkeep. I purchased this house in 2002. It was built in 1963. Upkeep costs were minimal the first few years.

Since 2007 or so, things have caught up with me: 2 new toilets installed (around $600 total); new faucets in bathrooms and kitchen (around $500); snaked sewer lines in both house and tuck-under garage (around $300); reshingled roof ($6000); scraped & repainted exterior ($2200); new disposer and plumbing under kitchen sink ($350); replace copper sewer stack and copper drain pipes throughout house with PVC ($3500); new furnace, air cleaner, and thermostat ($4000 after rebates from natural gas company, local utility, and Lennox); tree trimming (twice, totaling $1000); replace backyard fence ($1700); replace water heater ($550).

 

On the horizon:  New central A/C (around $3600); repaint exterior again ($2200).

Within 10 years or so:  New concrete driveway and front steps ($5000?); new siding and windows ($20,000+?) 

And these are just the things I thought of off the top of my head! Oh, one more thing: Mortgage went up $110 per month for ten years due to new concrete street, water and sewer lines being replaced by city.

You are much handier around-the-house than I am. You can probably install faucets, etc. I hire professionals. Just make sure you put aside money for upkeep.

[this post was last edited: 1/25/2015-09:40]

 

[washman]

No frig, this is my first

and I am scared bleep less to say the least!

It will take almost all my savings to get in but I trade a high rent for a lower mortgage plus the ability to deduct interest. And I will finally have equity.

The only thing that is a very slight disappointment is no dishwasher and no easy install. I looked at the 18 inch models at Sears and yeeeeeesh, I have 4 cooking items that simply will not fit. Plus these itty bitty machines are priced as much as a regular full size model. Soooooooo I suppose it will be dishpan hands once again until I get the counter redone to accommodate a 24 inch unit.

The baseboard heat is there because the current owner was paying too high a gas bill. I'll find out what the average is tomorrow or Tuesday. Also I'm curious as to what a "high" gas bill is. All relative I suppose. For December, I just opened a $139 from People's gas. I don't consider that high given the near zero temps we had in December. I guess it doesn't matter, if the gas furnace craps out, I can use the baseboard until I get furnace fixed. When I did the initial tour, the baseboards were running as I heard faint clicks and the whole place was evenly warm. The mandatory inspection (my cost) will ferret out any deficiencies.

Plus I will have to purchase a rider mower. That otta be fun. Does Speed Queen make riders? Oh, and a weedtrimmer, gas of course. Yikes, I can see this will be an expensive endeavor.

Whereabouts do you live Frig? I know up north somplace.

 

[frigilux]

The open prairie of rural southwestern Minnesota, one of many tiny villages in the region ranging in population from 60 to 3,000.

 

[washman]

I take it

you are familiar with Enderes tools?

 

[vintagekitchen]

septic tank..

Properly sized and installed they are far less trouble than most people think. My grandmother's duplex home has was built in 1983, and has never once needed it's septic tank pumped. Just dont use excessive amounts of bleach, and you will be fine.

Oh, and when your milk spoils, leave it out overnight to REALLY spoil, then flush it the next day. It helps feed the bacteria in the tank. Same for yogurt, sour cream, etc.

Last bit of advice, avoid putting grease down the drain, drain and wipe out pans in the garbage or an old coffee can before washing, never pour grease down the sink, and you should be trouble free. Grease is the main killer for septic tanks, it forms a cap/crust on top of the tank contents, blocks lines, clogs leach fields, all sorts of terrible things.

 

[whirlykenmore78]

I will need to purchase a riding Lawnmower:

Ben: First of all congratulations, you won't be sorry. Do follow much of the good advice here.

As far as lawn equipment. AVOID any big box store machines. I worked in the shop of a local HW store and can tell you most of them a flimsy junk that don't cut worth a damn. The best is a commercial zero turn rider from Toro/EX-Mark. It will make quick work of ANY lawn and make it look like a golf course too boot. When you see the build quality you will understand what I am saying. Just do the maintenance and I can't see it ever wearing out. This would be the SQ of mowers.

Katie and I bought a house 2 months ago. We understand It is no picnic. Moving sucks major SH!#. But once you are done it is SOOOOO worth it.

Ok so the house has no dishwasher. I'll try to find a good portable one on Pittsburgh CL and post the link here if I do.
WK78 and Sunflower

 

[whirlykenmore78]

That was EASY!

Here you go, KM Ultrawash portable. Full featured, WP powerclean wash system and all. If this won't clean up your dishes I hate to know how dirty they are. Here's the link.
WK78

http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/app/4861406283.html

 

[appnut]

Yep, that's just under TOL UltraWash for that series. 

 

[countryguy]

The owner installed electric baseboard heat because the forced air gas was too expensive? That doesn't sound right to me unless electricity rates are very, very low compared to gas rates. Natural gas is one of the least expensive ways to heat a house...at least around here.

Gary

 

[vintagekitchen]

forced air gas too expensive..

2 possible explanations. Baseboard electric heat is cheaper to install initially than a forced air system, this could have been what he meant by cheaper.

Also, if the house is in a rural area, propane may be the only gas service available, and it is not cheap at all. Propane is generally twice the price of natural gas, if not higher. In that case, depending on local electric rates at the time of the install, electric baseboard heat may have been cheaper to operate. That was the case in this area for decades, though rising electric rates over the years have nearly closed the gap between the two.

 

[lordkenmore]

Electric heat cheaper?

Electric baseboard heat might also be cheaper if one principally heated limited areas. Say, the living room to 65-70, and the rest of the house much cooler.

 

[lordkenmore]

>The only thing that is a very slight disappointment is no dishwasher and no easy install. I looked at the 18 inch models at Sears and yeeeeeesh, I have 4 cooking items that simply will not fit. Plus these itty bitty machines are priced as much as a regular full size model. Soooooooo I suppose it will be dishpan hands once again until I get the counter redone to accommodate a 24 inch unit.

Might be worth investigating portables, or converting a 24" model to portable operation.

Or, in this situation, I'd be willing to consider an 18" model. Yes, not everything will fit. Yes it won't wash as big a load. Yes the price may be about as much as a 24" model. But...it would at least be something. I personally prefer washing a few troublesome pieces vs. everything by hand.

I have, unfortunately, not had a dishwasher for years. I hate washing dishes by hand, but the worst point in history was when I first had to do without a dishwasher after having lived some time with one.

 

[washman]

Inspesction with pest inspection

is Weds, 9 AM sharp! Of course it will be 4 above that day too. $360 for that. Then Thurs afternoon, I meet with the finance guy and bring in pay stubs, tax returns, bank deposit statements. I've signed enough stuff to last 3 lifetimes. $400 for the appraisal fee due then also. money money money.

Hope there are some generous $$$$ members here. I might have to hit one or more of you up for a loan!

At least the Speed Queens along with the car are bought and paid for. I saw a push mower in the garage, not sure if that stays but it is encouraging that the yard can be push mowed. I think. Heck, I like the idea of a rider and a cold one on a hot July day.

Getting down to the nitty gritty here. They have to have sewer inspection done soon and per county regs, IF it has issues, SELLER pays to rectify, not me!

 

[washman]

issues issues issues

Well I spend 360 to find out:

1. Bathroom vent is to the soffit. Not at all up to code in center township
2. As a result of #1, current owner has twice had mold in attic removed. ANd it is coming back as I learned today.
3. Soffit vents were painted over some time in the past. As a result, the gable vents on either end of house to not sufficiently vent the attic to prevent moisture buildup.
4. Garage MUST have fire retardant drywall installed on the floor joists. This also is code here and will be expensive for seller to rectify as both garage door opener mechanisms have to be lowered. As of now, all the floor joists are exposed in garage. Per the inspector and the fact I am financing this purchase, I would not be able to get a homeowners policy in the current state. By law, the insurance co and mortgage co get a copy of this report. Any deficiency can result in either no mortgage, no homeowner policy or both.
5. Door from garage to basement is not fire rated. Again this is a must.
6. Mold is starting in the lower right corner of basement due to poor drainage on said side of house.

I figured out WHY he put in baseboard electric. Due to the piss poor set up of the attic venting, rather than fix properly he jerry rigged it with the bathroom vent going into the soffit. Due to positive indoor pressure when furnace blower kicks in, you WILL have warm, somewhat moist air rising into the attic area. That happens in any house I learned no matter how tight it is. Now with the utter lack of sufficient ventilation in the attic the warm moist air does not get properly discharged to the outside. Result, the insulation was wet and dampness was noted on roof joists. When you run the electric baseboard heat, guess what? No air currents and no positive pressure in the interior of the house forcing warm moist air into the attic. Throw in the fact the current owner is an electrical contractor it explains why he did this. Bass ackwards of you ask me.

Other note:
Ductwork in garage is NOT insulated. Result....30 degree drop in discharge air temp of the master and bed 2 output grills, the furthest from the furnace. Which ran well by the way.
Water heater is 12 years old, will need replacement soon.
All windows need reglazing, not a biggie here
Central air unit, obviously, not evaluated. Has something to do with a 5 above zero temperature I think

Overall, he's asking way too much for this place. I had my suspicions when he ran baseboard electric then bragged his electric bill was "only" 1300/year. News flash folks, I have lived in same location for 15 years. Same 80% efficiency furnace. Never have I felt it was too expensive to run. Would I like lower gas bills? Sure, who wouldn't? The insulation in the attic was sufficient. So why else would he run baseboard electric. yeah yeah, I know contractors like to diddle with their trade off hours but this guy put in a 200 AMP panel that has enough breakers to run a 747. No kidding. I think he got the heaters either cheap or free, spent a couple of days or so installing an voila! Attic issue ignored, not solved.

Prior to the agreed upon price, he already balked at bringing the garage up to code. Imagine what he'll say when he gets a copy of the inspection. And in a delicious turn of events, the sell price is already locked in. Thus, should he decide to spend the money to address the deficiencies he cannot tack that on to the selling price. One more thing, he still needs to perform the BASA sewer inspection and if it needs repaired, seller has to pay for that. Butler co. law my friends.

I honestly doubt he'll go for any of this. We're looking at quite a bit of money to fix these things. And I flatly refused to go forward with the home in current state. However my landlord/realtor thinks he might be motivated as I am already pre approved, A-1 credit the whole 9 yards. Seller is paying closing costs as it is. My gut tells me this is not going to happen with ME as a buyer. Now someone else who pays cash OR dispenses with an inspection and buys as is, perhaps they can take their chances. But I will not. I simply do not have access to additional funds to address these things.

 

[warmsecondrinse]

I feel your pain...

No, really, I do. This happened to me twice in my house hunting exploits.

I wonder how much of the expenses involved (like inspections) in house hunting and having plans fall through not of your own doing are tax deductible.

If you add up the cost of the inspections, income lost because I was house hunting and not working, and the costs of maintaining a life in limbo (I was between homes and had to put all my stuff somewhere), I lost thousands in 2014.

It's maddening; the $$ fly out the window and you've NOTHING to show for it!!

Jim

 

[washman]

well I suppose

better to spend $360 now rather than find myself in a money pit for the next 30 years

 

[frigilux]

Ben--- How frustrating! Sorry things didn't work out well with the house, but can you imagine moving in and then learning about the mold/attic and garage fire code issues? It would have been a financial disaster. No one likes to hand over $360, but that probably saved you many thousands in headaches. The right place will come along. Be patient.