So, I got a raise. And it means I make real money. I really, really want to buy a house. I can't afford to yet, but I could feasibly afford to within the next six months.
I've started looking at properties, and now I can't stop looking!
Home owners: where should I start? And, what's okay to compromise on and what isn't?
I do NOT want a fixer-upper, nor do I want an old house. I don't mind replacing carpeting or doing floors but I don't want major repairs. One house I looked at needed all new kitchen appliances (well, they were super old looking, so maybe not "need" but definitely would want), but the rest of the house looked nice.
always expect the unexpected
There is always something when buying a house. not always, but usually.
Our first house had major leaking from the roof the first spring we were in it. Since it was disclosed in the damage report, and reported as "fixed" they were off the hook as sellers. How that works I don't know, but it certainly wasn't fixed. Also found out at that time that home warranties aren't worth a pile of beans, so don't ever let that sway your decision
Somehow the home passed inspection, even though there was no roof ventilation and bath and kitchen vents were put right to the attic that had no ventilation because they didn't put the roof rafter vents in. Needless to say there was mold in the attic.
i'm as mad at myself as the inspectors, because I didn't go look at that myself before we bought it. It was our first and I was more concerned with what I could do to the place. I stupidly relied on someone else to be competent at their job and nobody from the framers, to the insulators to the inspector, neither home, nor presale inspector did their jobs correctly. Another lesson learned
on another we were "just changing cabinets" and once we got into the walls found some of the most horrific hack job of electrical work one could imagine. It was as if someone was trying to burn down their home. We pulled lots of new wires and got rid of a lot of old stuff. Lots of extra work involved. I'm am thankful my father is a contractor and I grew up doing this stuff. I'm also thankful he was there to help us.
Another house, can't believe this wasn't caught at inspection, but a live wire was run along the floor in the living room. Along the ****ing floor!!! and then was tucked back behind some trim and disappeared. I though, hmmm, this is odd and rather large for a doorbell
because that's where it appeared to go, to a downstairs doorbell from near our front door.
well I followed it one day and it was a live, un-sheathed power wire used to power a 3 way circuit between the front door and garage and outdoor lighting. it ran along the top of the poured basement wall once it was tucked behind the trim and brought down thru the floor where it came thru to the inside of the garage wall and was then pulled straight across a corner, bare to the world again, then up the wall to the switch.
It always amazes me what "professionals" will do, though I suspect this was not done by a professional, but a pro did miss it during inspection. I'm neither an electrician or home inspector and I caught it, why didn't they?
and these were just on homes we've had, not all that old either. Between homes we rented till one sold. Right before we moved in, the place was remodeled inside and new roof and siding was installed, by a professional, and I use that term loosely. I didn't know who did it, but apparently they have a good reputation around here.
Well the roof has been replaced and the siding is next. over simple, simple stuff. I hate to see the problems this owner would have had, had I not informed her. The roof, brand spanking new. very nice shingles, top of the line. Could have been a 30 year roof on asphalt, very goo quality. Put down by people that didn't know their ass from a hole in the ground.
Ever single shingle was nailed above the nail line and with too high of pressure. 1/2 the roof started sliding off because nothing was actually secured to the roof. How it didn't fly off, myself nor the 3 other contractors that came to give her estimates, can't figure out because it should have. Such a simple and easily correctable thing ruined an entire roof.
The siding?? we won't even get into it, but it too is being replaced. It looked ok from the outside to someone that doesn't know what they're looking for, but it was a horseshit job. No undersill used, j-channel draining behind the siding, not out and away, no metal flashing used along roof or deck, etc. so I went into it a little bit. and this is all work done in the here and now, again, how does this get passed off as professional work? and pass inspections?
anyway, long story short, do your homework, check over at least all the big things with someone you know and they know what to look for. Don't rely on others to have done their job. There's a good chance at least one person a long the line didn't do something correctly and eventually someone is going to have to dig into everything and fix it. Be prepared for the unexpected, meaning don't stretch yourself on the purchase, leave a decent amount for unforeseen repairs.
