First our house:
We have had 7 different families viewing the house since the weekend, one is supposed to be really interested, no idea about the others. So in the scheme of things that's not to bad, and our real estate agent seems very up beat about it all. What it does mean we have priced the house right for today's market. So fingers crossed something will come of this.
The house we are hoping to buy:
We did the home inspection today (Wednesday). The house was built in 1907, so of course there is going to be an issue of two. The inspection took over three hours, and the home owner came back home about a half hour before we were finished.......awkward or what!!!
Anyhow the jist of it all, the oil tank (oil heating) has rust on it, so whether it passes inspection this year is iffy. The plumbing is "unusual" to say the least. It's working, but the home inspector, recommended that we get a plumber in when we have moved in to check it all out. There is a staircase to the attic and it will make an excellent sewing room for me. However there is no air vents in the roof, or insulation in the attic, so that is all to sort out. There is a crack in the outside wall, but that is nothing major.
Our main concern though is the oil tank, so I think we will be asking them to replace the oil tank. The rest I think it's part and parcel of buying an old home.
I had to laugh though. It's below freezing today and snowing. We go into the house and they have the heating set at 14oC (57oF). Now I am hot flash Annie, but that was freezing *loody cold. I was nithered, I couldn't feel my nose. So when the lady came back in I say, gosh it's cold in here. Her reply was it was hot in the house in the morning and they like it cold in the house, and she is always hot. Anyway she did turn the heat up and it was feeling nice and warm in no time.
However I don't believe her, what I think is that they have only 1/4 of a tank of oil left and they won't want to fill it up before they leave. She was telling me that she makes $100 a day from all the raspberries they have on the property. There are a lot of raspberry, blueberry and blackcurrant bushes on the property. I am also reluctant to believe her on this as well. I just didn't get a good feeling from her.
So I think we are going to ask them to replace the oil tank, and guarantee they will remove all the *rap from the basement and then we'll be happy.........however we are going to make them sweat a little bit and not tell them until next week. By the way dh is an electrician by trade, so is great at DIY, which will save us a ton of money.
So that's all the news for now.
***Anything that is wrong with the electrics, isn't an issue as dh is an electrician, so that's an easy fix for us. He can also turn his hand to plumbing. My dad is a whiz with wood, so any of the repairs we need doing with wood my dad will do. It's the heating that is worrying us. It had new shingles on the roof last year, so the roof is fine. Also there are government grants and rebates for renovations this year, so we hope we can take advantage of those.***
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15 comments:
About the raspberries tale. It will be lots of raspberries to pick in order to make $100 a day. It can be an excellent source of revenue during the season, good money. It may be over 10kg/day, plus labour, plus packing and... finding the customers.
Good luck with the selling of your house.
I dont htink so! you only ahve a picking period of about 2 weeks max..assuming you have no pests etc.
As a buyer of a very old house I would chck for damp, has the roof been lined, is the wood in the roof OK...if the plumbing is dodgy chances are the electric too...
But that is all normal stuff...expect teething problems and just do it up a bit at a time. Also get really good gardening gloves..those bushes are gonna need pruning lol
That house sounds as if it has real character. How about a photo?
I hope all goes well and you get the house. I would love to have the berries too. I lived in a old house for a few months and I got black mold poisoning in my blood. Please check for mold.
I think she'd have to have a lot of raspberries for $100 a day. However having said that, they sell for high prices here. I pick raspberries for about 3 weeks, twice a day so the birds don't get them. (I got hubby to prune ours)
As to the oil tank, they need to replace it. Just make sure when they do they empty it and don't spill oil everywhere. The smell is horrible.
I agree with Gaynor...check for dampness and possible leaks in the roof. We had some in our home which were well covered up. Our house is over 100 years old and probably built around 1895.
Even with that, we still love our old home. It has character (like yours does), it's exactly what we had dreamt of and even with all it's flaws we love it. Those little things are all fixable.
Oh--I'd love an older home like that. They are usually built so much better than the new ones today. I think you are doing the right thing by asking to have the oil tank replaced.
Sounds like you are 'on your way' to a new home!!!! Hope the existing one sells soon.
Hugs,
Betsy
I love old homes for their charm-there will be so many nooks and crannies to explore. If your sowing room is on an upper level, maybe you can put in a skylight. Maybe the berries do bring in a lot of money, but I bet they take a bit of tending for such a short crop season.
you are brave souls. If I had bad feelings about an owner I would run! but you know best what oy all can handle. Good luck! I wish my house in NJ would sell I would have allot less to worry about if that were true, but God has plans for me and the house will sell when it is supposed to!
I agree how about a pic/
I'm feeling quite excited for you - still keeping my fingers crossed too. A x
thanks for the comments, I will post photos, when I know the house will be actually ours, I just don't want to jinx it.
Gill
In our part of Ontario all oil tanks had to be replaced by last fall unless they were only a few years old. Ours was older but worked fine, didn't leak etc. so it was kind of maddening shelling out $800 for the tank but no one would fill it if it wasn't put in and inspected. I love older homes, thank goodness as I'm in one! Have lots of fun dreaming what you are going to do to the place. Heather
Hi Gill: First, thank you for visiting my blog and leaving such a lovely remark and well wishes...you're the best!
I didn't know u were moving. Like you, I'd take what the lady says about the bushels of fruit per day with a grain of salt. Afterall, who's gonna go pick all that stuff and then market it? Besides, like Gina said... the season's pretty short. lol.
BTW, have you thought of asking for cash "replacement compensation" as part of your real estate deal for the oil heater? If THEY replace it, they might go too cheap-o. Just a thought.
Good luck... I wish you and your Dh well.
I think it is lovely that you are going to be moving into an old home, and if you have menfolk who are handy that is a blessing. Older homes usually are built to last. I hope you are able to sort out the things you needs to. Good luck on everything, I am excited for you.
Good luck with your decision, it sure is a difficult process, buying and selling!
It sounds like your move is moving along nicely. Good luck.
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